I need a unique Italian dish
 

I want something that screams italy and italian culture. Preferably something you would not find very often in the USA. I have to cook dinner tonight and I really want to provide the girl with something that is authentic italian.

No pasta

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

stuffed shells.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

make polenta

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

gnocchi?

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

osso bucco WITH the marrow. (readily available at ALL italian restaurants but still awesome)

- glazed pork-tenderloin.
- home made gelato.
- cured meats or some other cool antipasta dishes.
- strip steak w/roasted peppers.
- lamb chops w/baby vegetables
- heavier white fish (cod, bass, fluke) with like a tomato-based ragu.

although if you're going to be making dinner tonight and need recommendations now to make basic italian dishes, i predict you'll be making roasted boneless chicken breasts with Prego sauce.

btw, there's no shame in that. i made something like that when i was cooking for a girl for the first time and she still slept with me. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] good luck dude. and plenty of wine should soften out the rough edges of the food.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

I second the polenta call.

Osso buco will not be easy since i tmay be tough for you to get a hold of veal shank, but you can call ahead to your butcher and check.

Instead yoiu may try veal saltimbocca. That will also go well with a polenta.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

why do you want to serve her something authentically italian?

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Tripe!

-McGee

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Anything from Gia:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ei/0,,FOOD_9958,00.html

Check out Everyday Italian on foodtv. She is excellent.

A great dish would be a risotto with rock shrimp. That will get her pants off.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

If you want to do something that reflects italian culture, focus on the overall style of the meal. Do a couple of courses and make the experience long, leisurely and with an appreciation for life and food. It'll go a long way.

Suggestions for a relatively easy coursed meal:

Olive crostini
Risotto with shrimp
Steak Florentine (contorni of broccoli rabe, mushrooms)
Biscotti and espresso

You can find plenty of recipes for these dishes online.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Toasted Ravioli.

I actually had a great meal at a StL Italian place, and had the Osso Boco, as recommended by a previous poster. It was served over a mushroom risotto. The meat was so tender I didn't need a knife at all, and the risotto provided a great, creamy texture. Risotto is easy enough to prepare, so if you're up to braising the shank yo ushould be good to go.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

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why do you want to serve her something authentically italian?

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Long story, but basically we got in a fight about going to Italy and some other stuff...we are both pigheaded, and now I feel the need to cook authentic italian food that we wouldnt eat here in so cal - also because she says I never cook.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

noir, I like that idea - it will go well with the context of why I am making the meal also

How hard is calamari to make? I dont want to fry it as is typical here

I love the idea of risotto + shrimp + some sort of meat + mushrooms

I have tried to make osso buco before...I wont try again

I would make polennta but she eats that [censored] like everyday

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Saltimbocca is available at a lot of Italian restaurants and is easy to make. Basically it's veal, ham and sage. http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/in...25/saltimbocca

Risotto is also easy to make and you can add whatever ingredients you like. Noir suggested shrimp. I'm making some right now with bacon, onion and peas. If you make some, be sure to add a generous amount of parmesan cheese to make it creamy.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

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gnocchi?

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Easy to make... tastey to eat...

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

The dish that I love from Italy is Ribollita. I've only seen it in one restaurant here in the states, but was all over Florence when I visited.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

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gnocchi

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My favorite kind of pasta. Pasta made out of Potatoes is the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. Add some alfredo sauce and a little Parmesan cheese to that and it's a great meal.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Maybe google Molto Mario, he does all sorts of stuff that don't involve pasta, etc. yet nonetheless are traditional Italian. Check out the menus at some of his restaurants. you should get tons of ideas.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
gnocchi

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My favorite kind of pasta. Pasta made out of Potatoes is the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. Add some alfredo sauce and a little Parmesan cheese to that and it's a great meal.

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Done right, its excellent. Done poorly, gnocchi are dense lumps of tastelessness.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
gnocchi

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My favorite kind of pasta. Pasta made out of Potatoes is the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned. Add some alfredo sauce and a little Parmesan cheese to that and it's a great meal.

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Done right, its excellent. Done poorly, gnocchi are dense lumps of tastelessness.

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Sweet potato gnocchi is a good way to go: it's an interesting twist and adds a little flavor in case, yes, it does not come out well. Maybe a touch a nutmeg in there would be good, also.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

Take a fish like Cod, cook it in Spaghetti Maranara sauce, add black olives.

Re: I need a unique Italian dish
 

try brogolli