I'm want to serve a perfect, authentic Italian meal. Any ideas on what to serve?

Question

Alright here's a basic rundown of what I have in mind (remember I want it to be tasty and authentic but nothing to "extreme")-

for an appetizer I was thinking of like a minestrone or some kind of soup...

for an entree I want something chicken with pasta (no seafood) any other ideas are welcome.

and i'd like a cheesecake of some sort for dessert.

so just give me some ideas and the recipes and I'll be a happy camper! any questions- dont hesitate to ask!

-cap10hook72-

Answer 1

Go to recipezaar.com for recipes for ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP (deeelicious!) and CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE or ITALIAN CREAM CAKE Here is a recipe I got from my Sicilian sister-in-law for chicken.

Chicken Milano
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 oz. each)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup BUTTER
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Prehaet oven to 350. Roll each chicken breast in flour; dip in beaten egg. Roll in bread crumbs to coat well. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken pieces. Cook until browned on all sides (@ 10 minutes). Mix marinara sauce w/half and half in a small bowl, reserving 2 Tbsp. Pour into baking dish. Arrange chicken in prepared dish. Mix mozzarella, Swiss and Parmesan cheeses in a small bowl. Sprinkle over top of chicken. Top with reserved sauce. Bake, loosely covered, unitl cooked through @ 30 minutes. Place each chicken breast on top of angel hair pasta and spoon some sauce from bottom of baking pan over the top. Serves three

Answer 2

for pasta I would do chicken caccitore. it is a pasta dish with red sauce, chicken and bell peppers and onions. kind of a hunter's style thick rich red sauce.

cheesecake is not really authentic italian food. You'd be better off with something like tiramisu or something more Italian. Not that cheescake isn't good...just is not italian.

as far as other recipe ideas for italian stuff go to foodnetwork.com and look up anything made by Mario Batali, Giada Di Laurentiis, or Michael Chiarello. They are awesome.

Answer 3

Questa domanda e la mia..this is my question...

A complete Italian meal depending what time of the day is it for lunch or cena aka dinner here is one this has been taken with permission from my best friend.

A typical Italian dinner for me is as follows:

A platter or assorted Italian cheeses, sweet salami, and prosciutto. If you really want to taste something different try soppressata


finger sticks or wine crackers. These you can find at your local deli shoppe.
Pasta with tomato and oregano sauce
Follow the instructions on the pasta/spaghetti box

Tomato Oregano Sugo (Sauce)
Copyright 2007 toesnme

Sauce you will need
one can of tomato paste
2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 small crush garlic clove
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 tablespoon of oregano
parmigiano cheese
salt and pepper to taste


In a sauce pan pour the oil, adding the crushed garlic and let it fry on low heat until slightly golden brown. Remove the garlic and add the onions and oregano cook for 3 minutes until slightly golden brown...add the can of tomato sauce.
Salt and pepper to taste. If the paste is much too thick add one glass of water and stir. Let the sauce simmer for 15 to 30 minutes until done accordingly to your taste.

Serve on top of your fave pasta. Sprinkle with parmigiano cheese.


Second you will create an Italian Salad
We usually eat our salads near the end of our meals not prior to our first dish.

Salad you will need
romaine lettuce shredded
1 small tomato, sliced
1/4 onion, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, sliced into small pieces
1 small cucumber, sliced
1 small carrot, sliced into pieces
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar, use accordingly to your taste
salt to taste

In a large bowl mix all of the veggies, sprinkle salt, then the oil and balsamic vinegar. Now its ready to serve this is an Italian recipe.

After the insalada you may serve dessert, I'd like to suggest a fresh fruit insalada. Cut your fave fruits accordingly to taste.
Squeeze half grapefruit and sprinkle some sugar on top..serve cold.

Wine to serve: homeade Italian wine, or prosecco wine.
Buon Appetito!

Answer 4

I think minestrone is a great idea - or Italian wedding soup is great, too.

Ohhh..for the entree do chicken piccata and serve it over angel hair pasta...it is WONDERFUL...lemony and a little lighter than a lot of pasta dishes

Chicken Piccata over Angel Hair
1 lb angel hair pasta
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Cook pasta according to package instructions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Place the pasta on serving plates and then chicken over it. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

For dessert, definitely do cheesecake..this one is pretty Italian!

Honey Ricotta Cheesecake

8 ounces purchased biscotti
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 (12-ounce) container fresh whole milk ricotta, drained
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange blossom or clover honey
1 tablespoon orange zest
4 large eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Finely grind the biscotti in a food processor. Add the melted butter and process until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom (not the sides) of the prepared pan. Bake until the crust is golden, about 15 minutes. Cool the crust completely on a cooling rack.

Blend the ricotta in a clean food processor until smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and blend well, stopping the machine occasionally and scraping down the sides of the work bowl. Blend in the honey and orange zest. Add the eggs and pulse just until blended.

Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the springform pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the cheesecake is golden and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour and 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold).

Transfer the cake to a rack and cool 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Cut the cake into wedges and serve.

Answer 5

Pizzagna

1lb pasta curls (Recommended: Campagnelle by Barilla; Short Fusilli or
Cavatappi Twists may be substituted)
Salt
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a couple of handfuls
Handful of parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 green or red bell pepper, seeded, quartered and thinly sliced
1 onion, quartered then thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
12 crimini mushrooms (baby portabellos) thinly sliced
Black pepper
1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes
3/4lb fresh mozarella, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Preheat broiler
Bring a pot of water to a boil, add pasta and salt the water.
While the water boils, combine ricotta, parmigiano, parsley and pepperoni in a large bowl and reserve.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat with extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan.
When the oil is hot, add the peppers, onions, garlic and mushrooms.
Saute 6 to 8 minutes until tender and mushrooms are dark.
Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Stir in tomatoes and reduce heat to low.

Add a ladle of starchy cooking water to the ricotta just before you drain the pasta.
Drain pasta then toss with ricotta and pepperoni mixture.
Pour Pasta into a baking dish and top evenly with peppers, onions and mushroom sauce.
Top with a layer of mozarella, oregano and red pepper flakes.
Place under hot broiler and melt cheese until golden and bubbly.
Remove and serve with crusty bread.

Answer 6

i would prefer an italian escarole soup to start, it's much lighter. i guess the obvious would be a chicken parmesan entree served with a large garden salad and garlic knots. end with a tiramisu for dessert...

Answer 7

minestrone or pasta fagioli... fab!!!

entree chicken parm or how about eggplant parm??? serve both with pasta...spaghetti...or fettuccini
you can also do a chicken cacciatorre... boneless chicken (dark meat works well)(thighs) add tomatoes mushrooms onions and green peppers...(i use stewed tomatoes) and dont forget the garlic!!!
serve this over ziti
cheesecake... love it!!! you can also do a zabaglione or tiramisu or napoleon...
dont forget the espresso (with the beans!) and the sambucca!!!!
ps... what time is dinner??? ill be there!!!

Answer 8

Just as Taco Bell is authentic Mexican food: Definetely nay! Sorry If I dissapointed someone with the truth about Taco Bell... I do enjoy The Olive Garden tho...

Answer 9

Just search http://www.foodtv.com for Mario Batali recipes, ie Batali soup, Batali chicken pasta, Batali dessert. He's pretty authentic!!
Good Luck.

Answer 10

Well, your idea sounds great! Well, Make New York Cheesecake for sweetness it is really good. But, Reg. Is also delicious.