the appetizer:
Though there are many individual regional cuisines in Italy, northern and southern Italian cuisines are primarily differentiated by the cooking fat and style of pasta commonly used. Northern Italian cuisine (other than on the coast) favors butter, cream, polenta, Mascarpone, Grana Padano, and Parmigiano cheeses, risotto and fresh egg pasta. Southern Italian cuisine tends toward Mozzarella, Caciocavallo and Pecorino cheeses, olive oil and dried pasta. Southern Italian cuisine also makes greater use of the ubiquitous tomato.
Italy
Pasta and Bean Soup (Pasta e Fagioli)
16 ounces dried Cannellini beans (or white beans)
5 fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves
2 cloves garlic
9 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups water
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne flakes
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves
Salt, pepper
8 oz. ziti, or other short, tubular pasta
Soak the beans overnight in cold water. Drain beans and rinse. Place beans in a large stew pot along with the herbs, whole garlic, 3 tablespoons of the oil, and water. Bring the beans to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until beans are tender—about 1-1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 6 tablespoons of oil in a small skillet Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste, cayenne pepper flakes, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Add sauce to cooked beans and stir well.
Pass soup through food mill, return to stew pot, and cook over low heat until thickened slightly.
Cook ziti in a pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and add to soup. Cook for 15 minutes more before serving.
Italy
- Backgrounder
- When To Eat
- Where To Eat
- How To Order Italian Coffee
- How To Eat Italian-Style
- About Cheap Eats in Italy and Cheap Sleeps in Italy
Italian Recipes
- Asparagus Omelet (Asparagus Frittata)
- Cornmeal Bread (Polenta)
- Fresh Pasta
- Hazelnut Dipping Cookies (Hazelnut Biscotti)
- Italian Wine Sherbet (Vin Santo Sorbet)
- Lemon Ricotta
- Marinated Mozzarella
- Creamy Mushroom Rice (Risotto al Funghi)
- Pasta and Bean Soup (Pasta di Fagioli)
- Pasta in Rich Sauce (Pasta Carbonara)
- Pasta with Sausage (Pasta alla Campidanese)
- Pizza Crust (Focaccia)
- Potato Pasta (Potato Gnocchi)
- Ricotta Cheesecake (Torta di Ricotta)
- Shrimp in Garlic Butter (Shrimp alla Griglia)
- Spaghetti with Olives and Capers (Spaghetti alla puttanesca)
- Stuffed Zucchini (Zucchini Ripiene al Prosciutto)
- Mocha Ladyfinger Cake (Tiramisu)
- Veal Scallops with Tomatoes and Basil (Veal Scaloppine)
- White Bean Salad
Pasta, Risotto & You (with recipes)
from Kate's Global Kitchen:
Italian Cookbooks
- Italian Country Cooking by Susanna Gelmetti
- Baked Asparagus (Asparagi Al Forno)
- Penne with Ricotta, Lemon and Basil
(Penne con Ricotta, Limone e Basilico)
More Cookbooks
- 99% Fat-Free Italian Cooking by Barry Bluestein & Kevin Morrissey
- Betty Crocker's Italian Cooking by Antonio Cecconi
- Biba's Italy by Biba Caggiano
- Biba's Taste of Italy by Biba Caggiano
- Cooking the Roman Way by David Downie
- Cucina Ebraica by Joyce Goldstein
- David Ruggerio's Italian Kitchen
- Flavors of Italy: Emilia Romagna by Rosalba Gioffré
- Gusto Italiano by Ursula Ferrigno
- How to Cook Italian by Giuliano Hazan
- Insalate by Susan Simon
- Italian Family Cooking by Father Joseph Orsini
- Italian Farmhouse Cookbook by Susan Herrmann Loomis
- Italian Festival Food by Anne Bianchi
- Italy Anywhere by Lori De Mori, Jean-Louis De Mori and Antonio Tommasi
- Little Foods of the Mediterranean by Clifford A. Wright
- Mangia by Ricardo Diaz & Nancy Jessup
- Naples at Table by Arthur Schwartz
- Nick Stellino's Passione
- Saveur Cooks Authentic Italian by the Editors of Saveur Magazine
- Simple Italian Food by Mario Batali
- Sweet Sicily by Victoria Granof
- The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen by Paula Wolfert
- Umbria by Julia della Croce
Back to the main Italy page
Italy on Wikipedia
More country Destinations
This page modified January 2007
The Global Gourmet®
Main Page
Advanced Search
Recent Searches
Departments
Kate's Global Kitchen
Kate's Books
Cookbook Profiles
Global Destinations
Holiday & Party Recipes
I Love Desserts
On Wine
Shopping
New Green Basics
Cooking with Kids
Archives
Conversions, Charts
& Substitutions
Search
About the
Global Gourmet®
Contact Info
Advertising
Feedback
Privacy Statement
Cookbook Awards
2010 IACP
Award Nominees
DamGoodSweet Desserts
My New Orleans
New American Table
Real Cajun
Rose's Heavenly Cakes
Bottega Favorita
How to Roast Lamb
Baking Kids Love
Family Meals
Gourmet Today
History of Ice Cream
Seasonal Spanish Food
The Brazilian Table
The Portuguese Table
Hot Fish Club
Cooking for Friends
Chinese Cooking
How to Bake Bread
International Cuisine
Argentine Grilling
The King of Vodka
IACP Winners List
JBF Cookbook
Award Winners
Alinea
Bakewise
WineWise Complete Guide
How to Cook Everything
Big Fat Duck Cookbook
The Flavor Bible
All Beard Winners
All Beard Nominees
Recent Cookbooks
Artisan Breads at Home
The Spice Kitchen
Kitchen Knife Skills
Classic Lebanese Cuisine
Fresh Food Fast
Family Dinners
Mediterranean Cooking
Thirty Minute Pasta
French Feasts
Everyday Indian
The Party Cookbook
Barcelona Cookbook
Wine Cocktails
Cooking Know-How
Vegetarian Cookbooks
Copyright © 1994-2010,
Forkmedia LLC
Become a Chef:
Best Culinary Schools
Global Gourmet®
Shopping
Gourmet Food, Cookbooks
Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts
The Global Gourmet® — www.globalgourmet.com