Tips For Creating Lighter Italian Meals

The Healthy Way To Enjoy Italian Cuisine

Is it possible that the words 'healthy' and 'Italian cuisine' belong in the same sentence? Absolutely. Italian cooking, when done right, isn't all about bad carbs and high fat. There are ways to create hearty AND healthy Italian dishes that are good and good for you. Take a look at the following ideas for creating healthier Italian meals that will still taste great.

Healthy oils

It’s easy to reach for the unhealthy cooking oil, grease, or butter that you've been in the habit of using. That particular fat is familiar, yes, but you know it's time to change. Start substituting the old oils and fats with healthier versions such as olive oil. Not only is using olive oil authentically Italian, but olive oil also has health benefits that can reduce cholesterol and possibly combat heart disease. If you still want to use some butter, mix it with olive oil to get the best of both worlds.

Whole grain

The use of whole grain pasta is the way to go when trying to make your Italian meals healthier. Because pasta is a mainstay in many Italian meals, this one healthy choice will make a big impact. Whole grain pasta is rich in nutrients and dietary fiber. It also provides your body with loads of energy due to the good carbs that whole grain offers. Whole grain pasta also promotes a healthy digestive system, is believed to prevent certain types of cancer, and lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. Keep the same thing in mind when choosing breads. Whole grain is definitely the healthy choice.

Fresh vs processed

Stock up on fresh vegetables and cook them properly to maintain the most nutrients. When serving cooked vegetables, grill or roast them instead of boiling them so the nutrients aren't poured down the sink when you drain them. Another fresh item that Italian cooks would never substitute is the cheese. Always choose fresh

Mozzarella over the processed shredded stuff. That also applies to the processed Parmesan or other cheeses. Choose the cheese that is fresh and whole, and cut it or shred it yourself. You will skip the additives and preservatives that way. Many dishes that call for Ricotta cheese will work well if cottage cheese is substituted, saving you some fat and calories.

Protein choices

Yes, beef and pork is found in Italian dishes, but you can choose to cut back on the amount used, or cook with the healthiest cuts and substitute other proteins, too. You may want to use ground chicken or turkey in place of ground beef or sausage when making meatballs, for instance. It's really all about the flavor, so just use the right blend of herbs and seasonings and no one will be the wiser.

 For instance, the flavor you taste in Italian sausage that is so inviting is fennel, so adding this herb to your turkey meatballs will give the taste of sausage without the sausage itself. And, remember; poultry, fish, and seafood are all high protein and low fat. If you are a vegetarian, get creative with beans, peas, and lentils. You'll find many recipes that use beans to make meatballs, for instance.

Italian cooks use plenty of fresh ingredients in their meals. It's when we start making short cuts and don't pay attention that we get in trouble with the healthy aspect of Italian cuisine. Don’t avoid Italian food, just cook like a real Italian family would – fresh and with a respect for all the wholesome foods they have to choose from.

How To Prepare Simple Italian Meals That Your Kids Will Love

When you have kids around the house, you know it’s important to have quick and simple meals on hand to satisfy their sometimes limited palate. This doesn’t mean that you have to settle for hot dogs or mac 'n' cheese every night. You can fill your home with the hearty, rich flavors of Italian cuisine without a lot of trouble by trying a few classic recipes that will have your kids, even the picky ones, begging for more.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

This is one recipe that is popular in most households and takes very little time to prepare. With even the simplest of recipes, you will win over the hearts and taste buds of your little ones. There are a variety of ways you can make this recipe but the main ingredients you need are pasta, sauce, and ground beef or pork. Other ingredients such as garlic, Parmesan cheese, onions, and green bell peppers can be added as you wish.

However, if you are pressed for time or if you have some finicky eaters in the house, the basics are a great way to keep everyone happy and full. Once you get a basic recipe down, you can also turn the same ingredients into a casserole style spaghetti bake. Either way, kids are unlikely to pass up a plate filled with this Italian treat.

Personal Pizzas

This is a great way to get the kids involved and let them help decide how they want to build their own pizza. Start with the pizza crust. You can use a refrigerated crust and just roll it out and cut it into individual size portions. Get creative and use cookie cutters to make the crust into shapes that the kids will enjoy. Once the crusts are cut out, bake them until lightly browned, remove and let cool.

Set out the pizza sauce and any other toppings the kids might like. Cooked Italian sausage, pepperoni, and cheese are usually a good place to start. If your kids want to venture away from this basic pizza, set out ingredients such as diced ham, pineapple, green peppers, olives, onion, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Of course, you can always put out a few more varieties of cheese. Then bake the pizzas for a few minutes until the cheese melts. When they come out, the kids have their own specially made pizza.

Lasagna

A tried and true recipe that will be a huge hit for any kid. Lasagna can be made many different ways, and contrary to what you might think, there is no real difficulty in preparation. You will need your basic lasagna noodles, meat, sauce, Mozzarella cheese, and Ricotta or cottage cheese. You can also eliminate the meat entirely or substitute chicken in the recipe. Add additional ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, onions, and oregano for even more flavor if you like. The main components of your lasagna dish should be whatever kids are willing to eat. One tip is to be sure to include enough cheese. Kids will gobble down just about any dish if it's gooey and cheesy.

The kids can have fun helping out with this recipe, placing the noodles in the dish and adding layer after layer. You don't even have to bother cooking the noodles if you don't want to. Look for lasagna noodles that are 'oven-ready' or 'no-boil' to make construction even easier for the little ones, encouraging them to help even more.

To improve a finicky eater's diet, be sure to get them involved choosing meals and giving them a part in the cooking process. You will be amazed at how excited kids get about trying new foods when they had their hand in the meal. Another bonus is your children will surely use these skills as an adult and won’t forget the fundamental building blocks you set for them. Have fun creating simple kid-friendly Italian meals and enjoy the extra time with your little ones.

Pasta 101

Learn To Speak The Language Of Italian Pasta

One of the first lessons in Italian cooking is learning about pasta.  Although pasta doesn't form the centerpiece of every Italian meal, it is usually somewhere on the table.  In order to understand Italian cooking, therefore, you really should get to know a little bit about pasta.  Of course, we want to learn about the varieties of pasta and which dish to use them in, but it's also fun to know what the strange names mean.  Let's start by learning a little about the most obvious term – Pasta.

In Italian, 'pasta' simply means a "paste."  A paste is formed of flour, water, salt, and sometimes eggs.  The paste is then formed into shapes and becomes the pasta we know in Italian cooking.  We may sometimes call this food item by a different term - noodles - but that is from the German word 'nudel.'  When we're talking about cooking Italian cuisine, we use the word pasta.  Now, we'll look at some specific styles of pasta to learn more:

Calamari (calamarata or calamaretti)

These rings of pasta are thick and resemble squid, or "calamari," which explains the name.  You won't find this type of pasta too often in regular grocery stores as it is only made near Naples in the region of Campania.  The pasta may be made with squid ink to give it even more of a calamari appearance.

Cannelloni

This pasta is sometimes confused with manicotti since both are stuffed and baked.  However, there is a difference in the way the pasta is formed.  Cannelloni is a sheet of dough that is filled and rolled into the tube shape we know, while manicotti is pre-made into tubes, then stuffed.  The word 'cannelloni' is Italian for "large reeds."

Capelli D'Angelo

You might know this better by the title "angel hair." This is a very fine, delicate strand of pasta. Angel hair pasta is most often used in dishes with lighter sauces, both in flavor and weight. In the more southern regions you'll find lots of shrimp, fish, and vegetables served with their capelli d'angelo.  In the northern regions you'll find recipes using basil pesto as well as creams and seasonal vegetables.

Ditalini

This "little thimble" shaped pasta originated in the Campania region of Italy.  You'll most often see ditalini used in the a hearty bean soup or minestrone. Its tubular shape holds up well and will stay al dente even floating in soup.

Farfalle (bow tie)

This pasta's name in Italian means "butterflies." It's kind of a romantic name that got translated in English to 'bow tie' after fashion changed and men started wearing bow ties.  The pasta does actually resemble a bow tie more than a butterfly, but I like calling them farfalle because it's a pretty name to match a pretty pasta. Farfalle originated in northern Italy, where it has been used for everything from soups to light salads to cream based dishes.

Fusilli
 

These "little spindles" may be more familiar to you as 'corkscrew' pasta.  There are many variations to size, but they are all twisted into corkscrew type shapes. This twisty shaped pasta is best known for holding creamy or cheesy sauces and dressings, and are very desirable in cold salads for that reason.

Lasagne

Both referring to the pasta and the dish formed from the pasta, the word lasagne is actually the plural form of lasagna.  The Romans originated this pasta, which was called "laganum" from the Latin for "pot."  This made sense since the wide flat pasta was usually used to line a pot, then adding other ingredients to form the dish.  Now we specifically refer to a layered dish of this pasta and other ingredients as lasagne or its singular, lasagna.

Linguine

This pasta originated in the Liguria region of northern Italy.  The word 'linguine' (pronounced lin-GWY-nee) means "little tongues" in Italian.  Its American spelling, linguini, is mostly for the sake of pronunciation since 'linguine' could mistakenly end up lin-GWINE in the English language.  Either spelling, this pasta is recognized as the thinner version of fettuccine; sort of a flattened spaghetti.

Orecchiette

The Italian word for 'ear' is "orecchio," so it's no surprise that this tiny ear-shaped pasta is called 'orecchiette' meaning "little ears."  Pronounced ohray-key-YA-tay, this pasta has a built in scoop, making it ideal for holding heavy sauces, vegetables, and meat.

Orzo

Don't mistake this pasta for rice or barley, although the Italian translation for orzo is "barley."  This tiny pasta resembles a grain of rice or barley, but it is made from semolina. You can use orzo in many of the same ways you would rice or barley; in pilafs, soups, salads, and side dishes.  When cooked properly, and cooled, this pasta makes a lovely cold salad mixed with fresh ingredients.

Penne
 

The word 'penne' translates in Italian to "quills." This tubular pasta has the ends trimmed on the diagonal, similar to a quill pen. Penne that has ridges (rigate) will hold sauce well.  Penne pasta is so popular in all sizes and variations, you'll find it featured in many recipes.  One classic you will see often is Penne all'Arrabbiata which suggests a very hot spicy dish since 'arrabbiata' means "angry" in Italian. Using a hot chile sauce would be appropriate in this dish.  Penne holds up very well with heavy sauces, vegetables, and meats and is very often used in baked dishes for this reason.

Spaghetti
 

When we refer to spaghetti in America, we have to make the distinction clear that we are talking about the pasta, not the dish. The word 'spaghetti' in Italian is the diminutive of "spago," which means 'cord or string.'  In Italy you will find a variety of thicknesses of spaghetti used, specified with the names 'spaghettini and spaghettoni.'  Spaghetti is believed to be the oldest shape of pasta known.

Ziti

This popular pasta, prounounced ZEE-tee, is a thin tubular design that holds up well to heavy sauces, cheese, meats, and vegetables.  Traditionally served baked in various dishes for Italian weddings, the term 'maccheroni di zita' translates to "bride's macaroni" making the term 'zita' a convenient and understandable word for this pasta.

Now that you know more about the word origins of some of your favorite pastas, are you ready to dig in and start speaking the language?  Well, you may not be speaking fluent Italian, but at least you'll have an opportunity to drop a few Italian pasta names with ease around the dinner table.

Slow Cooker Cooking Tips: Italian Cuisine

Italian Cooking Crockpot Style

Italian cuisine is not nearly as difficult to master as some may believe. In fact, when you throw a crockpot in the mix, it becomes nearly effortless. There are many ways to create a delicious Italian meal with just a little organization and preparation. Here are a few tips and ideas that can turn your kitchen into an Italian bistro – crockpot style.

Get ingredients ready

One of the most important things to remember when using the crockpot is to have all the ingredients you need on hand. Having the right ingredients for a crockpot meal is very important since the reason for cooking in a crockpot is convenience. If you are trying to throw a meal together fast in the morning, you don't want to be running to the store when you are trying to save time. With a little bit of preparation you can have a stocked pantry and refrigerator in no time.

A few of the ingredients you want to stock would be fresh or frozen vegetables, especially onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes, and green bell pepper. Fresh or dried herbs such as basil and oregano should always be in the kitchen. Then of course you'll want meat, chicken, seafood or other protein of choice on hand. Frozen meat is fine as long as it's sized right and cooks long enough in the crockpot to cook thoroughly. Olive oil, pasta, cheese, and wine are a few other must-have’s when creating a delicious Italian feast.

Get recipes ready

Start searching for crockpot recipes now so you are ready when the time comes to cook something Italian style. You don't need a whole arsenal of recipes to get started. Here are just a few classic Italian dishes to keep in mind.

Cheesy Tortellini – There are some variations to this recipe but for the most part you can keep it as basic and simple as you want. You will need ground beef or Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and any vegetables you want to add to the slow cooker. A few favorites tend to be mushrooms and tomatoes. Once the sauce has been slow cooking all day, you can throw in the tortellini and some cheese to top it off. When the pasta is tender, you are ready to serve and enjoy.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – This is a true favorite that you really can’t go wrong with. You can combine ground beef with Italian sausage, onions, tomatoes, and seasonings of your choice such as garlic, basil, and oregano. Let this mixture cook all day in the crockpot to develop all that flavor. Then when it's dinner time, just cook the spaghetti pasta and you are ready to dig in.

There are a few things that you can do ahead of time that will ensure your meal has the best flavor. You can start my browning the meat before adding it to the crockpot. You can also saute the veggies in olive oil or butter before adding them to the crockpot. This will mean a little extra effort on your part but the end result is worth the trouble.

The crockpot has been a favorite tool for busy families and will continue to have a place in our homes, and our hearts. Pick out a few favorite Italian dishes and put your crockpot to work for you. With just a little preparation and a few simple steps, you can create an Italian meal in your crockpot that will draw everybody to the dinner table with a smile on their face!

Getting Started With Itialian Cruisine

Italian Cooking 101
 

Italian cooking has become one of our most loved cuisines. Authentic Italian cuisine is about much more than pasta and sauce. There is a great deal of pride that goes into each dish, making the preparation of food extremely important. You don’t have to travel the world or go to a fancy cooking school in order to learn the art of Italian cooking. You just need to keep a few of the basics in mind and you will become an expert at preparing Italian meals in your own kitchen in no time. Let's take a look.

Ingredients

Italian dishes are made up of a variety of vegetables, meats, seafood, herbs, and seasonings. The vegetables you'll want on hand will include tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, garlic, celery, and flat leaf parsley. Olive oil and herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary, are staples in every Italian kitchen.

You'll want some cheeses, like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parmesan, Asiago, and Ricotta on hand for many of the recipes you will want to make. Oh, and we mustn't forget the pasta, of course. The type of dish and the sauce will determine what kind of pasta you will use. Keep a variety on hand of the basic pasta styles just to be prepared.

Cookware

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to have cabinets full of fancy cookware and utensils to create an Italian style meal. You can start with the basics, which would include a very large pot for boiling pasta. Pasta needs a lot of room to move around in the boiling water so it doesn't get sticky, so be sure you have at least one big pot. You'll also need a large colander to drain the pasta once it is cooked.

You'll want a large heavy pot for making sauces. Be sure it has a heavy bottom to prevent the sauces from scorching easily. Wooden spoons are great for stirring big pots of sauce. Sharp knives and a large cutting board is a must for chopping fresh vegetables and herbs. A garlic press is helpful if you don't like the thought of chopping up lots and lots of little cloves of garlic. A large, deep rectangular baking dish is nice for making lasagne.

With that said, the truth is you don't really need the perfect cookware to make a good Italian meal. Get what you can afford when you can. Don’t get too overwhelmed at the thought of having the right cookware. You can make due with any pasta pot, colander, sauce pot, and some sharp knives to begin.

Techniques

Italian cooking involves a variety of methods. You might find a pot simmering away or something poaching in wine, broth, or sauce. There may be a deep fried dish or a saute. Then if you open the oven, you may find a big pan filled to the top with saucy, cheesy goodness.

When it comes to actual techniques, there are a few absolutes. One is to always cook the pasta 'al dente' which means it has a bit of bite left to it when it's done cooking. In order to do this right, bring a large pot of cold, salted water to a boil, then drop in the pasta, turn the heat down, and let the pasta simmer gently just until it's cooked but not soft. Drain the pasta and leave it alone. It doesn't need rinsing. The pasta will continue to cook slightly after it is drained so be sure to drain it while it is a bit on the chewy side of 'al dente.'

The other absolute when it comes to Italian cooking is to use the freshest and fewest ingredients possible. Many real Italian cooks believe that the fewer ingredients you use in a dish, the better the dish tastes.

Combining the flavors of four or five fresh ingredients together produces a true Italian eating experience. Putting a dozen or more ingredients in a pot together tends to confuse the flavors so nothing stands out and it's just a mish-mash of tastes that can't be identified. So less is best, and fresh is best.

The good thing about Italian cooking is that you can keep it as simple as you want and still come up with a delicious meal the whole family will love. Italian cooks view meal preparation and eating as a way to spend time with their family and friends. You can have the same experience by putting a few of these Italian cooking ideas to work in your kitchen.

The Flavors Of Italian Cooking

Get To Know These Five Classic Italian Herbs
 

When you see a recipe that calls for 'Italian Herbs' what do you picture?  A bottle of prepared seasoning that is supposed to be Italian?  How do you know the flavors are what you want?  Let's take a look at what is most authentic when it comes to Italian herbs.

Basil

Fresh or dried, this is one herb that is unmistakable. It's pungent aroma is so familiar, it is pretty much expected in many Italian dishes.  Pesto is one common use.  Processed with pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, this is a standard sauce to keep on hand for many uses, including as a topping for pasta and bread.

This herb is a super-source for vitamin K which is essential for normal blood clotting as well as bone health and cell growth.  Also rich in vitamin A, iron, and calcium, this is one herb you may want to include in your cooking more often.  Basil is ancient and revered, and in Italy is a symbol of love.

Marjoram

If you cook a lot, you won't confuse marjoram with oregano.  But, there seems to be a debate because these two herbs are so closely related.  However, marjoram has a much milder, sweeter aroma than oregano.  If you do a side-by-side analysis, you should smell the difference.  Marjoram, because of its milder flavor, is often used in cream soups, fresh salads, and white sauces, whereas oregano is used more often in richer red sauces.

This herb has healthful benefits as well as flavorful benefits.  Marjoram is rich in iron and a good source of vitamins A and C, and also calcium. You'll find many recipes for using marjoram as a tea for all sorts of ailments.  But mostly, marjoram is used fresh or dried in a variety of Italian dishes.

Oregano

This is an herb that is well known by all Italian cooks, and wannabe Italian cooks.  You can barely read an Italian recipe without having oregano within reach.  Oregano, meaning 'mountain joy,' certainly brings joy to many kitchens.  However, the flavor is so intense, this is one herb I rarely use fresh.  It seems to overwhelm the dish if it's fresh, so I choose the dried variety.

Nutritionally speaking, oregano has a lot to offer, including vitamin K, manganese, iron, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, and is a powerful antioxidant.  Although used for centuries for cooking, and as an ornamental herb to symbolize joy, we didn't know about oregano in the United States until after World War II when soldiers brought it home from Italy.

Rosemary

Snipped fresh from the plant, rosemary has an aroma of pine and sea that you can't mistake for anything else.  Often paired with pork and lamb, this herb also has found its way into other savory sauces, dips, and most notably, flavored oils.  A must have in every Italian kitchen, this is an herb that is easily grown year round, even in a small container.

Rosemary has been used throughout history for improving memory, and is still today believed to have some effects on the brain.  Rich in fiber, iron, and calcium, rosemary is believed to strengthen the immune system, increase circulation, and improve digestion.  Along with all this, anti-inflammatory compounds may help reduce the symptoms of asthma.  But, before all this, rosemary captures us with the aroma and flavor.  The rest is, as they say, gravy... which is also another perfect use for rosemary.

Thyme

When we think of Italian cooking, we often think of spicy, rich, dark, heavy meat sauces.  Although that is a part of Italian cuisine, we have to remember Italy has a couple big coastlines, and that means seafood.  Thyme is a delicate herb which pairs with fish in a magical way.  The combination is a classic.  Another classic is the pairing of thyme and mushrooms.  Need I say more?

Yes, thyme is delicate, but it packs a lot of nutritional bang.  You'll find thyme to be higher than most of the other herbs in vitamin K, and a very respectable source of iron.  Like the other herbs, thyme is a powerful antioxidant and deserves a place on every table.  Thyme has also been used as an antiseptic and gargle.  This herb grows well in containers and is best when used fresh.

With these five classic Italian herbs, you have the basis for just about any dish you want to make.  Whether you are creating a red meat sauce, or a white wine sauce, or a pesto, or a salad, or a grilled fish meal, it all starts with the herbs.  Get to know these herbs and you'll be cooking Italian dishes with style, flavor, and flair.

A History Of Italian Cuisine

Explore The Culinary Regions Of Italy

Just one look at a map of Italy will give you some idea of the large footprint this peninsula covers.  Shaped like a boot, Italy's long narrow shape jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea explains a little about the culinary differences... and similarities.  But there are many pieces to this tasty puzzle.  Let's take a look at some of the reasons this country is mapped out in so many culinary regions.

Lay of the Land

The size of Italy is just a bit larger than Arizona.  However, unlike Arizona, Italy has a vast coastline - almost 4800 miles.  Some of the culinary similarities throughout Italy are due to the fact that so many miles border the warm waters of the Mediterranean.  Then again, there are very definite culinary differences, too.  The long narrow shape means that from top to toe, Italy covers a lot of climates.

Italy is divided into 20 regions, many formed by the topography of the land itself.  Some of these regions are landlocked and mountainous, while others run along the sun drenched seashore.  Cold snowy winters and shorter summers in the north result in cooking methods and ingredients that vary greatly from the mild winters and long hot summers of the south.

Climate

Subtle variances in pasta, vegetables, and fats can be pinpointed to certain regions based on the climate.  For instance, dry pasta made with just flour, water, and salt was typical in the south where it would dry quickly and easily.  In the north and central parts of Italy where drying pasta wasn't quite as convenient, a softer pasta was more likely made using eggs along with the flour and salt.  Stuffed pasta dishes are also more familiar in the north and central areas, simply because the softer pasta could be wrapped around a filling.

Vegetables that grow in warm weather, like tomatoes and eggplant, make up a large majority of dishes in southern Italy.  Vegetables that grow in cooler climates, like cabbage and root vegetables, are used to make dishes in the northern regions.  Gnocchi, a dumpling-like pasta made with flour, eggs, salt, and potatoes, is a common dish in the north where potatoes are plentiful.

The same climate differences also influence the type of fats used.  Although modern transportation makes olive oil common now all over Italy, it wasn't always so.  Olive trees grow in warm climates.  Therefore, the southern regions of Italy used olive oil while the northern climates relied on butter.  The lush pastures and mountains of the north supported dairy farms, making butter plentiful.  Which also explains why cheese is more prevalent in recipes coming from the northern regions as opposed to the south.

Cultures

Along with the wide range of climates, surrounding cultures play a part in the influence of Italian cuisine.  Sharing borders and close proximity to France, Switzerland, and Austria on the north, and Greece on the south, each region in Italy has been given a sprinkling of styles and flavors from many cultures.  For example, you'll find varieties of sauerkraut and dishes using root crops in the mountainous north, much like foods from Germany and Austria.  In the south, the influence from Greece is unmistakeable.  For instance, the Italian dish 'Parmigiana' is very similar to the Greek dish 'Mousakka.'

Crossroads

The location of Italy put it at the crossroads of many exploring and conquering nations.  Because of this, there are pockets of cuisine influenced by traffic moving across Italy throughout the ages.  However, the Italian people themselves were not apt to spread these culinary influences to their neighboring Italians. The reason is, before World War II the people of Italy simply did not travel very much.

That may be a strange concept to those raised on stories of pioneers moving across the country the moment they stepped off the ship onto American soil.  The fact is, unlike American settlers, the Italian people did not form large migrations across the land, carrying their recipes with them.  Each region's recipes typically stayed within the region.

It's hard to imagine a country just a little larger than the State of Arizona having so many variations in cuisine from one region to the next.  With exploration and conquest, you would think the recipes would naturally spread from coast to coast.  However, that was not the case. Since the Italian people didn't travel as a rule beyond their own region, their individual cuisine was well guarded... until now.  It's time we discovered the rich culinary history of all the regions of Italy so we can bring the story of this incredible cuisine home.

Easy Italian Cooking Tips For The Busy Home Chef

In today’s busy world it’s getting more difficult for families to find the time to sit down at the dinner table together. There's homework to do, deadlines to meet, and very little time to breathe let alone cook a big meal. Italian cuisine may be intimidating because some of the meals look very time consuming. But, don't despair. There are ways to fit even Italian cooking into your schedule. Although there is no way to add any extra hours to the day, there are ways to take the stress out of cooking a big meal. Let's take a look at ideas to make the preparation quick and easy for families on the go.

Find simple go-to recipes

There are a ton of three and four ingredient Italian recipes out there. These meals require little preparation and time but end up tasting like you spent hours in the kitchen. You don’t have to waste a lot of time figuring out what spices and seasonings to use, and you don't have to travel to a dozen different specialty stores to find the ingredients.

The dish most of us call 'spaghetti' literally requires only spaghetti pasta and sauce. Nothing more. You can embellish the sauce as much as you like, and have time for. But a sauce made Italian style would be very simple; tomatoes, seasonings, onion, garlic, and meat if you like. It takes less time to prepare this dish then it would to wait in line at a fast food place.

For hot weather, enjoy a quick cold Italian pasta salad. Use a sturdy pasta, like penne, and mix it with Italian salad dressing and olive oil, then add other ingredients you have on hand. You can toss in cooked chicken, seafood, onion, celery, bell peppers, and olives, then sprinkle with oregano or basil and Parmesan cheese and dinner is done, all in a matter of minutes. Keep a few basic ingredients on hand at all times and you can put together a pasta salad any time.

Put your slow cooker to work

The slow cooker has been around for quite some time helping busy families survive the hectic dinner hour. You can turn just about any Italian meal into a slow cooked feast with very little preparation. And that bit of preparation will pay off, because coming home to a meal that is ready to enjoy just eases that stress away.

Thinking again of our simple recipes, the slow cooker is the perfect way to prepare a sauce for your spaghetti meal. Throw in your ingredients, and, as they say, “set it and forget it.” When you come home, cook your spaghetti and dinner is ready.

 For the Italian pasta salad, put chicken in the slow cooker in the morning, seasoned with oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary, and when you come home it will be ready to cut up and toss into your cooked pasta. You can even make a simplified chicken cacciatore in the slow cooker using jarred marinara sauce, mushrooms, onion, celery, and Italian seasonings. Or faster yet, choose a marinara sauce that has all the ingredients and seasonings already in it.

Although the slow cooker isn't well suited to cook most pasta, there are some recipes that work, such as lasagne using the large noodles. But, even if you have to cook the pasta for a meal when you come home, it takes almost no time at all. Put the pot on to boil, drop in the pasta, and by the time you've sorted the school backpacks and signed a few permission slips, the pasta is ready. Putting your slow cooker to work making Italian meals will not only help you maintain your sanity, but will allow you time to spend with your family instead of fretting over what to serve for dinner.

Healthy meals fast and easy

If it seems like eating healthy takes too much time, take another look at Italian cooking. You might be surprised at how healthy Italian cuisine actually is. When you picture a plate of lasagne or spaghetti, the word 'healthy' may not be the first thing you think. However, when you break down the elements of a good Italian recipe, you find the ingredients to be quite healthy.

With ingredients like tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, celery, bell peppers, artichokes,  olive oil, fresh herbs, seafood, fish, chicken, and lean meats, it's easy to see how healthy Italian cooking can be. But, can this healthy cooking be easy, too? Yes. By following the tips we've discussed – finding simple recipes and putting the slow cooker to work – you can put together a few healthy ingredients fast and have dinner ready when you are.

Now you can skip the fast food racket. Although fast food may seem like the quick and easy fix when you're short on time, in the long run it’s unhealthy and expensive. Instead, stock up on whole grain pastas, fresh or frozen vegetables, olive oil, and plenty of herbs and seasonings. You'll be able to whip up healthy Italian meals in minutes with just a few basic recipes.

And don't forget to involve your whole family in the cooking process. After all, the idea behind cooking fast and easy Italian meals is so you have more time to spend with your family. What better way to do that than having a little help in the kitchen? And what better way to enjoy meals that are both healthy and delicious than learning how to cook Italian style? You will be able to give your family the nutrition they need without taking away the hearty, rich taste everybody loves about Italian cuisine.

Great Tips For Excellent Italian Meals

Discover The Authentic Cooking Methods Of Italian Cuisine

To try grouping Italian cooking under one flag would be quite difficult.  Because of the extremes in climate from the chilly mountainous north to the sun-drenched seashores of the south, you'll find ingredients vary greatly, even in similar Italian dishes.  The creamy, buttery sauces of the north are translated into olive oil based dishes in the south.  Starchy root vegetables show up in dishes in the north, while tomatoes and eggplants rule the recipes in the southern regions.

However, throughout Italy the cooking techniques are shared by all.  With some slight variations, we find standard preparation and cooking methods to be similar across the country.  Let's take a look at a few food preparation and recipe basics that will be recognized in Italian kitchens from coast to coast.

Rissoto

Is it a cooking technique or is it a dish?  The answer is, it's both.  The traditional recipe calls for arborio, a short grain rice, sauteed in butter or olive oil, then stock or broth is stirred in a ladle at a time, over and over, stirring constantly, until the rice softens and becomes creamy. Vegetables, cheese, seafood, or other ingredients can be added at this point.  This is the recipe, but it is also the method.  It's adding a ladle of stock at a time and stirring constantly until the rice (or pasta) cooks fully that makes a dish a rissoto.

Polenta

If you have never made polenta yourself, you may only think of this as a dish, not a method.  However, if you have experienced the old fashioned technique of producing a smooth, lump-free polenta, you know the method well - one part cornmeal stirred into four parts boiling water or stock, and then stirred, stirred, and stirred some more, always in one direction, for about an hour.  After the hour, your polenta can be served right out of the pot with added cheese, herbs, garlic, and tomatoes.  Or, the other familiar process may be used where the mixture is poured into a pan and left to cool, then sliced and served by frying or grilling or baking with other ingredients if desired.  This dish definitely requires a process, which makes 'polenta' as much a method as a recipe.

Crudo

For the freshest possible taste, this technique is used to add ingredients to a dish just before serving, rather than cooking in the dish.  Think about hot cooked pasta tossed at the last minute with a combination of chopped fresh basil, fennel, bell pepper, tomato, and garlic. Adding ingredients at the end of preparation may be referred to in a recipe name as 'a la crudo,' letting you know you are getting the freshest of the fresh at the table.

Battuto

This word means 'beaten.'  Ingredients such as onion, garlic, pancetta, celery, bell peppers, and carrots are mixed with salt and some sort of fat, chopped small and blended well.  A food processor comes in handy for this preparation basic.  Once you have your 'battuto,' you are ready to formulate a sauce or soup, mixing it with whatever ingredients the dish calls for.  Beating these ingredients together rather than keeping them independent of each other creates an infusion, producing more depth of flavor.

Al Dente

This term is much more familiar around the world than it was long ago.  Most people are now used to cooking their favorite pasta gently and until just tender, with a little 'bite back' when bitten. Al dente, "to the tooth," is a desirable method (or result) of cooking pasta so it remains somewhat solid in the center, but not crunchy.  If pasta sinks away when you bite into it, it is over-cooked and was not successfully cooked al dente.  To throw it out and start over would be the only way to handle mushy pasta like an Italian.

As you see, some cooking techniques lend their name to the dish itself, and vice versa.  This may not seem quite so strange when you think about ordering a familiar side for lunch and just calling the side dish 'fries.'
Even though ingredients may change from one end of Italy to the other, cooking methods are similar in style. Creating Italian cuisine can start as simply as learning these techniques, then putting your own spin on the ingredients you choose.  Buon appetito!

Italian Slow Cooker Cooking Tips

Italian Cooking Beyond Spaghetti

When I dream of a plate of Italian food, it usually looks something like this;  spaghetti, tomato  sauce, Parmesan cheese, and garlic bread.  However, that type of dish is as American as they come.  What truly makes up an authentic Italian dish?  Is Italian cuisine based on the spices and seasonings or possibly the way the pasta is made?  What are some ways we can differentiate a true Italian meal from its American counterpart?  

A Love Affair

If you know anything about the Italian culture, you already know about the passion.  Italian cuisine is all about understanding the relationship between the people and the food.  Yes, it's a love affair.  Besides spending hours and hours eating their meals, Italian cooks also spend time searching for the right ingredients and preparing everything with love.

You'll find on the Italian table an array of dishes from appetizers to entrees to desserts, creating a  culinary masterpiece, in appearance, aroma, and taste.  With the introduction of new ingredients and seasonings through the ages, the Italian meal is constantly evolving. 

A typical Italian meal is rich in local fruits and vegetables, making this cuisine one of the healthiest in the world.  Another healthy ingredient used throughout the ages in Italy is now well known around the world.  We are, of course, talking about extra virgin olive oil.  Many Italians credit this ingredient for their robust health and beauty, which may be true.  What we know for a fact is that olive oil tastes wonderful and imparts a nice richness and flavor to the Italian foods we love.

Pasta Brings Us Together

When it comes to Italian cuisine, the country is divided into regions, with each region having its  own favorite ingredients and cooking methods.  Each is unique and each is authentic.  When it comes to pasta, however, there is no disagreement.  The love of pasta unites each region in the country. 

Whether you are using dried pasta or fresh pasta, there are some rules to follow when preparing a pot of pasta.  Many American cooks make one common mistake; we tend to overcook the pasta, making it soft.  Taking the pasta off the stove a little bit sooner, when you think it isn't quite ready, will bring the pasta closer to the Italian ideal. 

Always start with a huge pot of cold, salted water.  The pot of water should seem much too big for the pasta you are adding.  Having lots of room for the pasta to move around in the pot will prevent the pasta from sticking to itself.   And I did say salted water, didn't I?  Yes.  Add plenty of salt.

Bring your pot of water up to a rapid boil, drop your pasta in, give it a spin, and turn the heat down.  Cook it now in the slowly boiling water just until it's al dente, or if you bite into a noodle, it bites back just a little.  Immediately dump into a strainer or colander and DO NOT RINSE.  This is another misconception.  You don't want to wash away all the salt and starch in the pasta;  that's where the flavor and texture is.  Some folks like to add oil to the cooking water.  That will help prevent the pasta from sticking to itself, but if you allow enough room for the pasta in the water, you won't have a problem.  Oil may prevent your sauce from sticking to the pasta, however, so you can decide what's best for your dish.

Add your sauce to the warm pasta and the flavors will intensify.  You can spoon in a bit of the pasta cooking water if you want a saucier sauce.  If your recipe calls for cold pasta, just let it sit out at room temperature.  It will cool off pretty fast.  Or, you may cover the pasta and set it in the refrigerator for just a few minutes.  Stir it up and it will be cool.

Put Your Slow Cooker to Work

If you read about a typical Italian meal, it might seem like it would take forever to prepare.  Well, you might be right, in some instances.  Like many cuisines, you can take as long or as short a time to prepare a meal as you like.  But, you'll need a few tricks and recipes to speed things up if you want your house to resemble an Italian restaurant in no time.  The slow cooker is an excellent way to take the work out of the meal and have more time for the important things like spending time with your family. 

For example, lasagna is a popular dish that many cooks avoid because of the time it takes to prepare.  However, even lasagna can be turned into a slow cooker sensation with a few simple steps.   Set out your ingredients as you would if you were cooking it in the oven.  Use a large ladle and put your sauce in the slow cooker, and layer with uncooked noodles and other ingredients until you are satisfied that you have enough, about 3/4. of the way full.  Now you can 'set it and forget it' as they say.  Set the slow cooker to low and cook it covered for about 4 hours.

Italian cuisine is loved not just in Italy, but throughout the world.  It is simple enough to learn how to create authentic Italian dishes through practice and maybe even a cooking class or two.  Remember, the secret to creating an authentic Italian meal is to focus on using the right  ingredients, including plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, and to treat your pasta properly!   Have fun and experiment until you put your own spin on a classic meal right from the heart of Italy.