After cooking all 1,300+ Ina Garten recipes, I revisited her very first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, 27 years after its release. Here are my 10 favorite recipes — classics like roast chicken, crab cakes, and onion dip — that still balance ease and elegance for effortless entertaining today.
Julia Turshen’s Olive Oil and Buttermilk Loaf is an easy, tender cake that’s perfect for using up leftover buttermilk. Made with olive oil instead of softened butter, it comes together quickly and has a rich, pound cake-like texture with a subtle grassy flavor and just the right amount of sweetness.
These brothy meatballs with Swiss chard and pearl couscous turn a mountain of greens into a cozy, satisfying dinner. Spicy Italian sausage and beef add richness to the garlicky chicken broth, while tender chard and couscous make the dish hearty enough to serve as a complete meal.
Smitten Kitchen’s Marbled Pumpkin Gingersnap Tart combines a warmly spiced pumpkin filling with swirls of tangy cheesecake in a crisp gingersnap-graham cracker crust. Finished with cinnamon whipped cream, this fall dessert offers pumpkin pie flavor with extra spice, texture, and creamy cheesecake richness in every slice.
Ella Quittner’s Teeny Tiny Meatballs pair crisp, breadcrumb-coated pork-and-beef meatballs with a vibrant kale, spinach, chive, and Pecorino sauce. The meatballs stay remarkably tender thanks to a milk-soaked bread panade, while the garlicky green sauce provides the perfect fresh, savory contrast to their richness.
Nok Suntaranon’s Green Curry with Beef Shanks, or Gaeng Kiew Waan Osso Buco, from Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen is a rich, fiery Thai curry made with homemade green curry paste, coconut milk, eggplant, basil, lime leaves, and slow-cooked beef shanks that become incredibly tender after four hours.
Looking for ways to use a big haul of apples? These favorite Ina Garten apple recipes include cozy desserts, savory dinners, and seasonal sides, from Apple Pie Bars and apple crisp to pork tenderloin with apple chutney and French Bistro Salad. There’s something here for every fall craving this season.
Ina Garten’s Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mustard Sauce combines crispy chicken with caramelized onions and a rich, tangy Dijon, white wine, and crème fraîche pan sauce. This Cook Like a Pro favorite is simple enough for repeat dinners but impressive enough for company.
Welcome! After spending 7 years teaching myself to cook by working through all 1,300+ of Ina Garten's recipes - Julie & Julia style - you've found the place where I share my latest kitchen adventures.