Italian Cooking Basics

How-To Overview

There are a variety of places to start when approaching cooking as a beginner, but it's always best to simplify. Italian is a good choice, as (aside from possibly Mexican) it's the most widely accepted ethnic food in the United States, but it still has the faint aroma of the exotic, and it can be plenty romantic. It's also both easy and versatile, as a good, basic sauce can be translated into a variety of dishes through different noodles. Better still, a good basic sauce is very easy to develop.

Before getting started, bear in mind that cooking is about preparing something that tastes good to you, but it's also about impressing others. Essentially what you are aiming for is to prepare a meal made (at least substantially) from ingredients that aren't kept fresh via preservatives, and to do it in a way that expresses at least the suggestion of skill in the kitchen.

Since basic sauces will take you the furthest with the least amount of effort, it's best to make them the bedrock of your cooking project. Marinara, pesto, and alfredo are simple places to start. Since everyone who enjoys Italian cooking also enjoys creating unique recipes, the following should be viewed merely as starting suggestions, easy and effective departures for the preparation of Italian cuisine. That all of them seem a bit harder to create than they actually are make each an ideal option for the chef in training who is looking to impress.

Marinara Sauce: Materials Needed

1. 3-5 cloves galic, finely chopped

2. 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped

3. Chopped celery (equal to onion)

4. Olive Oil

5. Red cooking wine (optional)

6. 1 large can crushed tomatoes

7. 1 small can tomato sauce

8. 1 small can tomato paste

9. Basil, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper to taste

10. 1 lb. pasta

Marinara Sauce: Step-By-Step Description

1. Saute garlic, onion, and celery with pepper in olive oil until almost soft

2. (Optional) Add red wine and saute until reduced in half

3. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce

4. Add herbs and seasonings to taste

5. Simmer for as long as you like (if sauce becomes bitter to taste, add a touch of sugar)

6. Determine if sauce is thick enough; if not add single spoonfuls of tomato paste until desired consistency is reached

7. Serve over pasta

Pesto Sauce: Materials Needed

1. 1-2 garlic cloves

2. 2 large packages of basil (discard stems)

3. 2-3 tablespoons pine nuts

4. Olive Oil

5. Grated parmesan cheese

6. 1 lb. of pasta

Pesto Sauce: Step-By-Step Description

1. Add basil, garlic, pine nuts, and a dash of olive oil to a food processor or blender, process until smooth

2. Put the mixture in a bowl and add olive oil and parmesan until desired consistency and taste is reached

3. Toss pasta with pesto until pasta is thoroughly coated (add more olive oil if sauce is too thick)

Alfredo Sauce: Materials Needed

1. 1/4 stick butter

2. 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3. 1 pint cream

4. grated parmesan cheese to taste

1. 1 lb. pasta

Alfredo Sauce: Step-By-Step Description

1. Melt butter in a large frying pan

2. Saute garlic in butter

3. Slowly add cream, continually stirring until thickened

4. Add parmesan to taste and to desired thickness

5. Serve over pasta

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