100+ Traditional Italian Recipes
In Italy, big meals are treated as an event, with several courses of delicious, simple dishes and, of course, lots of good company. Learn about the traditional Italian meal, and choose recipes from each category to create your own Italian-style feast.
Antipasto
Antipasto translates to "before the meal," and it is meant to be a little something to whet the appetite. Antipasti can be as simple as a dish of stuffed olives or a more complex dishes salads and bruschetta.
Recipes to Try:
- Insalata Caprese
- Antipasti Platter
- Vegetables with Olivada
- Goat Cheese and Herb Stuffed Radicchio Leaves
- Grilled Vegetable Salad
- Roasted Squash and Beef Carpaccio Salad
- Crostone di Carpaccio: Open-Faced Carpaccio Sandwich
- Antipasto di Ricotta: Simple Ricotta Antipasto
- Arugula and Roasted Fruit Salad with Panettone Croutons
- Risotto Croquettes: Arancini Di Riso
- Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms
- Bruschetta Pizzaiola
- Margherita Pizza
- Porcini and Nepitella
- Potato Croquette
- Insalata de Carciofi: Raw Artichoke Salad
- Anchovy, Tuna and Mascarpone Dip
- Fiori Di Zucchine: Fried Zucchini Flowers
- Panzanella: Tuscan Bread Salad
- Involtini Di Carpaccio: Rolled Beef Carpaccio
- Sausage and Stracchino Cheese Crostini
- Zia Franca's Roasted Peppers
- Tender Artichoke Hearts
- Stuffed Squash Blossoms
- Orange, Fennel, and Black Olive Salad
- Pinzimonio: Vinaigrette
Primo
The first course of the actual meal, called the primo, is typically a small serving of soup, pasta, gnocchi, rice or polenta.
Recipes to Try:
- Zuppa di Porcini: Porcini Soup
- Zuppa di Vongole: Clam Soup
- Zuppa e Councesze: Soup with Mussels
- Cannellini and Pancetta Soup
- Acquacotta
- Pasta with Winter Squash and Tomatoes
- Pasta with Prosciutto and Lettuce
- Red Wine-Marinated Escargot Over Bowtie Pasta
- Pasta with Beans and Mussels
- Lemon-Basil Orzotto
- Pesto Lasagne
- Spaghetti with Bay Scallops, Guanciale and Parsley
- Zesty Spaghetti a la Puttanesca
- Ricotta and Grana Padano Gnocchi
- Red Sauce and Spaghetti
- Pasta al Burro con Formaggino: Pasta with Butter and Cheese
- Tomato Cream Sauce with Tuna
- Zia Carolina's Pasta: Aunt Carolina's Pasta
- Conghilie with Clams and Mussels
- Fettuccine con Carciofi: Fettuccine with Artichokes
- Pappa Al Pomodoro
- Beet Risotto with Truffle Oil
- Totani E Tubetti: Squid and Tubetti Pasta
- Drunken Spaghetti
- Nonna Maria's Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
- Tagliolini con Tartufo: Tagliolini with Truffles
- Zia Orsola's Spinach Risotto
- Pasta E Fagioli
- Spaghetti Alla Caprese
- Fettuccine with Yellow Squash and Parmesan-Lemon Cream Sauce
- Giada's Carbonara
- Gorgonzola and Porcini Mushroom Risotto
Secondo
The secondo is a small serving of fish, chicken or meat, and it's often grilled and served without sauce. Special occasions call for more elaborate dishes, like stews and stuffed braciole.
Make Rachael's impressive spinach-stuffed beef braciole for a weekend dinner.
Recipes to Try:
- Salsiccia Con Cima Di Rapa: Sausage with Broccoli Rabe
- Spinach Stuffed Braciole in a Sunday Sauce with Pappardelle
- Osso Buco
- Swordfish with Puttanesca Sauce
- Mussels alla 'My Way'
- Stracotto al Chianti: Beef Braised in Chianti
- Spezzatino di Cinghiale: Wild Boar Stew
- Meatballs with a White Wine Sauce
- Polpette Di Peppe
- Beef Tenderloins con Balsamico
- Grilled Tuscan Chicken
- Lumache di Mare: Sauteed Sea Snails
- Polpette di Vittorio: Vittorio's Meatballs
- Baccala Alla Pizzaiola: Cod with Tomato
- Tony's Braciole with Gravy
- Trippa Alla Fiorentina: Florentine Tripe
- Spezzatino di Manzo al Cioccolato: Beef Stew with Chocolate
- Chicken Scallopine with Sage and Fontina Cheese
Contorno
The contorno is a simply cooked seasonal vegetable to accompany the secondo. One or more may be served at a meal.
Recipes to Try:
Dolce
Italians finish the meal with a dolce, which means sweet, and is traditionally fruit and biscotti. You might also try a fruit pie, called a crostata. Fancy desserts, such as cakes, are more likely to be reserved for special occasions.
Guests won't be able to resist David Rocco's tiramisu.
Recipes to Try:
- Crostata with Raspberry Jam
- Tiramisu
- Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze
- Italian Ice
- Espresso Chocolate Mousse with Orange Mascarpone Whipped Cream
- Chocolate Sformato with Amaretto Whip Cream
- Castagnaccio: Chestnut Flour Cake
- Panna Cotta al Mango
- Gelato Affogato
- Souffle Al Cioccolato
- Carla's Torta Di Ricotta
- Biscotti Di Prato
- Risotto Al Cioccolator: Chocolate Risotto
- Brutti Ma Buoni
- Gianluca's Cioccolatini: Chocolate Martini
- Lingue di Gatto: Cat Got Your Tongue Cookie
- Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
- Hazelnut Crunch Cake with Mascarpone and Chocolate
- Ricotta with Vanilla-Sugar Croutons and Berries
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