972 italiano recipes

Vegetable salad with herbal vinaigrette: blanched asparagus, carrots, and sugar snap peas tossed with plum tomatoes and a mustardy lemon-garlic dressing. A bright, crisp springtime side.

Roasted vegetable soup with garlic blends caramelized eggplant, onions, peppers, tomatoes and roasted garlic into a velvety pureed base, finished with diced vegetables for texture. Vegetarian and full of smoky depth.

Sandwiches glace: vintage party canape with rye bread, smoked ham, sour cream cheddar spread, and a gelatin-mayonnaise glaze. A mid-century tea-party classic.

French bread pizza hero loaded with homemade mushroom-pepper-onion pizza sauce and melted cheese. Split-loaf pizza with a sauce simmered 15 minutes for real pizzeria flavor without the dough.

Plum tomato tart on crisp phyllo layers with Dijon mustard, Parmesan, and fresh thyme-parsley-garlic oil. A shatteringly light French-style appetizer with dramatic tomato mosaic presentation.

Whole trout baked with a sourdough bread stuffing of scallions, green pepper, parsley, butter, and white wine. Rustic lakeside cooking that comes together in 40 minutes.

Tangy pico de gallo with a tropical twist, ripe Roma tomatoes, white onion, jalapeno, and cilantro brightened with sweet mango and creamy avocado. A fresh, no-cook salsa that doubles as a condiment.

Lighter spinach lasagna made with low-fat cottage cheese, egg substitute, and Italian seasoning layered with spaghetti sauce and melted mozzarella. All the comfort, fewer calories.

Pork sausage barbecue beans, a one-skillet cookout side of hot Italian sausage, baked beans, bell pepper, green onions, and a brown sugar spiced BBQ sauce.

Fog City Diner's homemade tomato ketchup: fresh roma tomatoes simmered with cider vinegar, sugar, pickling spice, and cinnamon for a restaurant-style condiment. Makes 5 cups, lasts a month.

Creamy cottage cheese house dressing blended with buttermilk, Parmesan, sundried tomatoes, and Italian herbs. A high-protein, lower-fat alternative to ranch in 5 minutes.

Barbequed swordfish with a spicy tomato glaze and a Mediterranean black olive, cucumber, and plum tomato salad. A composed summer plate finished with a Dijon-chive vinaigrette for restaurant-level dinner party plating.

Onion caviar with black-eyed peas, sweet Vidalia onions, green bell pepper, pimentos, and garlic in Italian dressing. A Southern marinated appetizer or side dish, best made overnight.

Roasted vegetable salad with tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, and new potatoes tossed in balsamic-garlic dressing. A farmers market side that eats like summer on a sheet pan, finished with fresh basil.

Posole with hot Italian sausages, green tomatoes, white hominy, and oregano in a tomatoey broth. A hearty Mexican-inspired stew served with lime wedges and warm tortillas.

Cheesy pasta salad tossed with olive oil and shredded cheddar while the noodles are still hot, so the cheese melts and clings. Studded with fresh tomato and onion, and just as good hot or chilled. No mayo.