Global Eats: 12 Recipes For An Italian-Inspired Feast

Jun 21, 2024

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Whether a Euro summer is in the cards or not, the taste of Italy always is.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to explore new flavors, we’ve curated a menu from classic pizzas and pastas to unique seafood dishes and vibrant salads.

A true reflection of the hearty, cheese-laden dishes of the North to the olive oil- and tomato-based dishes of the South, each region offers its own unique and delicious culinary traditions, highlighting simple, fresh ingredients.

Hungry for more? Our library of Italian-inspired recipes is chockful of ideas, inspo and delicious pasta—everything you need for your next gathering!

Explore Our Italian Recipes

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Summer Squash Pizza with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto with Aged Balsamic

Capture the essence of Italian cuisine with a pie for the books, topped with creamy mozzarella, goat cheese, prosciutto and summer squash, with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkle of thyme.

Grab a few mixing bowls, a rolling pin and a mandoline for your toppings—we’ll work on the dough toss.

Get the Summer Squash Pizza recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Mozzarella Pesto Salad

Toss fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella with the bright, herbaceous notes of homemade arugula basil pesto, and you’ve mastered the art of cooking like an Italian. It’s all about using simple, fresh ingredients, made simpler by using a food processor for puréeing your pesto.

Top with crispy pancetta for a touch of savory crunch.

Get the Mozzarella Pesto Salad recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Pasta with Baby Artichokes, Mascarpone and Hazelnuts

The only thing that makes vegetables better? Pasta.

The hardest part of making this recipe is trimming the artichokes, which is made less tricky with a serrated knife and vegetable peeler. It’s worth a bite of this deliciously creamy artichoke pasta with crunchy, toasted hazelnuts mixed with marjoram and Aleppo-style pepper.

Get the Pasta with Baby Artichokes recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Branzino with Fennel and Lemon

Enter Italian cuisine core. Wonderfully easy to prepare, this branzino dish is simple and delicious. The delicate, mild taste of the white fish is beautifully balanced with fennel, lemon and thyme.

You’ll find a fish spatula is essential for flipping the fish without breaking it. All that’s left is a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle of fennel fronds and drizzle of olive oil.

Get the Branzino with Fennel and Lemon recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Instant Pot Linguine with Shrimp, Arugula and Mascarpone Sauce

Perfectly al dente linguine tossed in a lemony mascarpone sauce, arugula, sautéed garlic and shrimp. Not the one-pot dinner you’re used to, right? But after a quick pressure release and plating, all you need is some freshly grated Parmesan and fresh lemon zest to convince your guests you’ve been hard at work.

Get the Instant Pot Linguine with Shrimp recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Cioppino

A classic Italian American seafood stew, a cioppino has a hearty blend of flavors, combining halibut, shrimp and clams or mussels in a robust tomato and white wine broth.

Prepared in a large Dutch oven, it’s a game of addition—slowly enhancing the base to create a rich, flavorful broth. As it simmers and thickens, your seafood is added and cooked until tender. Don’t forget crusty bread for dipping—this broth can’t be wasted!

Get the Cioppino recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Baked Polenta with Chanterelles and Sage Ragout

Capturing the rustic elegance of Italian cuisine, this dish marries the creamy texture of polenta with the earthy richness of chanterelles and sage.

Chilled, cut into shapes and baked on a greased sheet pan until golden and topped with melted mozzarella, we’re making this polenta from scratch, friend. Not to mention a homemade ragout—all to experience the comforting flavors of Italy in a dish that’s both hearty and refined.

Get the Baked Polenta with Chanterelles recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Italian Meringue

Let’s perfect the iconic Italian meringue. Because, why not?

Whether you’re topping a lemon meringue pie or want to give your summer berries a classic Italian touch—this is the recipe you’ve been looking for. All you need is a medium saucepan for the sugar syrup and a stand mixer for whipping your egg whites to perfection.

Get the Italian Meringue recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Sure, you can get pasta salad at the deli, but trust us—this is better.

Inspired by Italian antipasto platters, you’ll toss halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, chopped roasted red peppers, quartered salami slices, chopped pepperoncini and black olives with mini mozzarella balls and al dente short-cut pasta in a zesty Italian dressing.

Get the Antipasto Pasta Salad recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Italian Sausage, Broccoli Raab and Fresh Mozzarella Pizza

Pull out your pizza stone and have dinner ready in 30.

You’re going to pile sweet Italian sausage, mozzarella and crunchy broccoli raab on a Neapolitan pizza dough drenched in a homemade tomato sauce. With a bit of culinary finesse and red pepper flakes, you’ll be set to impress.

Get the Italian Sausage Pizza recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Fresh Trenette with Pesto alla Genovese

Clear your work surface, we’re making pasta.

You’ll need a pasta attachment for your stand mixer or one of these pasta makers to get started. But it’s worth it to try this quintessential Italian dish showcasing the vibrant flavors of Ligurian cuisine.

Trenette, a narrow, flat pasta (similar to tagliatelle) pairs all too well with Pesto alla Genovese to not give it a go. She is the moment.

Get the Fresh Trenette with Pesto recipe!

italian recipes, summer italian recipes, al fresco recipes

Mussels Linguini in Harissa and Butter

A delicious fusion of Mediterranean and Southeast Asian flavors, this linguine is swimming in plump, sweet mussels, cooked in a fragrant broth of butter, gochujang, white wine, onion and garlic.

You’re gonna want to break out the big bowls, generously drizzling each serving with aioli, breadcrumbs and scallions.

Get the Mussels Linguini in Harissa and Butter recipe!

 

Hungry for more? Our library of Italian-inspired recipes is chockful of ideas, inspo and delicious pasta—everything you need for your next gathering!

Explore Our Italian Recipes

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