100 Ways to Cook Italian

From pizza and pasta to gelato and tiramisu, we've rounded up a collection of our most exquisite and enchanting Italian recipes. Fresh herbs, produce, and ingredients come together to create these Italian recipes, which offer lighter versions of otherwise diet-busting dishes.

First up is a classic— Pizza Margherita!

Because this classic Neapolitan-style pizza is so simple, it depends on quality ingredients: Use the best fresh mozzarella and basil you can find for this recipe.

Use whole-wheat panko in this Italian recipe; the regular type became soggy in a test.

Our cioppino is easy to make and it features fresh Italian flavors such as basil, oregano, and tomatoes. If you already have it on hand, feel free to substitute chicken broth in place of vegetable broth.

When this recipe first appeared in the magazine in October 2009, it was made with hollow bucatini noodles. For this version, we switched to ribbony pappardelle. In truth, any pasta would work well.

Fra diavolo means "brother devil" in Italian and refers to a spicy, tomato-based sauce. Here we use store-bought marinara that's jazzed up with fresh fennel, crushed red pepper, and garlic.

Look for caper berries near the olives in the supermarket; they should be next to the capers, but they're much bigger and have a stem. In a pinch, substitute about a tablespoon of chopped capers. Japanese eggplants have thinner skins than typical globe eggplants, so you can leave the peel on. The light purple color is pretty, too.

Puréed strawberries create the "juice" that flavors this creamy gelato.

Ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella combine to give this lasagna an irresistible gooey factor. Store-bought tomato sauce offers convenience and is perked up with a little fresh basil, garlic, and ground red pepper.

Dollops of ricotta cheese top this crispy pizza. Use a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet to ensure an extra-crisp crust.

Homemade marinara sauce serves as the base in this tomato soup with ditalini pasta and shaved pecorino Romano cheese.

Don't skimp on the oil: There's a good bit here, but it creates a gorgeous tomato sauce that coats the noodles nicely. Burrata is rich, delicious fresh mozzarella cheese filled with cream. Although it was originally a hard-to-find imported Italian ingredient, now Bel Gioioso (an American cheese producer) makes and sells it in the gourmet cheese section at many major supermarkets.

We like our coffee strong here—you can also substitute 1 1/2 cups strong brewed coffee mixed with a tablespoon of instant espresso.

Slow roasting concentrates the flavor in the tomatoes, making for a much heartier and somewhat thicker sauce. You can freeze the sauce in pint containers for up to six months. If you don't have a food mill, puree the sauce in a blender or food processor and strain through a sieve.

Our Vegetable Lasagna has half the fat and calories of traditional lasagna—but loaded with satisfying flavor. Lots of colorful, delicious baby veggies are layered between pasta to reduce the typical mounds of cheese.

Homemade pizza dough is economical, fun, and healthful since you control the ingredients. This recipe yields enough dough to make two pizzas, or one pizza and four large calzones.

Commercial marinara sauce and quick-cooking chicken cutlets give you a jump start on dinner when preparing this Italian-inspired chicken entree. Pepperoni slices and shredded mozzarella make this meal appealing to kids and adults alike.

Prepare the salad up to 1 day ahead, and store in the refrigerator. If you can't find fresh cranberry beans, substitute rinsed and drained canned cannellini beans, and add them to the snap beans for the last 2 minutes of cooking.

A rich bolognese sauce with plenty of meat feels like the old-world Italian dish, but fits in the new-world nutrition sense. One online reviewer claims, "I like any spaghetti sauce that sneaks in tons of veggies." Note: A little liquid remaining in your bolognese sauce helps coat the pasta.

Although complex black plums, with their winey flavor, taste and look spectacular in this refreshing granita, you can use most any variety.

Get out of your burger rut with these ground chicken parmesan burgers. Grill then serve on ciabatta rolls and top with marianara sauce and mozzarella.

In about 30 minutes, you can have a bowl of Garlicky Meatball Pasta on your table--homemade meatballs included. Refrigerated fettuccine and commercial marinara sauce helps to quicken this quick and easy pasta dinner.

Reduce the vinegar while the polenta simmers so the entire meal is ready and hot at the same time.

Campari, an Italian aperitif, gives the drink a bitter edge and beautiful rosy color.

A peasant dish no more! Our steamed clams version of this traditional dish is ready to go in 30 minutes and is loaded with classic Italian flavors. 

Experiment with fennel—a great source of vitamins and minerals—for a fun new flavor that pairs well with chicken.

This recipe makes an elegant dinner for entertaining. Spaghetti dressed with clams is a Southern Italian classic, and tomatoes contribute a contemporary addition.

It only takes 15 minutes to pull off this beautiful dish. You can also try roasting the veggies for a bit of a different spin.

This ethereally fluffy frittata tastes rich, thanks to the cheese wedges. Pair with a green or fruit salad to make this dish into a nice brunch.

Rich porcini broth and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano add deep umami taste to this vegetarian lasagna. Plain white button mushrooms will work in place of cremini. Serve with a simple green salad for a satisfying meal.

In Candy-Wrapped Tortelli, fresh dough gets twisted around the chicken-spinach filling, like a candy wrapper. Cutting and shaping tortelli by hand means each piece is unique--and therein lies the charm of this pasta dish.

Look for almond meal—also known as almond flour—in health-food and specialty stores. Bake the cookies ahead, and freeze up to six months in an airtight container, with wax paper between layers. Thaw and dust the cookies with powdered sugar just before serving.

This drink is a twist on the classic Bellini, a post–World War II cocktail of white peach puree and Champagne, first mixed at Harry's Bar in Venice. Freezing the watermelon before pureeing lends the drink a slightly slushy consistency. If you prefer a smoother texture, simply chill the watermelon. Serve in Champagne flutes.

Fresh asparagus is most economical in the spring when it's in season.

Pair fresh sage with buttery gnocchi for an authentic and delicious Italian delight.

Freshen up a classic chicken dish by using Meyer lemons for the sauce.  These lemons have a great tangy aroma and are sweeter and less acidic that regular lemons. 

Cubes of butternut squash hold their shape and bite and stand out wonderfully against the farro background. Grated Gruyéré cheese and chopped hazelnuts add the perfect touch of fat and salt at the end of this vegetarian main dish.

Use sweet turkey Italian sausage in these calzones for sensitive palates. Serve with a spinach salad.

Refrigerated pasta is a time-pressed cook's secret weapon, cooking up in a flash. Reserved pasta water will give your alfredo sauce the right consistency.

Chicken puttanesca is a simple Italian pasta sauce featuring fresh ingredients like chopped onion, garlic, chopped tomato, capers, sliced green olives, fresh herbs, and chopped anchovy. Serve with angel hair pasta.

Take your normal potato soup on a tour of the Italian countryside with the addition of pine nuts, sage, pancetta, and Italian sausage.

Although the name tartine often refers to a French open-faced sandwich, this version is closer to Italian focaccia topped with piquant salad. Because it's inexpensive to make your own flatbread, you can splurge on real Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano, which makes a huge difference in a simple recipe like this one. You'll also have room in the budget for 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto for a salty, savory note.

This decadent-seeming chocolate biscotti recipe is actually pretty healthy and features good-for-you ingredients like whole-wheat flour, flaxseed, and unsalted almonds.

Ground chicken breast is a lean alternative to beef. Substitute ground sirloin, if you prefer.

Limoncello is good ice-cold on its own, but it's also delicious in a lemon drop martini, mixed with sparkling wine, or splashed over a bowl of fresh fruit. Since it takes two weeks to infuse the bracing citrusy flavor into the vodka, start this gift early and decant it into pretty sterilized glass bottles.

Make the romesco sauce and tapenade up to three days ahead, and keep them chilled separately.

This speedy seafood stew is loaded with shrimp, mussels, and fish. 

Fresh lasagna noodles offer silky texture without the work of making your own pasta. Here we cut the sheets into thick noodles. Sub pappardelle or fettuccine, if necessary.

You can also use shiitake mushrooms and edamame, good year-round alternatives to morels and fava beans.

Complete the meal with steamed broccoli or carrot sticks with light ranch dressing.

You can shape the pasta and freeze it up to a month before cooking.

This classic Italian bread gets a just-sweet-enough upgrade in this recipe, perfect for your next get-together.

A few special ingredients--like freshly baked ciabatta bread or imported Dijon mustard--make a quick, simple sandwich seem like a treat.

This is a classic Italian combo—grapes and sausage—paired with pleasantly bitter broccoli rabe to balance the sweetness.

Coming in at under 200 calories per serving, these colorful grilled pork kebabs are perfect for a light picnic on the patio. Sautéed chard makes a simple side.

These breadsticks turn any soup or salad into a great lunch. Brush the dough with oil, coat with the cheesy seasoning blend, cut into thin strips, and bake until browned and crisp. For best results, bake only one sheet at a time.

Short-grain brown rice gets a whole pound of fresh mushrooms and a shower of chopped green beans in this vegetarian risotto. If the rice isn't tender enough after you've stirred in all the porcini liquid, add water and continue cooking and stirring until it's done.

Highlight the sweet and subtle flavor of halibut with a smoky homemade romesco sauce.

Garden-fresh summer vegetables will make this frittata a special breakfast or brunch treat.

More of a game plan than a set recipe, this dish lends itself to an assortment of ingredients you may have on hand. For example, if you can't find capocollo—cured sausage similar to salami—substitute salami or pepperoni. Serve the platter while vegetables are warm or at room temperature.

Pasta is the perfect weeknight meal. Your family will love the comforting flavors, and you'll love that it's surprisingly low in calories.

A potato ricer gives the torta the most desirable texture; they're inexpensive (as little as $10) and produce the creamiest mashed potatoes.

A classic flavor combination, lamb and mint meet bow-tie pasta for a hearty weeknight meal.

Orange rind, orange juice, sweet cherries, and merlot are sweetened with a simple syrup and then frozen to make this Cherry-Merlot Granita.

Mix up your normal pasta routine with this flavor-packed dish that's perfect for summertime.

Our quick ricotta method is inexpensive and easy, and truly makes this weeknight pasta dish shine.

Fresh vegetables shine in this super creamy pasta recipe for Garden Alfredo with Chicken.

Our version of this quick dessert uses shaved bittersweet chocolate for added richness. Look for amaretti cookies at specialty or gourmet markets; they have a distinct almond-amaretto flavor and crunchy texture that make this dish memorable. In a pinch, you can substitute crumbled almond biscotti.

Borlotti beans, bacon, and fennel add delicious flavor to this classic Italian soup.

Based on the classic bistecca Fiorentina—grilled porterhouse—this dish uses sirloin strip steaks, which are leaner (and, because they're boneless, a little easier to grill) than porterhouse. Lemon juice is a traditional accent in the dish, meant to cut the richness of the meat. Use a mandoline to slice the artichokes thinly and evenly.

Simmering the shells infuses the broth with lobster flavor and adds elegance to this simple risotto dish.

Skip the pasta and try Italian meatball sliders instead. Best of all, you can make the meatballs ahead and freeze them for a quick meal on busy nights.

Salty Italian bacon and fresh asparagus make this crisp-chewy flatbread unforgettable. Use a mandoline to slice the asparagus, or just cut it into 2-inch pieces.

Think of this as stuffed French toast in a casserole. Here, sweet cinnamon bread meets juicy pears and the savory bite of Gruyère cheese. You want a pear variety that will hold its shape and won't exude too much moisture as the strata bakes—we liked Anjou and Concorde.

Orecchiette (little ears pasta) is a classic shape that's ideal for this chunky sauce. You can also substitute short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni. If you can find mild-tasting cavolo nero (black kale), try it here.

We prefer the fresh taste of this Chocolate Chip Cannoli recipe's homemade ricotta, which can be made up to 4 days ahead. If you don't have time to make ricotta from scratch, substitute 4 cups part-skim ricotta, and proceed to step 3.

Serve on a bed of spaghetti or with a short pasta like penne or cavatappi for a complete meal.

For a pretty touch, dip the edges of the Champagne flutes in a mixture of sugar and grated lime rind.

Gnocchi—small Italian potato dumplings—are a hearty alternative to pasta. While making gnocchi from scratch could take more than an hour, premade vacuum-packed dumplings cook in a few minutes.

The crisp cracker crust of this pizza makes a pleasing contrast to the velvety soft salmon.

This salad offers textural treats—crunchy celery, meaty walnuts, and crystalline cheese. Because the salt draws water out of the celery, it's best to serve this simple salad shortly after tossing the ingredients together.

Stirring is especially important to prevent both the rice and squash from sticking to the pan.

Indulge in the flavor of the Mediterranean with plump shrimp tossed with lemon and pepper. Serve with sautéed asparagus for a fine accompaniment.

Premium ricotta—like Calabro brand, which has a creamy texture and rich, full flavor—makes a big difference in this recipe.

Don't toss those rinds from Parmesan or other hard cheeses; store in the freezer, and simmer in soup for added richness and flavor.

Use multicolored tomatoes for a prettier plate.

Italian for "angry," arrabbiata is a spicy tomato sauce. For true fury, use 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper in this delicious seafood dish.

Cannellini beans, native to Tuscany, work beautifully in this rustic soup because they hold their shape after simmering in the flavorful broth. Serve with a crusty Italian bread, such as ciabatta, and a salad of bitter greens.

This roast chicken with balsamic bell peppers dish adds Italian flair to your dinner table in just 40 minutes.

Let this sip of Italy tickle your tastebuds with the ripe taste of red-skinned plums.

Grilled Rosemary-Chicken Panini with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is a delicious solution to the busy weeknight dinner dilemma. This excellent sandwich is loaded with fresh flavor and is guaranteed to satisfy any appetite.

A lighter take on classic Bolognese meat sauce allows for more cheese–always a good thing.

A simple vodka-marinara sauce is tossed with refrigerated fettuccine and sauteed shrimp and for a quick and filling one-dish entree.  Round out the meal with Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms.

Make a hearty Italian-inspired stew recipe for dinner tonight. This one-dish meal is sure to satisfy.

Italian flavors abound in this vegetarian one-dish meal of Asparagus, Tomato, and Onion Farinata. Farinata is a thin cake made with chickpea flour. The chickpea flour makes this crispy crust high in fiber and gluten-free.

You can use any type of short pasta to make the quick and easy dish.

Risotto becomes a kind of rice pudding in this dish, with a sweet-tart syrup drizzled over the creamy rice.

Serve this beautiful summer dish with steamed or roasted asparagus.

Add a bit of spice to tonight's dinner with this Italian coast-inspiried seafood pasta.

This dish contains many of the flavors of sauce Bolognese, the classic Italian ragù of pancetta, a mixture of ground meats, and aromatic ingredients stewed together. Round out the meal with polenta. Garnish with chopped fresh rosemary, if desired.

Put frozen whipped topping and frozen cherries to delightful use in this impressive finale. If you don't have 3-inch ring molds, which look like round cookie cutters, use smooth-sided mini charlotte molds with removable bottoms. Or you can freeze the mixture in a 9-inch springform pan and cut it into wedges for a more homey presentation.