Debi and Gabriele's Top 20 Italian Comforts

No one knows Italian food quite like Extra Virgin's Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos. Get their favorite classic comfort food recipes, from 30-minute spaghetti and red sauce to slow-braised beef ragu and braciole.

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Pasta alla Norma "Nuda"

A sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese instead of the traditional ricotta salata garnish makes this recipe nuda, which is Italian for "naked" or "nude." But tomatoes, grilled eggplant and a pinch of red pepper flakes still make a flavorful sauce for this classic Sicilian pasta dish.

Get the Recipe: Pasta alla Norma "Nuda"

Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Frying the eggplant slices before layering makes them melt-in-your-mouth soft, especially after they are finished in the oven with Gabriele's red sauce and mozzarella cheese. The trick to making this dish authentic is to use only a small spoonful of sauce in each layer — this keeps it dense and not too liquid. 

Get the Recipe: Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi

Although making gnocchi seems like a daunting task, it isn't with this simple recipe, which doesn't use potatoes. With a slightly crisp crust on the outside and a nutty sage-butter sauce on top, this gnocchi is great for a comforting weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi

Ribollita

Gabriele recommends making this hearty soup the night before you want to eat it because it holds true to its name, which means "re-boiled," and it tastes better when reheated the next day. This famous Tuscan dish is made with day-old bread and inexpensive vegetables, like carrots, cabbage and cavolo nero, which is Italian for "black kale."

Get the Recipe: Ribollita

Penne ai Quattro Formaggi (Mac 'n' Cheese)

Macaroni and cheese is known to have roots in Italian cooking, and some believe it was Thomas Jefferson who brought the comfort food to America. It's no wonder the Gorgonzola, Taleggio, Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses work so well together in this Italian-style classic.

Get the Recipe: Penne ai Quattro Formaggi (Mac 'n' Cheese)

Duck Ragu with Homemade Pappardelle

In northern Italy, ragu sauces are less about the tomatoes and more about the meat; this recipe features duck as the star of the dish. It's served with homemade pappardelle, which is a broad, flat noodle that is perfect for grabbing onto the rich ragu.

Get the Recipe: Duck Ragu

Pasta Primavera

A primavera pasta is usually made with the freshest vegetables of the season, but in this recipe, Debi lets the sweetness of roma tomatoes shine through. She adds buttery pine nuts for a fresh and flavorful sauce.

Get the Recipe: Pasta Primavera

Orecchiette al Ragu di Braciole (Pasta with Beef Ragu and Braciole)

Orecchiette in Italian means "little ears," and the name comes from the pasta's small, rounded shape. After the pasta and sauce mix, bits and pieces of the beef ragu nest inside the orecchiette, making each bite full of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Orecchiette al Ragu di Braciole (Pasta with Beef Ragu and Braciole)

Chicken Cacciatore

Also called "hunter's chicken," this slow-cooked chicken dish is braised in red wine, tomatoes and olives for a hearty and satisfying comfort food meal. Anchovy fillets add another depth of flavor, especially after they melt away into the sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore

Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Sometimes comfort food also means sticking to the simple classics. Yukon gold potatoes are buttery and whip up creamier than regular potatoes, and the crunchy bits of pancetta make this a great side dish to accompany chicken cacciatore or another Italian favorite.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Red Sauce and Spaghetti

It's the ultimate Italian comfort food: perfectly al dente spaghetti pasta dressed with a classic, homemade tomato sauce. Debi and Gabriele suggest using pelati tomatoes, which are whole, peeled canned tomatoes. Puree them for a smoother sauce, or to keep a homestyle feel, use a wooden spoon to break them into chunks while the sauce cooks.

Get the Recipe: Red Sauce and Spaghetti

Peppers and Potatoes Stew: Peperonata Di Patate

A bowl of this hearty stew is packed with veggies and potatoes, so you can serve it on its own with a hunk of crusty Italian bread for dipping, or make it as a complement to a roasted chicken or pheasant. Either way, it's a warm, satisfying and easy meal to make on a cold evening.

Get the Recipe: Peppers and Potatoes Stew: Peperonata Di Patate

Bolognese Sauce

The secret ingredient in this classic meat sauce is a cup of whole milk, which is added at the end of the cooking process to give the sauce an unmatched richness and velvety texture. This Bolognese can be used in lasagna, or served with a fresh pasta like tagliatelle or rigatoni.

Get the Recipe: Bolognese Sauce

Tuscan Beef Stew with Polenta

What makes this beef stew taste like it's straight from Tuscany? The chunks of beef simmer in red wine until tender, and only a few chopped tomatoes are added during the last two hours of cooking; the result is a deeply flavored stew.

Get the Recipe: Tuscan Beef Stew with Polenta

Lasagne Alla Bolognese

When making your besciamella, also known as a bechamel or white sauce, it's important to make sure it does not taste floury. If you taste a flour-y hint, keep cooking the sauce for a few minutes more. Serve up your homemade Tuscan comfort food for a romantic date night or for a family-friendly weekend meal.

Get the Recipe: Lasagne Alla Bolognese

Turkey Meatballs on a Bed of Leeks

Debi loves this dish because it's quick, comforting and great for leftovers the next day. The sauteed leeks have a mild onion flavor, and the delicious sauce is perfect for the walnut-sized meatballs, which can be served over couscous or rice.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Meatballs on a Bed of Leeks

Creamy Quick Polenta

Polenta is similar to grits in its texture and taste, but its bright-yellow color and the added flavor from grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in this recipe make it a classic Italian comfort food. It can be served as an accompaniment to a main dish, or you can pair it with a hearty stew or sauce, like Bolognese.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Quick Polenta

Pesto Lasagne

A twist on the usual tomato and meat lasagna, this recipe uses a besciamella, a white sauce, and a fresh, homemade pesto, which is easy to make right in the food processor. A large baking dish is great for a big crowd, but you can also layer lasagna sheets in individual ramekins for smaller, more personalized portions.

Get the Recipe: Pesto Lasagne

Eggplant and Pasta Incaciata

Don't be intimidated by Gabriele's beautiful savory cake of pasta with mozzarella and pork ragu, wrapped in slices of eggplant. This domelike casserole is shaped in a springform pan and is easy to make, especially for a large crowd. 

Get the Recipe: Eggplant and Pasta Incaciata

Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans: Sausages with Fagioli All'uccelletta

Turkey sausages are stewed with cannellini beans, hot cherry peppers and tomatoes to make a traditional, hearty dish with a spicy kick.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans : Sausages with Fagioli All'uccelletta