There are pasta cookbooks and then there is The Glorious Pasta of Italy by Domenica Marchetti. Just looking at the cover photo of the Maccheroni alla Chitarra with Ragu All’Abbruzzese and Pallotine is reason enough to roll up one’s sleeves to make fresh egg pasta dough.
The Recipes
The Glorious Pasta of Italy contains nine chapters of appetizing Italian pasta recipes that are well written and easy to follow accompanied by beautiful color photos by France Ruffenach. The rustic colours of the cookbook page layouts are warm and comforting.
The first chapter, Pasta Essentials, covers the basics such as equipment, ingredients, pasta glossary, making, storing and cooking fresh pasta followed by fresh pasta dough recipes and home made sauces.
There is a pasta recipe for every pasta lover in the remaining chapters: stuffed pasta (Summer Ravioli with Arugula Pesto, Potato Gnocchi with Rosemary Tomato Sauce and Pancetta), pasta with sauce (Orecchiette with Creamy Brocolli Sauce, Pot Roast Pappardelle), baked pasta (Baked Rigatoni al Telefono with Smoked Mozzarella, Cannelloni al Radicchio), pasta on the run (Bucatini BLT, Spaghettini alla Pizzaiola), classics (Stuffed Shells, Linguine with White Clam Sauce) pasta in soup (Chicken and Stars for Kids of all Ages, Cappelletti in Homemade Meat Broth), and sweet pasta (Sweet Pasta Puffs, La Cicerichiata). Not all the recipes are made with fresh pasta dough.
With each recipe, Domenica shares an anecdote which adds a personal touch. At the end of the book, there is also a Sources page and Index.
Tested Recipe: Bucatini BLT
The Bucatini BLT recipe from the Pasta on the Run chapter is a twist on the BLT sandwich. The combined flavours of the roasted cherry tomatoes, pancetta and arugula were delicious. Once the cherry tomatoes have been roasted (a 2-3 hour process), the recipe is quick and easy to cook.
The Cookbook for Pasta
The Glorious Pasta of Italy cookbook is a must-have not just for pasta lovers. It is a cookbook to be appreciated for the recipes, anecdotes and beautiful photography.
Images courtesy of The Glorious Pastas of Italy by Domenica Marchetti with photographs by France Ruffenach. Published by Chronicle Books. Copyright 2011 by Chronicle Books.
All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Chronicle Books.
The Glorious Pasta of Italy
Author: Domenica Marchetti
Photography: France Ruffenach
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Hardcover, 280 pages.
$30.00 US
The Glorious Pasta of Italy can be purchased at local book stores or from online retail book sellers.
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