It’s time to take pasta night to the next level.
Think cannelloni without the pasta: slender strips of eggplant are grilled until smoky, then rolled around creamy ricotta and ribbons of mortadella — a southern Italian antipasto that marries silky vegetables with Bologna’s famous sausage for irresistible sweet‑savoury bites.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Breadcrumbs browned in olive oil were once “poor man’s Parmesan,” adding a nutty crunch and absorbing any extra sauce — proof that ingenuity, not extravagance, makes truly memorable Italian food.
Nonna Teresa’s pasta with crispy horseradish and chilli breadcrumbs. Credit: David Loftus / Jamie Cooks Italy
Conchiglie — which translates to seashell in Italian, are ideally shaped to catch every pea and piece of tender sautéed zucchini. A dusting of sharp pecorino ties this springtime trio together.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
The wine‑splashed, milk‑mellowed ragu of Bologna is slow‑cooked alchemy: beef, pork and soffritto simmered until rich and glossy. Be sure to reserve a couple of tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to add to the ragu — this little trick will help bind the sauce and create a richer, creamier texture.
Credit: Wok Vs Pot with Marion and Silvia
These Tuscan “nudes” are like ravioli without the pasta. Ricotta and spinach are poached and until pillowy, then dressed with a nutty brown‑butter sage sauce.
Credit: Plum Books / Jeremy Simons
Part soup, part pasta, this Tuscan‑born comfort merges cannellini beans, short pasta and rosemary in a velvety broth thickened with mashed beans. Slip in a Parmesan rind while it bubbles for an umami backbone nonna would approve.
Credit: Kitti Gould
Golden “little oranges” of saffron encase mozzarella, peas and a spoonful of ragù. What began as a clever way to reuse leftover risotto is now Sicily’s favourite street snack.
Classic Sicilian arancini. Source: SBS / SBS Food
This flash-in-the-pan dish delivers plump, sweet prawns, al dente linguini prawns sizzled with garlic, chilli and white wine. Finish with lemon zest for a coastal Italian flourish.
Credit: Mary Makes It Easy
Layers of silky pasta sheets with béchamel and slow‑cooked ragù, finishing with a final snow of parmesan cheese. Let the pan rest 20 minutes before slicing so the strata hold.
Franca’s classic lasagna with bolognese Credit: Pasta Grannies by Hardie Grant
This northern‑Italian comfort dish uses a base of carnaroli rice, which slowly absorbs tomato passata, white wine and stock until creamy yet al dente. The key is to toast the rice first, coaxing nutty depth that stands up to bright tomato.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Gently sweat a rainbow of bell peppers, never fry, to preserve vibrant colour. Stew slowly with olive oil and vinegar until soft and sweet. A hit of capers at the end brings briny sparkle that cuts through the sweetness. Serve warm with grilled meats or chilled on bread.
Pepperonata. Credit: The Chef’s Garden
Soft potato gnocchi meet a slow‑simmered red‑wine beef ragù, is a hearty, thrifty comfort that brings families to the table. Light, flour‑dusted gnocchi float to the surface in minutes; meanwhile the chuck steak ragù bubbles away for hours.
Credit: Rachel Tolosa Paz
This recipe turns the humble artichoke into a self‑contained feast. Aromatic crumbs spiked with anchovy are packed between leaves, infusing flavour as the chokes braise in lemony water. Pass extra olive oil for dipping.
Credit: Kitti Gould
Chicken alla romana gets a weeknight makeover: seared thighs braise with wine, tomatoes and peppers in a single skillet. A punchy parsley‑capers salsa verde stirred in at the end lifts the dish to trattoria standards.
One-pan Roman chicken with salsa verde. Credit: Donal’s Real Time Recipes
This staple of Italian home cooking relies on timing. Drain the pasta several minutes early, toss in the bubbling pomodoro, and swirl vigorously to coax starch and fat into a silky, restaurant‑worthy gloss.
Rigatoni pomodoro. Credit: Murdoch Books / Mark Roper
Once just bread and onions, Florence’s panzanella now leans on juicy summer tomatoes and basil. Make it an hour ahead so the flavours mingle, then serve while the vegetables still have a little crunch.
Panzanella Credit: Kitti Gould
These pork‑and‑beef meatballs simmer in a quick chilli‑laced tomato sauce, finished with fresh basil. Keep the heat or leave out the chilli, then serve straight from the pan with warm crusty bread for dipping.
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Cacio e pepe proves simplicity can stun. The secret is to emulsify grated pecorino and coarse pepper with starchy water off the heat, avoiding lumps. Toast cracked pepper in the pan first to bloom its aroma, then create a creamy cheese emulsion that clings to each strand without a drop of cream in sight.
Credit: Haarala Hamilton / Bloomsbury
Neapolitan fishermen invented this dish between hauls, so timing is everything. Salt the water lightly — the clams bring their own salinity — and finish with parsley for colour plus a whisper of heat from chilli flakes.
Credit: Wok Vs Pot with Marion and Silvia
Layers of espresso‑soaked savoiardi and mascarpone‑zabaglione cream create Italy’s most famous pick‑me‑up — literally, tirami su means “lift me up.” Chill overnight; patience allows the textures to meld into cloud‑like spoonfuls.
Credit: Jiwon Kim