Vegetables the Italian Way: Turning Simple and Fresh into Extraordinary

Cucina Povera author Giulia Scarpaleggia continues her celebration of the soul of Italian cooking with a beautiful and delicious focus on vegetables.

Italians have a gift for making vegetables shine. It’s about simplicity, balance, and an instinctive understanding of flavor to get the best out of each vegetable, whether it’s eaten fresh along with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of salt or roasted slowly with a drizzle of olive oil and a handful of fresh herbs. This deep-rooted practice of simplicity comes from Italy’s cucina povera where seasonal vegetables dishes are nourishing everyday meals.   

The recipes in this book are the creations of Giulia Scarpaleggia (@julskitchen) and celebrate cucina casalinga—Italian home cooking. They include some of Italy’s most iconic dishes like Eggplant Parmesan, Panzanella Salad, and Sicilian Caponata, as well as regional favorites like Braised Artichokes and Fennel Gratin. With enticing photographs from the Italian garden and countryside, the book is as much a pleasure to look at as it is to cook from.