As a fan of Giada De Laurentiis, I’m not sure which I appreciate more: her entertaining Food Network programs or her growing collection of cookbooks.
Already the author of Everyday Italian
While I’m eagerly anticipating this upcoming release, one of my favorite cookbooks from this effervescent host remains De Laurentiis’s first, Everyday Italian.
Some dyed-in-the-wool culinarians have proclaimed De Laurentiis’s first book mediocre when compared to the collective works of Lidia Bastianich, Marcella & Giuliano Hazan, and even fellow celebrity chef Mario Batali (who also appears on the Food Network), I appreciate the fact that Everyday Italian (the cookbook) mimics the look and feel of the Food Network program by the same name.
Following the premier of her television show by approximately 2 years (Food Network’s Everyday Italian premiered in 2003, the cookbook released in 2005), De Laurentiis’s Everyday Italian excels at presenting a fresh, easy, and simplified approach to creating delicious Italian meals with “a minimum of fuss and a maximum of flavor.”
Featuring 256 pages directed at home cooks, 100 tantalizing recipes, and full-color, mouthwatering photos of food (as well as becoming black-and-white photos of De Laurentiis herself), Everyday Italian
With the emphasis on creating great-tasting food in a flash, Everyday Italian takes an unpretentious, refreshing, and realistic approach to Italian food that will inspire culinary confidence in the kitchen. No other recipe exemplifies this more than De Laurentiis’s take on Ziti with Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella, and Prosciutto.
One of the most ridiculously easy yet best-tasting pasta dishes I have ever served, as well as a perfect addition to any luscious lunch, De Laurentiis’s Ziti with Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella, and Prosciutto is what fabulous, contemporary Italian cooking is all about—allowing each ingredient to shine while creating a single, outstanding dish.
The following recipe is quick, uncomplicated, insanely delicious, and requires no additional sauce. In our home, it has become known as “Giada pasta.” Call it what you like, but simply stated, it is a must try and a perfect introduction to this delightful cookbook.
Ziti with Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella, and Prosciutto
by Giada De Laurentiis)- Salt
- 8 ounces dried ziti (or other tubular pasta, I substituted penne rigate)
- 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1″ pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- 3 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut crosswise into strips
- 3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
Note – Since so few ingredients are used in this recipe, it’s worth it to buy the highest quality mozzarella and prosciutto you can afford. This is an instance where taste matters, as it will make a difference in the flavor of your finished dish.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the asparagus and cook the two together until the pasta is tender yet firm to the bite and the asparagus is crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain the pasta and asparagus, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium flame. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the pasta, asparagus, 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, the 1 cup of reserved cooking liquid and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from heat. Add the mozzarella, prosciutto, and basil, and toss to combine. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the pasta to shallow bowls and serve.
This recipe will produce approximately 4 first-course servings, perfect for lunch or dinner.
Cover photo of Everyday Italian from Amazon.com.
To pre-order Giada’s latest cookbook, click here – Giada’s Kitchen.
Thank you for visiting Inn Cuisine! Be sure to check out the newly remodeled Recipe Index and subscribe to Inn Cuisine's free RSS feed (also available via email) so you never miss a recipe. Need more ways to stay connected? Follow Inn Cuisine on Facebook & Twitter!
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Ahhh, smoked mozzarella (scamorza), you’ve got me slayed with this dish.
Giada is fine with me as long as she sticks to Italian.
Beautiful dish! I didn’t know she had a new book coming out! Yeah!
That is a beautiful looking plate of pasta.
great book review, terrific recipe, and stellar execution! my mouth, it waters.
I am also a Giada fan. Her recipes are delicious! We need more like her on the Food Network!
I’m in for this recipe for sure! Proscuitto in anything sells it for me and I like how simple it is to make (always a plus). It looks delicious Sandie!
My fave of her books is Everyday Pasta (got it at her book signing) last year! I think her books have such a great mix of recipes… some easy, some more complicated, but all delicious!
I am a fan of Giada and her cookbooks. Every Day Italian is great for quicker every day meals without too much fuss:D
Peter – Agreed. Smoked mozzarella is the best!
Noble Pig – I’m really looking forward to Giada’s new release (too bad they don’t send it to me to review…hint hint).
Mike – Thank you. It looks (and smells) even better in person!
Grace – My mouth waters too, even now just looking at the photos! In our home, we love this recipe so much (even the kids), it as become my go-to pasta when I need a great dish in a hurry.
Susan – I love many of the cooks (chefs) on Food Network…each brings such a unique quality to their audience, that there’s something special to be learned and taken from each one. That said, I have my favorites (Giada, Ina Garten, Tyler Florence…)
Lorraine – All the flavors in this dish combine to make it fabulous…but when the smoked mozzarella melts and hits the prosciutto…it creates one creamy, savory delight!
Kristen – My step daughter wanted to get me Everday Pasta last year for Christmas. I opted for James Peterson’s Cooking instead. (Hope it wasn’t a mistake!)
Val – Exactly. Everyday Italian is perfect for fresh Italian-style meals with a minimum of fuss. That’s why I love it so much!
I have always been a Giada fan. Her recipes are simple, easy, fresh ingredients, and easy on the eyes to watch.
I am going to have to check out her cookbooks and definitely try this one out.
I don’t think my first attempt to post a comment went through incase I’mright
Does anyone have Giada’s recipe for mac and cheese usng mascarpone cheese. PLEASE if you will shre this I will be forever gratful
Thank you a thousand times
Brbara
jimtowntwo@yahoo.com