Plate Up Some Pasta-Free Meals
Forget the spaghetti safety net—it’s time to let your Italian culinary flair shine beyond the realm of noodles. Embrace the art of pasta-free plating and watch a new world of textures, colors, and flavors unfold on your dinner table. These savory suggestions make it easy to eat like an Italian and are great ways to mix up your meals during National Family Meals Month™. Join the movement!
Layers of tender eggplant, nestled between blankets of rich tomato sauce and gooey cheese, transform into a comforting masterpiece in baked eggplant parmesan. This hearty vegetarian dish proves that Italian cuisine can satisfy even the most devoted carnivores without relying on pasta or meat, offering the perfect balance of crispy edges and melt-in-your-mouth eggplant. Make this Baked Eggplant Parmesan from Valerie’s Kitchen the next time you crave Italian. Watch the video to see how easy it is to make. These scrumptious stacks satisfy!
One of the tastiest Italian street foods is easy-to-prepare Arancini (Fried Risotto Balls). Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, arancini are Sicily’s golden orbs of culinary genius—bite-sized risotto balls that pack a flavorful punch. Put this tasty snack on the appetizer menu the next time you plan an Italian feast. Eataly’s Arancini is a great recipe to try.
Focaccia—Italian flat bread—offers the best of both worlds: it’s crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. It gets its unique look from dimpling the dough with fingertips before baking. Focaccia can be enjoyed as a side to meals or as sandwich bread. If you’ve never made focaccia before, you’ll want to make it when the kids are around because they’ll love helping you make the dimples in the dough. This Focaccia Bread Recipe from Love & Lemons includes step-by-step photos.
Pollo alla Sorrentina—Chicken Sorrentino—elevates chicken to new heights, layering lightly breaded chicken cutlets, prosciutto, eggplant, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano for a golden, delicious, and unforgettable meal. Try this Chicken Sorrentino Recipe from Marcellina in Cucina.
Risotto, the epitome of Italian comfort food, transforms rice into a luxurious, creamy dish, revealing flavors in each bite because each grain absorbs the savory broth, wine, and carefully chosen ingredients, resulting in an elegant and deeply satisfying dish. Some risottos contain butter, wine, onion, and parmesan cheese. Serve risotto as a primo—first course—before the main entrée. Risotto requires constant stirring and attention, but the delicious results are worth the effort. Make with short-grain rice such as arborio. This Risotto alla Milanese from Food & Wine includes a pinch of saffron, which adds a golden hue and delicate flavor.
While pasta often steals the spotlight, exploring Italy’s diverse culinary landscape reveals a wealth of delectable non-pasta dishes that will broaden your Italian cooking skills.
