Introduction xiii
My approach to bread xvii
How to use this book xxiii
Essential Ingredients xxvii
Flour xxvii
Salt xxviii
Garlic xxix
Eggs xxix
Tomatoes xxx
Anchovies xxxi
Tomato paste xxxi
Olive oil xxxi
Breads
Starter 3
Bread for home bakers 8
Friselle 19
Pizza bianca 25
Pizza with peppers (and some variations) 29
Slices
Ricotta and honey 37
French toast 41
Bread, butter, and anchovies 44
Bread, butter, and bottarga 44
Bread and chocolate 44
Baccala mantecato, or whipped salt cod 45
Ciambotta 47
Eggs in purgatory 50
Clams on friselle or toast 52
Roast chicken with bread or toast 53
Sandwiches
A few notes about sandwiches 57
Ham sandwich 60
Pane cunzato 62
Pane e mortadella 65
Grilled marinated zucchini sandwich with stracciatella and mint 66
Anchovy, chicory, and provola 68
Fried eggplant sandwich 70
Roasted quince, Pecorino, and arugula 73
Broccoli rabe 76
Pepper and potato 77
Mozzarella en carrozza 79
Tuna with harissa, eggs, and olives 80
Frittata with artichoke, Pecorino, and mint 83
Pieces
Croutons 88
Stuffed peppers 90
Cherry tomato salad with croutons 92
Pancotto al pomodoro 95
Pancotto with broccoli rabe 96
Stuffing 98
Cabbage and potatoes with broken friselle 100
Meatballs and "meatballs"
Polpetti di pane, or bread "meatballs" 106
Meatballs 109
Quick tomato sauce 114
Polpetti di bollito, or boiled beef meatballs 115
Ricotta "meatballs" 117
Crumbs
Basic bread crumbs 124
Toasted bread crumbs 125
Pasta
Pasta with bread crumbs and raisins 128
Pasta with bread crumbs and anchovies 131
Pasta with bread crumbs and cauliflower 134
Pasta with Romanesco cauliflower, anchovies, and bread crumbs 136
Pasta alia Paolina 139
Pasta with Piennolo tomatoes and bread crumbs 140
Gnocchi di pane, or bread gnocchi 142
Fried things
Chicken cutlets 146
Breaded fried eggplant 148
Pizza di patate, or potato cake 149
Potato croquettes 153
Fried lamb chops 154
Arancini 160
Suppli 162
Things to Eat with Bread
Red cabbage salad 169
Eggplant salad 170
Insalata cotto e crudo, or Led Zeppelin salad 173
Grapefruit salad 177
Celery salad 178
Puntarelle 181
Purslane salad 183
Winter squash with hot pepper, garlic, and mint 185
Sauteed peppers with olives 186
Beans and peas
A few notes on beans 189
Pancotto with beans 192
Dried peas with puntarelle and fried bread 195
Greens and beans 197
Dried chestnut and white bean soup 201
Fava bean puree with bitter greens 203
Leblebi 206
Harissa 208
Chickpea salad 211
Breakfast Cereal and Sweets
Warm breakfast cereal 215
Cold breakfast cereal 216
Torta di pane 219
Baked apples with bread crumbs 221
Iris 222
Resources 225
Acknowledgments 229
Index 231