121 rustic recipes

A traditional Greek soupies me spanaki: tender cuttlefish braised in olive oil with wilted spinach, spring onions, and lemon. Rustic Mediterranean seafood at its best.

Tagliatelle tossed with crispy hot Italian sausage, wilted kale, chicken stock, and sharp pecorino cheese. A rustic Italian pasta that comes together in 40 minutes flat.

Mediterranean beef and okra stew: chuck simmered in a Dutch oven with onion, garlic paste, tomatoes, and whole okra pods. A rustic Balkan-style braise that cooks unattended.

Rustic rabbit and pork terrine studded with pistachios, garlic, and thyme, wrapped in bacon and baked in a water bath. Classic French country pate served with mustard and crusty bread.

Welsh trout and bacon (Brithyll a Chig Moch) stuffs whole rainbow trout with fresh herbs and butter, wraps it in bacon, and bakes it in foil. Simple, rustic, and brilliant.

Portuguese style goat, a leg of kid rubbed with a garlic, paprika, bay, and pancetta paste, then roasted until tender and served with rice. A rustic, deeply seasoned Portuguese roast.

European soldier beans tossed warm with creamy Gorgonzola, fresh sage, and extra-virgin olive oil. Just four ingredients, cooked from dried beans for a rustic Italian-style side dish.

Obatzda, the classic Bavarian beer cheese spread with ripe Camembert, cream cheese, butter, and caraway seeds. Rustic, pungent, and ready in 10 minutes. A beer garden staple.

Creamy walnut sauce with garlic, Parmesan, butter and olive oil tossed with egg tagliarini. A rustic Italian pasta ready in 30 minutes flat.

Kapuska with kielbasa and bacon simmered in beer with sauerkraut. A rustic Polish-German cabbage stew with smoky sausage and a pinch of sugar to balance the tang.

Quick homemade focaccia topped with olive oil, garlic, kalamata olives, and rosemary. Uses store-bought pizza dough for rustic Italian flatbread in 20 minutes.

Italian rabbit skewers from the Molise region: boneless rabbit wrapped in Parma ham with sausages and sage, grilled or oven-roasted. A rustic showpiece.

Chicken pieces braised with sliced fennel, Italian stewed tomatoes, and fennel seeds in one pan. A rustic Mediterranean weeknight dinner in under an hour.

Easy chicken cacciatore with canned tomatoes, garlic, basil, and parsley simmered uncovered for 40 minutes. A rustic Italian one-pan dinner with minimal prep.

Fava bean omelet with a whole cup of fresh dill, sauteed onion, and garlic. A rustic Middle Eastern-style vegetarian breakfast where eggs hold together tender beans and soft herbs in one pan.

Italian rabbit saddles boned, rolled around a garlic-olive-rosemary stuffing, then seared and braised in fresh tomato sauce. Rustic Tuscan cooking at its most honest.