One day I hope to go to Italy, try authentic Italian food and see the sights. For now, I will have to take Italy home with some new cookbooks! I am thrilled to see a mix of modern and traditional Italian fare in these new cookbooks.
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You can never go wrong with Italian cooking. It’s fantastic for the kids during weekday nights, perfect for huge gatherings with loved ones, and great for a night in by yourself with a movie.
Take a look at these new spring cookbook releases to get you started on your next Italian food kick!
Cocktail Italiano: The Definitive Guide to Aperitivo: Drinks, Nibbles, and Tales of the Italian Riviera
Annette Joseph
Of course, we need to start our journey with cocktails! The Cocktail Italiano: The Definitive Guide to Aperitivo: Drinks, Nibbles, and Tales of the Italian Riviera cookbook will get you started.
I love how this cookbook is divided up. They’ve taken twelve major cities near the Italian Riviera and feature cocktails and appetizers that are uniquely theirs. We can take these beach side traditions home with us for the summertime.
Here are some recipe examples:
- Martini Balsamico
- Manhattan
- Sbagliato Shakerato
- James Bond “Vesper” Martini Cocktail
The photos are bright and colorful, just like the beachy landscapes of Italy.
This cookbook includes fabulous recipes, and we also learn about each city, including the nightlife and culture. There are even some places I’ve never heard of that I want to visit after perusing through the Cocktail Italiano: The Definitive Guide to Aperitivo: Drinks, Nibbles, and Tales of the Italian Riviera cookbook.
The Pasta Man: The Art of Making Spectacular Pasta – with 40 Recipes
Mateo Zielonka
Isn’t the cover just beautiful? I can’t even imagine how he has done that! Good thing I can learn how to make stellar pasta like this in the The Pasta Man: The Art of Making Spectacular Pasta – with 40 Recipes cookbook.
If you’re looking for a cookbook that dives into true pasta making, this is perfect for you. There are only 40 recipes, but the focuses on the the noodle itself. There are photos to illustrate how to fold, cut, and create all the different shapes and sizes of pasta. As a bonus, we learn how to make multicolored pasta!
Some examples of pasta you will learn how to make are ravioli, tortellini, pappardelle, culurgiones (which I’ve never heard of before!) and more.
Along with the techniques of pasta making are recipes that you can use for your pasta. Once you know how to make the actual pasta the recipes will be a breeze!
I’ve always wanted to learn how to make pasta from scratch, so it would be fascinating to check this out. Unfortunately I’d have to make some serious adjustments since I am gluten-free, but I can alter some of these so it can be!
What kind of pasta would you like to make?
The Pan’Ino
Maria Teresa Marco & Alessandro Frassica
I remember when my parents got their first panini maker. They used to use it all the time. I never took advantage of it back when I could have regular bread, but now I would love to experiment with more paninis! This is beyond a sandwich – the flavors are complex. Take a look at The Pan’Ino cookbook.
This cookbook isn’t very big, but it packs a punch! The chapters are:
- Classic pan’ini,
- Vegetarian pan’ini
- Fish pan’ini
- Ingredients, and
- The baker!
The photos throughout this cookbook are incredibly enticing. I’ve never wanted a sandwich as much as I do now that I’m looking through. The photos are bold, cheerful, and fun. They display a whole atmosphere surrounding paninis. There are shots of people eating and preparing them in Italian cafes.
They’ve included a recipe to make your own authentic panini bread, so now you can have fresh paninis every day of the week.
I can’t wait to try some of these ideas next time I decide to create my own pan’ino!
Pizza Czar: Recipes and Know-How from a World-Traveling Pizza Chef
Anthony Falco
Modern day pizza was inspired by Italian flatbread, but I know things have changed over time. The Pizza Czar: Recipes and Know-How from a World-Traveling Pizza Chef cookbook is a fascinating look into how pizza has changed over time.
The world loves pizza! Many of these recipes are influenced by many places around the world. There are recipes from Japan, Thailand, Italy, New York, Brazil, and so much more. So this isn’t strictly an Italian cookbook. If you love Italian food – you probably love pizza of all kinds!
Of course, this cookbook shows us the best way to make the perfect pizza dough. That’s the most important part! There are even photos to demonstrate the art of pizza stretching!
I personally love all the rainbow colors that decorate the entirety of this cookbook. Pizza making never looked so entertaining!
If you love pizza, this is the perfect cookbook for you. Anthony Falco is a pizza consult and travels around the world – who better to learn from?
A Blissful Feast
Teresa Lust
If you truly want a glimpse into the world of Italy, A Blissful Feast cookbook is going to be a perfect addition to your bookshelf. Teresa Lust delivers us a stunning cookbook filled with stories from Italian home cooks from all over the country.
Lust encourages us to do as the Italian do and cook from home. There are over 35 recipes that have been passed down through many generations. One story that impressed me is about an eighty-year-old woman who rolls pasta out with a three-foot rolling pin. She must have amazing shoulders!
These stories are touching and truly help you fall back in love with home cooking. We get to learn from the experts – Italians!
There are so many Italian dishes that I want to attempt, but never know where to start. These exciting cookbooks are a fantastic start to a wonderful journey!
~Kaiti
