Ina Garten’s Cape Cod Chopped Salad layers smoky bacon, crisp apple, dried cranberries, blue cheese, walnuts, and peppery arugula in a maple-cider vinaigrette. The half-pound of bacon transforms a simple side into a satisfying lunch salad. Balanced, bold, and ready in minutes – this is the chopped salad recipe to bookmark.
Smitten Kitchen’s Ziti Chickpeas with Sausage and Kale is a hearty one-pan pasta bake built for weeknights. Italian sausage, tomato, and chickpeas come together in a braiser, finished under the broiler with Parmesan and melted mozzarella for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing dinner with minimal cleanup.
Two standout recipes from Domenica Marchetti’s Italian Cookies: melt-in-your-mouth Occhi di Bue (jam-filled shortbread dusted with powdered sugar) and nutty, buttery Frollini al Farro made with whole farro flour. Straightforward techniques, pantry-friendly ingredients, and authentic Italian flavor – ideal for home bakers exploring traditional Italian cookie recipes.
These oven-baked pork and beef meatballs use a panade — stale bread soaked in milk — for an exceptionally tender, plush texture with no pan-frying required. Seasoned with fennel seed, chili flakes, and two cheeses, they’re finished in a garlic-and-basil-infused tomato sauce that delivers serious depth with minimal effort.
Seven years ago today, I ran into Ina Garten and Jeffrey at Verjus in Paris. To celebrate, I’m recreating a favorite dish: Brown Butter Asparagus with Toasted Almonds. This simple yet elegant spin on Asperges Amandine is full of rich, nutty flavors, perfect for spring and weeknight meals.
Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken with Croutons from Barefoot in Paris is weeknight-simple but dinner-party worthy. A whole chicken roasted with lemon, onion, butter, and seasoning, served over olive oil–sautéed croutons that soak up every dripping. Minimal effort, maximum flavor – exactly what Ina does best.
This creamy asparagus salad from Gregory Gourdet pairs crisp asparagus, avocado, and cucumber in a rich sesame-sunflower seed dressing with fresh ginger and a kick of heat. Topped with homemade nori and dried chile furikake and sharp quick-pickled red onions, it’s a bold, texture-driven spring salad unlike any standard vinaigrette recipe.
Pizza Chiena — also called Pizza Gain or Easter Pie — is a traditional Italian meat pie packed with ham, sweet and spicy sausage, hard-boiled eggs, mozzarella, and sharp provolone in a golden crust made rich with rendered meat drippings. This make-ahead version breaks the process into two days for stress-free holiday baking.