cover image Gennaro’s Fast Cook Italian

Gennaro’s Fast Cook Italian

Gennaro Contaldo. Interlink, $30 (192p) ISBN 978-1-62371-980-7

“The Italian philosophy of using a few good ingredients and cooking them in a simple, unfussy way means you can create beautiful, nutritious dishes in no time,” writes Contaldo (Panetteria) in this excellent cookbook. Contaldo, one of PBS’s Two Greedy Italians, offers nearly 100 bold-flavored recipes, such as gnocchi with Gorgonzola and pear; chicken saltimbocca with prosciutto, fontina, and sage; and stir-fried calamari with olives. There are also several clever twists on Italian classics: Contaldo replaces pancetta with smoked salmon in spaghetti carbonara, incorporates the ingredients of a caprese salad into a hot risotto, and stuffs artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes into breaded pork steaks. The recipes feel fresh and inspired, whether they are small plates and appetizers (prosciutto with caramelized plums; thyme-infused fava bean soup with smoked pancetta), main courses (bresaola stuffed with goat cheese and chives; pan-fried veal with leeks and blood oranges), or desserts (chocolate raspberry pots; strawberry tiramisu). With its straightforward instructions, cooking time estimates, and time-saving suggestions (such as to keep prepared stores of ingredients like tomato sauce and chopped vegetables on hand), this is a superb book that home cooks with busy schedules will turn to time and again. (Nov.)