Italian Dishes-Food Network Chefs

CHICKEN PARMESAN

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 (3-ounces each) chicken cutlets
• 1 1/2 cups Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows or purchased marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 16 teaspoons grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Stir the oil and herbs in a small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the cutlets with the herb oil. Heat a heavy large oven-proof skillet over high heat. Add the cutlets and cook just until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Spoon the marinara sauce over and around the cutlets. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of mozzarella over each cutlet, then sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Parmesan over each. Sprinkle the butter pieces atop the cutlets. Bake until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Simple Tomato Sauce:

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 4 to 6 basil leaves
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and simmer covered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.

Add half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

Chicken Parmigiana

Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
• 4 large eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons water and seasoned with salt and pepper
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup vegetable oil or pure olive oil
• Tomato Sauce, recipe follows
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil or parsley leaves, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in the flour and tap off excess, then dip in the egg and let excess drip off, then dredge on both sides in the bread crumbs.

Divide the oil between 2 large saute pans and heat over high heat until almost smoking. Add 2 chicken breasts to each pan and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and top each breast with some tomato sauce, a few slices of the mozzarella, salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of Parmesan. Bake in the oven until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with basil or parsley leaves.

 

Tomato Sauce:

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• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed with some kosher salt to make a paste
• 2 (28-ounce) cans plum tomatoes and their juices, pureed in a blender
• 1 (16-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 small bunch Italian parsley
• 1 Cubano chile pepper, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add pureed tomatoes with their juices, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 cup water, bay leaf, parsley, Cubano pepper, and bring to a boil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.

Grilled Chicken Cutlet Parmigiana

Recipe courtesy Rachael RayIngredients

• 2 pounds thin cut chicken breast, cutlets
• Salt and pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling, plus 2 tablespoons
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 small yellow skinned onion, finely chopped
• 1 (28-ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes, such as Muir Glenn brand
• 1 cup, 20 leaves, fresh basil leaves, shredded or torn
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1/2 pound smoked mozzarella, thinly sliced

Directions

Heat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to high. Season chicken with salt and pepper and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil to keep it from sticking to the grill. Cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side and transfer to a foil covered platter to hold. If you are using a grill pan, cook the chicken in 2 batches if necessary. While chicken cooks, make sauce.

 

Place a medium pot on the stove over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and chopped onions. Cook 10 minutes, stirring often. Add tomatoes and heat through, 2 minutes. Wilt in the basil and season the sauce with salt and pepper.

 

Preheat the broiler to high.

 

Layer the chicken with fire roasted sauce in a casserole dish. Top the casserole with Parmigiano and mozzarella. Brown the casserole under the broiler 3 minutes.

Lasagna

Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay, 2007

Ingredients

Bolognese Sauce:

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 pounds pork shanks (on the bone)
• 3 pounds beef shanks (on the bone)
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound pancetta, finely diced
• 1 1/2 cups finely diced Spanish onion
• 1/2 cup finely diced carrot
• 1/2 cup finely diced celery
• 4 whole garlic cloves
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 3 cups homemade beef or chicken stock
• 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes and their juices
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 6 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
• 1 cup tomato sauce, recipe follows
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves
• Chopped fresh basil leaves

Ricotta Mixture:

• 3 cups ricotta, strained in a cheesecloth lined strainer for at least 4 hours
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Tomato Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large Spanish onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
• 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Bechamel (Mornay) Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups whole milk, heated
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup grated fontina cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Assembly:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Bechamel Sauce
• 4 fresh sheets pasta, cooked for 2 to 3 minutes in boiling, salted water, drained or 1 pound lasagna noodles (cooked in boiling, salted water until slightly under al dente, about 5 minutes)
• Ricotta mixture
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Fresh basil leaves
• Bolognese Sauce

For the Bolognese Sauce:

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat.

 

Season the shanks on both sides with salt and pepper, place in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.

 

Remove the shanks to a plate. Remove fat from the pan. Add the pancetta to the pan and cook until golden brown. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels.

 

Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic to the pan and cook until soft and lightly golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.

 

Add the red wine, scrape the bottom of the pan and cook until completely reduced. Add the beef stock, diced tomatoes, thyme, rosemary and parsley and bring to a simmer. Add the shanks and 1/3 of the pancetta back to the pan, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 2 hours.

 

Remove the shanks to a cutting board and when cool enough to handle, shred the meat into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl.

 

Strain the cooking liquid into a bowl. Place 3 cups of the cooking liquid into a large high-sided saute pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the liquid is reduced to about 3/4 cup. Add the shredded meat and the remaining cooked pancetta to the pan along with 1 cup of the tomato sauce, parsley and basil and stir to combine and just heat through.

For the Ricotta Mixture:

Stir together the ricotta, eggs, parsley, basil, cheese and salt and pepper in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.

For the Tomato Sauce:

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red chili flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bring to boil, season with salt and pepper and cook until the sauce is reduced and thickened, about 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley and basil.

For the Bechamel (Mornay) Sace:

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and let cook for about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 2 cups of the hot milk and continue whisking until the sauce is thickened and loses its raw flavor, about 5 to 7 minutes. Season the sauce with nutmeg, salt and pepper and whisk in the cheeses. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in some of the remaining milk.

For Assembly:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

 

Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with the butter. Ladle a thin layer of bechamel evenly over the bottom of the pan. Place a layer of pasta dough, cut to fit the inside of the pan on top of the bechamel and top the pasta with the ricotta mixture and spread evenly. Spread a thin layer of bechamel over the ricotta, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of Parmesan and some basil leaves. Top with another layer of pasta and spread the meat mixture evenly over the top. Ladle an even layer of bechamel over the Bolognese mixture, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of Parmesan and some basil leaves. Place the final layer of pasta dough over the meat mixture and ladle the bechamel over the top to completely cover the pasta and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of Parmesan.

 

Place the pan on a baking sheet and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F, remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about 25 to 35 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before cutting. Cut into slices and top with some of the tomato sauce, more grated cheese and chopped parsley and basil.

Fettuccini Alfredo with Prosciutto and Peas

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 pound prosciutto, julienned
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for garnish
• 1 pound fresh fettuccini

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and saute for a couple minutes or until tender. Add cream and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add prosciutto and peas and toss gently to combine. Sprinkle cheese over top and stir to melt and combine. Cook until heated through.

 

In a large pot of boiling salted water, add fettuccini and cook until al dente (just a couple minutes for fresh pasta.) Drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Add the reserved pasta water and drained fettucini to skillet. Toss to combine pasta with sauce and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve, garnished with extra cheese

You Gotta Love Spaghetti and Meatballs

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

• 10 cups Best Basic Red Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought pasta sauce
• 1 large egg
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon Baby Bam seasoning, recipe follows
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Spaghetti:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 pound spaghetti

Directions

Place the Basic Red Sauce in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Place all the remaining meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir well with a wooden spoon to combine. Wash your hands then form the meat into balls by rolling 1 tablespoon of meat between them. Place meatballs on a plate as they are formed. (Hint: if your hands are slightly damp, the meatballs will roll more easily and will not stick to your hands!) When all the meatballs are formed, wash your hands again and then gently place the balls into the sauce 1 at a time using a long handled spoon. Be careful – bubbling sauce splatters! Simmer the sauce uncovered, and allow the meatballs to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes before stirring. Stir the meatballs into the sauce when they rise to the top.

Simmer for an additional 20 minutes, and stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Remove from the heat, and serve immediately over cooked spaghetti.

For the Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the salt, olive oil and spaghetti. Reduce the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the spaghetti from sticking together. Drain the spaghetti in a colander set in a sink, pouring away from you. Toss in the pot with the sauce and meatballs and serve immediately.

 

Best Basic Red Sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (1 medium yellow onion)

1 teaspoon minced garlic (2 cloves garlic)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes

2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce

3 tablespoons tomato paste

2 cups water

1 teaspoon sugar

Heat the olive oil in a 5-quart pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, salt, basil, oregano and black pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Place the tomatoes in a large bowl and squeeze to break into small pieces. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and sugar to the pot with the onions, and stir well. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled wooden spoon.

Remove from the heat, and use as needed. You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.

Yield: 10 cups, 2 1/2 quarts

Baby Bam Seasoning:

3 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons dried parsley

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well to combine with a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Yield: about 3/4 cup

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Recipe courtesy Tyler FlorenceIngredients

• 1 pound dry spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ounces pancetta or slab bacon, cubed or sliced into small strips
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Directions

Prepare the sauce while the pasta is cooking to ensure that the spaghetti will be hot and ready when the sauce is finished; it is very important that the pasta is hot when adding the egg mixture, so that the heat of the pasta cooks the raw eggs in the sauce.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender yet firm (as they say in Italian “al dente.”) Drain the pasta well, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water to use in the sauce if you wish.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium flame. Add the pancetta and saute for about 3 minutes, until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered. Toss the garlic into the fat and saute for less than 1 minute to soften.

Add the hot, drained spaghetti to the pan and toss for 2 minutes to coat the strands in the bacon fat. Beat the eggs and Parmesan together in a mixing bowl, stirring well to prevent lumps. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the egg/cheese mixture into the pasta, whisking quickly until the eggs thicken, but do not scramble (this is done off the heat to ensure this does not happen.) Thin out the sauce with a bit of the reserved pasta water, until it reaches desired consistency. Season the carbonara with several turns of freshly ground black pepper and taste for salt. Mound the spaghetti carbonara into warm serving bowls and garnish with chopped parsley. Pass more cheese around the table.

Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto

Recipe courtesy Tyler FlorenceIngredients

• Leaves from 2 bunch fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, untoasted
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound angel hair pasta

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Combine the basil, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil in a blender and blend to a puree. Add the cheese, salt and pepper, and blend again.

Cook the pasta in the boiling, salted water until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the pesto and toss. Taste for salt and pepper, and add a drizzle of oil, if you like.