5 Traditional Italian Dishes

Here are 5 traditional Italian dishes made just for you and your family. They are very easy to make and delicious. These wonderful recipes include some you know well, such as pizza, spaghetti and baked fish.

1. Spaghetti With Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 4 cans tomatoes
• 4 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 10 basil leaves
• Salt and Pepper
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a large pot bring the water to boil.  Add in a small handful of salt. Drop in the spaghetti to cook.
2. Cook the spaghetti to aldente, not too soft. Start the marinara sauce by adding the olive oil to a skillet.
3. Add the tomatoes and with a wooden spoon chop up the tomatoes slightly. Add in the fresh basils, water, salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Cook the marinara sauce for an additional 20 to 25 minutes. When the spaghetti is cooked, drain the pasta. Add the spaghetti to the marinara sauce.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and enjoy.

2. Margarita Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo flour
• 1 package instant yeast
• Pinch salt
• 1-1/2 cups warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Pizza sauce (fresh is better)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil

Directions:

1. Place the flour on a large surface.  Make a hole in the middle and add in the yeast, salt, olive oil and the warm water.
2. With your fingers or a fork, start mixing the flour and the wet ingredients together slowly.  Add more flour if needed. Make the dough into a ball.
3. Knead for eight to ten minutes.  Let the pizza dough rise until doubled. Pinch off enough dough to make a pizza big enough for your family.
4. Roll out the dough to a circle and place on an oiled pizza pan. With a fork, make indentations in the dough and spread some pizza sauce over the dough.
   
5. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Sprinkle the entire pizza with some parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.
6. Bake in a very hot 450 degree oven for ten to fifteen minutes. 
   

3. Spinach Frittata

Ingredients:

• 10 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 3 cups spinach, chopped
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese
• 3 Tablespoons virgin olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Fresh basil

Directions:

1. Place one tablespoons of oil in a skillet. Add in the cherry tomatoes and cook slightly until soft. 
2. Add in the chopped spinach and cook until soft. Remove both the tomatoes and spinach from the skillet.
3. Add in the other two tablespoons of oil and add in the eggs.  Spread the eggs over the bottom of the skillet.
4. Add the spinach and tomatoes on top of the eggs and mix slightly.  After the eggs have browned slightly and set, place strips of mozzarella cheese on top.
5. Add a few leaves of fresh basil, salt and pepper.  Place the skillet in a preheated 400 degree oven under the broiler.  Bake until the cheese is melted and the eggs are cooked.

4. Bruschetta With Mozzarella Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf French Bread
• Olive oil
• 500 grams mozzarella cheese
• Fresh basil leaves

Directions:

1. Take the French bread and cut into thick slices. Place on a baking sheet and brush with virgin olive oil.
2. Place the baking sheet in a very hot 400 degree oven. Bake the toast until lightly brown.
3. Remove from the oven and layer each toast with slices of mozzarella cheese. On top of the cheese put two to three leaves of basil.
4. Place back in the oven and let the cheese melt. 
   

5. Baked Fish

Ingredients:

• Fresh fish - 3 to 5 pounds
• Parsley
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• Aluminum foil

Directions:

1. Clean your fish and remove the scales. Slice open the fish and clean.  Add salt and pepper to the inside and outside of the fish.
2. In a bowl put in some chopped parsley, tomato and onion.  Add in the juice of a lemon, salt and pepper.
3. Fill the cavity of the fish with this parsley mixture. Wrap the entire fish in foil and put on a baking tray.
4. Place the fish in a hot 400 degree oven and cook for 45 minutes or until done. Open the foil very carefully as steam will escape.