Introduction 9
Our Story 11
About This Book 17
Ingredients & Techniques 18
Cold Antipasti
Pimentón-Marinated Olives 25
Red Onion & Poppy Jam 26
Homemade Whipped Ricotta with Honey 27
Chile & Lime Candied Hazelnuts 28
Garlic Focaccia 29
Roasted Cauliflower & Pine Nut Spread 30
Spiced Pignoli Brittle 31
Spicy Giardiniera alla Kimchi 34
Grandma Rito's Marinated Roasted Peppers 35
Shrimp Cocktail alla Puttanesca 36
Seasoned Stracchino Cheese Spread 39
Pesto-Marinated Provolone 40
Savory Pizzelle Crackers with Black Pepper, Fennel & Parmesan 41
Pickled Eggplant a Scapece with Sumac & Mint 43
Pepperoni & Fontina Crackers 44
Hot Antipasti
Mushrooms al Forno with Fontina & Marsala 49
Spicy Baked Clams Francesco 51
Scacciata with Swiss Chard & Spinach 53
Addario-Style Frying Peppers 57
Stuffed Artichokes Oreganata 58
Stuffed Mussels with Pepperoni Rice 61
Sicilian Pizza Rolls 63
Mortadella Spiedini with Pickled Garlic Salsa Verde 67
Salami & Cheese Potato Crocchette 68
Salads
Broccoli Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette, Olives & Crispy Shallots 73
Chrysanthemum Caesar 75
Grilled Romano Bean Salad 76
Spicy Crab Panzanella 78
Garlicky Potato Salad with Avocado 81
Spicy Antipasto Salad 82
Radicchio Salad with Apple, Cilantro & Hazelnut Dressing 85
Persimmon Caprese 87
Italian-American Wedge with Creamy Herb Dressing, Gorgonzola & Pepperoni 89
Prosciutto & Melon Salad with Tamarind, Hazelnut & Feta 91
Sauces & Ragus
10-Minute San Marzano Tomato Sauce 95
Eggplant Sugo alla Norma 97
Cacciatore-Style Ragu with Mushrooms & Pancetta 99
Spicy Fra Diavolo Sauce 103
Smoky Chicken Ragu with Mezcal, Chiles & Olives 105
Amatriciana with Braised Pork Shoulder 107
Neapolitan-Style Short Rib & Caramelized Onion Ragu 110
Italian Sausage Bolognese 114
Osso Buco & Prosciutto Ragu 117
Spiced Lamb Ragu with Marsala & Fennel 119
Pasta
Dried Pasta
Pasta e Fagioli with Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens & Prosciutto 123
Cacio e Pepe Pastina 124
Pasta Gemma 125
Broccoli Soup with Broken Linguine 129
Leftover Spaghetti & Meatball Frittata 131
Fresh Pasta
Southern-Style Eggless Pasta 134
Fusilli 135
Capunti 137
Orecchiette 138
Fusilli & Scampi, New Orleans Style 140
Orecchiette with Chickpeas, Turmeric & Dandelion Greens 143
Capunti with Clams, Capocollo & Potato 144
Northern-Style Egg Yolk Pasta 147
Fazzoletti 149
Sorpresine 150
Farfalle 151
Sorpresine with Mussels, Guajillo, Cilantro & Lime 153
Farfalle with White Vodka Sauce 155
Fazzoletti with Pesto Bianco 156
Gnocchi & Gnudi
Polenta Gnocchi with Rosemary, Honey & Toasted Sesame 159
Potato Gnocchi with Chive & Dill in Taleggio Cream Sauce 161
Ricotta Gnudi with Peanuts, Cilantro & Roasted Grapes 163
Lasagna & Baked Pastas
Scalloped Potato Lasagna Bianca 169
Lasagna Verde with Pistachio Pesto 172
Don Angie Pinwheel Lasagna 175
Eggplant Parm Pinwheel Lasagna 178
Grandma Addario's Lasagna with Tiny Meatballs 180
Stuffed Shells with Clams, Spinach & Pancetta 181
Baked Ziti Nerano with Zucchini & Provolone 185
Semolina Crepe Manicotti 186
Sausage-Stuffed Rigatoni with Peppers & Onions 189
Meatballs
Classic Meatballs 193
Mortadella & Chicken Meatballs 195
Broccoli & Farro Polpette 196
Eggplant Polpette 198
Veal Piccata Meatballs 200
Pork Meatballs with Caramelized Fennel 201
Chicken & 'Nduja Meatballs 203
Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Currants, Almonds & Feta 204
Sardine Polpette 207
Shrimp Parm Meatballs 208
Mains
Layered Eggplant Parm 213
Polenta Rossa with Eggs & Roasted Tomatoes 216
Savoy Cabbage with Browned Butter, Tomato & Mozz 219
Sesame-Seared Fish with Sicilian Red Pesto 220
Chicken Milanese with Fresh Fennel, Herbs, Honey & Mustard 222
Chicken Parm 226
Chicken Scarpariello with Sweet & Sour Vinegar Peppers 227
Campari & Orange Sticky Ribs 229
Pork Chop alla Pizzaiola 230
Pizza Chiena (Easter Pie) 233
Steak al Limone 235
Veal Milanese da Pepi 236
Vegetables
Spaghetti Squash Aglio e Olio 241
Brussels Sprouts Calabrese with Spicy Colatura Vinaigrette 242
Japanese Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Italian Dressing 245
Sicilian-Style Roasted Cauliflower 246
Charred Broccoli with Pecorino & Toasted Sesame 249
Broccoli Rabe & Provolone Gratin 250
Roasted Potatoes Oreganata 251
Mushrooms in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce 253
Eggplant Agrodolce with Spiced Pignoli Brittle 254
Saltimbocca-Style Fennel with Prosciutto & Fontina 257
Dessert & After Dinner Drinks
Rosemary & Lemon Pignoli Cookies 261
Ginger & Lemon Ricotta Cookies 263
Cocoa & Coffee Almond Cookies 264
Pecorino & Pecan Shortbread Cookies 266
Polenta Snickerdoodles 267
Grandpa Rito's Cannoli 271
Ricotta Pie with Coconut & Lime 273
Vietnamese Coffee Tiramisu 277
No-Bake Spumoni Cheesecake with Cherries, Pistachio & White Chocolate 279
Honey Zeppole 283
Hazelnut Torta Caprese with Sweetened Crème Fraîche 284
Tre Latte Olive Oil Cake 287
After-Dinner Drinks
Nocino with Espresso Beans & Lemon 291
Homemade Sambuca 292
Toasted Hazelnut & Orange Liqueur 293
Citrus 'Cello 295
Basics 297
Further Reading 309
Acknowledgments 310
Index 313