The Italian Family Kitchen: Authentic Recipes That Celebrate Homestyle Italian Cooking

by Eva Santaguida, Harper Alexander

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Mal M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is stunning and the recipes look delicious. Everything from scratch and everything authentic. I can’t wait to try the Ragu Alla Genovese and the sweet and sour butternut squash. Also going to talk my husband into baking me some of these breads 😍

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Opal Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely authentic South Italian cookbook for the home cook that wants to travel from their kitchen.
The ingredients are simple, the instructions are easy and the ingredients get to shine.
It's very carb heavy, so this isn't for people who want lighter meals, and isn't the cookbook to pick if you're walking into summer, but it is perfect for autumn/winter and the hungry family.
You will find a lot of great from-scratch pasta recipes, and explanations of what is done in Italy so you can really get the authentic tastes.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Italian Family Kitchen by Eva Santaguida; Harper Alexander

Rating: 4 Stars

As someone who has a passion for cooking, especially when it comes to Italian cuisine, I was thrilled to dive into The Italian Family Kitchen: Authentic Recipes That Celebrate Homestyle Italian Cooking by Eva Santaguida and Harper Alexander. This book is like a warm hug from a beloved Italian grandmother, filled with the secrets of authentic home cooking that have been lovingly passed down through generations.

The authors, known for their engaging Pasta Grammar YouTube channel, do an incredible job of distilling their extensive knowledge into this accessible cookbook. With 100 comforting recipes, it takes you on a culinary journey through Italy's rich landscape. From fried appetizers and fresh pasta to mouthwatering desserts, the book covers it all.

One of the standout features of the introduction is its comprehensive guide on making different types of pasta, including how to use a pasta machine. As someone who's always been a bit intimidated by homemade pasta, I found this section particularly helpful. It sets the stage for what’s to come, making even the trickiest recipes feel approachable.

As I flipped through the subsequent chapters, I was delighted to see the organization by course. Each section flows seamlessly into the next—from Fritti (fried appetizers) and Pane e Pizza (bread and pizza) to Dolce (desserts)—with each recipe promising to deliver authentic Italian flavors right in your own kitchen.

The recipes are straightforward, and the methods are clearly explained. You can almost hear the authors’ voices guiding you through each step. And let's not forget about the stunning photography throughout the book; it beautifully complements the text, although I did find myself wishing for a few more images of the completed dishes. A picture can say a thousand words, after all!

The layout of The Italian Family Kitchen is another win. It strikes a great balance between being informative and visually appealing. Each recipe feels like an invitation to gather friends and family around the table, which is exactly what Italian cooking is all about.

Overall, I would highly recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to expand their culinary repertoire with authentic Italian dishes. Whether you're an experienced cook or just starting out, this book is sure to inspire you to get into the kitchen and create something delicious. It would also make a perfect gift for any cooking enthusiast’s library! So grab your apron and get ready to bring a taste of Italy into your home—after all, good food is meant to be shared.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Dallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cook a lot, preferring to make dinners fresh rather than resorting to pre-prepared ingredients. I'm not a saint though; I'll go to the pre-made things when I need to or if I feel like it. But what I dislike is a cookbook that relies on the pre-made ingredients.
This is definitely NOT that kind of book.

Everything in this book is made fresh and from scratch; and while it's not difficult, it can be time-consuming. But what I like is that Santaguida/Alexander de-mystify methods and ingredients and make this a completely accessible venture. The first chapter of the book tells you about ingredients; why they're important and how they're used, then goes through methods. For instance, they (the authors) are very adamant that you pluck pasta from the water, rather than draining into a collander, but they go on to explain the reasons why this is a better method than dumping all of that gorgeous, starchy pasta water down the sink. I now only ever pluck pasta out of its water. This is the new me.

One thing I'll note is that, while you don't need to have a lot of experience in the kitchen to get along well with this book, I would HIGHLY recommend planning in advance. In some cases, you'll need to prep ingredients a day or so before you start making the recipe itself, so please pay attention. NOthing worse than going to make dinner on a Wednesday night only to find out that you should have started it on Monday. Give yourself time and space. Some of the recipes will take time, so indulge in a little potter about the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.

I didn't want to write a review of this book without trying one of the recipes (and I would have tried more if I'd had time!), and the one I picked was 'Brasato Di Manzo al Vino Rosso' (Roast Beef in Red Wine Sauce). Starting from the top, the description of it perfectly matched what I made. The instructions were clear and the result: melt-in-your-mouth! I've been crowing about it to everyone who will stand still long enough to listen. Perfecto!

I didn't get a chance to try some of the other receipes that I'd wanted to, before my access to the book expired, but on my list were some sweet treats like the Canolli, and the Lemon Tart.

Before I wrap this up, I want to also say that I was impressed with the book before I'd even made a single recipe. Throughout my reading of it, I kept thinking to myself, 'I'll need to buy this when it comes out.'

And so I shall.

(thanks to NetGally for a preview of this book in exchange for my honest review)

[Josie Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm Italian on my Dad's side, when my Nannie (Great Grandma) moved to New York from Italy. I'm related to her through my Papa and then my Dad, so a lot of the traditional family recipes were lost to me because they weren't passed down through the men. So while I'm close to my Great Aunt and Dad's sisters who graciously passed down what recipes and such they had to me, I'm always eager to expand my repertoire through further research, and seeing what other Italian families make. I want to keep that part of the family tradition alive. This book immediately starts out addressing the gap of Italian and American "food language" which I feel even greater as an American of Italian descent. And as someone in communications, I love the parallels drawn between grammar and the "language" of pasta and Italian Food. It's more than just a cookbook, it's a interesting insight and analysis of food as culture beyond the plate. They spend the first 30 pages making sure you're well versed in the basics before diving into all the mouth watering recipes. I love that everything also has the traditional name as I feel like that's something Americans really mix up. I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm excited to make literally everything in this book. I'm in Wisconsin now, which means snowed in winters, and that I can really dive into trying everything in this book. I can't wait!

[Valerie Thirkettle-Kayser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: this book will make you want to cook and eat Italian food and you will be unable to resist the urge to try the recipes.

This beautifully illustrated book is sharing Italian recipes in their original way, the way they were transmitted from generation to generation. It contains all the real classics that we all have heard of and many more dishes that are all mouthwatering.

The book starts with some good basics about the Italian menu and eating traditions, basic techniques (how to make fresh egg pasta, semolina pasta, how to use a pasta machine, how to cook pasta etc) and of course the pantry because Italian food requires very specific ingredients, often very simple but the quality is of utmost importance. The authors are very pragmatic though and they share notes in the recipes that tell you what to do if you cannot find a particular ingredient.

And then, the authors have been very generous and shared so many recipes. A few fritti (fried appetisers), bread, ragu, and and many pasta, rice, main dishes (second and contorno) as well as some lovely desserts.

I did not know Pasta Grammar but I love the idea and the enthusiasm of Eva and Harper. This book is the ideal companion to following the authors on social media. And it is a very good starting point for anyone who wishes to cook great traditional Italian food. I really loved it.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

My appreciation for Italian cuisine took a huge leap forward when we hosted an Italian exchange student. Prior to her arrival, my exposure was at a very low "Olive Garden" level. Giulia opened our eyes to the real world (shameless plug for hosting exchange students, it's a great experience)! That girl could cook! And when we visited her at her home in Milan, we were blown away by her families cooking (especially Nonna). We experienced such great dining there.
Cut to the present....I have been experimenting with Italian recipes since we returned, but the results have not been as good as hoped.
Then I received this great ARC from NetGalley! What a great book!
Broken down into about 100 recipes, it covers from appetizers to desserts. Extraordinary photography. Easy to understand and follow. It even teaches one how to use a pasta machine to make your own pasta.
I talked with Giulia on the phone about some of these recipes, and she said that they sounded authentic, and that she is looking forward to my making them for her on our next visit!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I have already ordered a hard copy for myself!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely Italian cookery book with lots of information about the Italian way, and over ninety interesting recipes.

It is divided into eight chapters plus an introduction:
- Fritti (fried appetizers & street food) (8)
- Bread & Pizza (9)
- Ragu (5)
- Pasta (21)
- Riso (rice) (10)
- Secondo (second courses) (18)
- Contorno (side dishes) (13)
- Dolce (desserts) (10)

The introduction explains the five courses of an Italian meal and the rules of serving dishes - its unacceptable to serve a vegetable based side dish with the primo (carb based main). It then moves onto the pantry ingredients and tools used. There are basic recipes for fresh egg pasta, fresh semolina pasta, potato gnocchi, simple tomato sauce and besciamella (white sauce). The book goes onto explain the use of the pasta machine and how to cook pasta.

The recipes come with both metric and imperial measurements of the ingredients, introduction, timings, yield and numbered steps to follow. Not all the recipes have a photograph to accompany them, but those that do look delicious.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Britney Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Italian Family Kitchen is truly an authentic cookbook filled with delicious Italian recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. After living in Italy, I can guarantee that you would find these dishes not only on the menu at a favorite local restaurant, but also in the home of your Italian friends. Pasta Alla Carbonara is a dish that I make repetitively for my family and would recommend to everyone.

I love how this cookbook not only shares authentic Italian cuisine, but it also captures the culture revolving around food. These recipes are the things that gathers families, it’s a place where stories are shared and it’s a family heirloom. Italian food is simple yet delectable, where you allow the flavor of the ingredients to really shine through in the end result.

Anyone that loves REAL Italian food (not the Americanized version) and enjoys learning about other cultures/cuisines will enjoy this cookbook and use it frequently,

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this amazing cookbook. It will be one that I recommend to many.

[MarryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cookbook filled with Italian recipes, as the title suggests.

The book is organized in such a manner that it's easy to find what you're looking for, the recipes are easy to follow and have the ingredients listed using both measuring systems. I found it a bit odd to see that the metric system in considered the secondary one, since Italy is a country that uses the metric system, however, I assume that the authors are of Italian origin, not necessarily living there, and maybe the main audience is using the imperial measurements. Still, I like the fact that they used both in the book.

A thing I didn't like as much, is the fact that not every recipe has a photo. For me, personally, having a photo that I can associate the recipe with is very important as it shows that 1. the recipe was 100% made before being published and 2. how it should look at the end, which can give me hints about some techniques.

All in all, the book was interesting, I learned more about the Italian cuisine and tried some really tasty recipes.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many sections/chapters: The introduction not only has the usual intro stuff, but it has information on how to make different pasta recipes and styles and how to use a pasta machine. The next chapter is on Fried Appetizers, then Bread and Pasta, Ragus, Pastas, Rice, Second courses (meats, fish, etc.), Side dishes and Desserts.

Not being of Italian heritage, I've always wanted to make my own pasta, but I haven't. Maybe this book will encourage me to try. Another thing I've never made is Risotto. This book has more than enough recipes for me to find one to start with. I think it may be the Risotto Al Pomodoro or the Risotto al Parmigiano. The Verdure Gratinate look so good and would be a wonderful way to cook up the extra garden vegetables that are arriving as I write this. And of course, every dessert looks unbelievably good.

The photos in this book make the food look mouth-wateringly good. So many dishes I'd love to try today.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great Italian cookbook for those who want authentic modern Italian cooking. The author is Italian and it is very heavy on the rules. There are beautiful photos of about a third of the recipes. There is no nutritional information and it is very heavy on wheat and animal products, so it will not be a good fit for those with allergies or special dietary needs. The recipes tend to take a bit of time and require authentic ingredients, though they are fairly simple. The recipes are extremely heavy on the carbs, without options for gluten free, paleo, keto, etc eaters. I think traditional Italian food could work well for people with those needs but you have to go farther back and we are definitely in an age of pasta, bread and more pasta and bread these days. It’s a fantastic cookbook if that’s what you want though, and these days most do.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always looking for new cookbooks and new recipes and Italian is a favorite of mine. When I saw this book I knew I needed to look through it and see what it had to offer. This cookbook is full of authentic Italian recipes that look delicious. I especially loved the beginning of the book where it lays out how to make fresh pasta and gnocchi. I will definitely be trying the gnocchi. The layout of this cookbook was nice and the imagery was a perfect complement to the recipes. I do wish there were more pictures of the completed dishes since I love seeing what the dish would look like before making it. Overall this is a great authentic Italian cookbook with a good selection of recipes. I definitely need to try a few of these.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Italian Family Kitchen focuses on authentic italian recipes that you can make at home.

The Sections are
Fritti
Bread and Pizza
Ragu
Pasta
Riso
Secondo
Contorno
Dolce

Each recipe has an English translation of the meal, a little blurb about the dish, duration, yield, ingredients, directions, and a beautiful photo of the dish.

The photos in this cookbook are absolutely beautiful. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow. A fantastic cookbook with a ton of great recipes I can’t wait to try.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[booksoddsends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook for beginners to intermediate cooks! It's an incredibly well-organized cookbook. The beginning starts with the kitchen and pantry staples you'll need throughout the cookbook, and it is organized as a classic Italian meal that would be eaten. The recipes are beautifully photographed and easy to follow; there's a variety for vegetarians and meat-eaters. I recommend the bolognese recipe and the tiramisu; both were well worth the effort and incredibly delicious. A great cookbook to either add to a collection or start one!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has recipes for italian dishes but what makes it a bit more special is that it includes family history/occassions linked to each dish. Isn't that what makes our cultural foods special to us, how they tie into our memories of childhood and loved ones? The recipes have a complete ingredient list with clear step by step instructions that are easy to follow. Additionally, what I appreciated was at the beginning of the book there was an informatioal section about key ingredients that would keep reappearing, how they are made and how to find the right quality of ingredient.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty straightforward collection of quite purist traditional recipes. Which is not bad! It taught me a lot about traditional Italian cuisine, when I had foolishly imagined myself more than a beginner amateur. I'm always startled to learn how little authenticity even the "typical" national dishes of a country seem to hold once they are exported (or invented to appeal more broadly to an international palate). Still, most of this cook book boils down to "it is impossible to acquire these specific local ingredients abroad, so don't even try to get close to the original taste of this dish". Huh.

***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

[Sarah Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book is perfect, I have many Italian cook books but this one stands out for its explanatiuon of how meals in Italy work, how seriously most Italians treat food, how it is still a big family / social aspect of the Italian culture and for its classic recipes of dishes that you can and will make at home.

Easy to follow recipes and delicious photos.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Italian Family Kitchen

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great cookbook! It's got very useful information and lots of delicious looking recipes. The recipes I'm most excited to try are the miniature fried pizza, Baked Chicken and Potatoes and Umbrian Apple Cake. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Eva Santaguida,Harper Alexander, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Darlene Messenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

YouTube channel "Pasta Grammar" : who knew that there were 'rules' of pasta? In this excellent cookbook the reader learns of the pattern, rhythm and passion of Italian cuisine firsthand. Embrace it! From creating a menu, stocking a pantry with ingredients to tools and proper usage, this book has all a home chef needs to make a truly Italian meal from start to dessert.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful cookbook offers truly authentic Italian restaurant style recipes that can easily be made at home even by a novice cook. I was thrilled to find so many new to me recipes that have now been added to my rotation of meals! I thank Quarto Publishing Group/Rock Point for giving me the opportunity to read and review this cookbook.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful cook book. I love pasta dishes and this book has a lot of those! I wish there were more pictures showing step-by-step processes and at least one photo per dish. Right now some of the dishes do not have any photos.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Tracie]

This is a beautifully illustrated cookbook featuring Italian recipes that have been passed down through the generations. This cookbook makes you want to jump up and start cooking! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristen Barenthaler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire cookbook made me miss Italy so much! The vibrant, colorful images and the rich, delicious recipes are only part of the reason you will be completely immersed in this book. We'll definitely be "traveling" to Italy soon in my kitchen.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

What a wonderfully thought-out cookbook with delicious Italian food some of which I've never heard of. Traditional recipes, helpful introductions, basic bread and pasta making. An all around good cookbook to have.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this cookbook! Full of fresh, simple, nourishing foods. The recipes were simple and easy to follow. It was a stunning cookbook, beautifully put together. I will be returning to this one time and time again!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Italian Family Kitchen details all the basics of true Italian home cooking. From the staples you should have for Italian cuisine to how to create delicious meals for every course, it has everything you need to know.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

All things Italian cooking...

This was an extensive Italian cookbook. From fried foods, pastas, pizzas and more.
Solid photography and a nice layout.
Recommend.

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the recipes I grew up with. It felt like coming home. I cannot wait to work my way throughout and share my history with my children. Well maybe not the tripe. That one can stay back.

[Donna M Iaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this and recipes are fabulous.