Italy's culinary traditions run deep — and so does the Cookbooker community's love for cooking from them. Marcella Hazan appears twice here, and for good reason: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking and Marcella Cucina represent the gold standard for understanding Italian food from the ground up, not just following instructions but learning to think like an Italian cook. Lidia Bastianich brings her Italian-American perspective to bear in Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, while Giada De Laurentiis makes the cuisine approachable for weeknight cooking in Everyday Italian. Gina DePalma rounds out the collection with Dolce Italiano, a love letter to the desserts of the Babbo kitchen. Five books, a full Italian education.
Marcella Hazan's 1992 reference covers 468 Italian recipes with 89 member reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars. The most frequently reviewed recipes include Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter, Minestrone alla Romagnola, and Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi. The cookbook itself received a 4.6 out of 5 rating across 5 book reviews from members.
This 2001 cookbook by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich contains 262 Italian-American recipes, with 10 individual recipes rated by community members at an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The most-reviewed recipes include Eggplant Rollatini, Baked Stuffed Shells, and Meat Sauce Bolognese. The cookbook itself received one overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars from members.
Marcella Hazan's 1997 cookbook contains 179 indexed recipes covering Italian cuisine fundamentals. The 23 member reviews of individual recipes average 4.3 out of 5 stars, with the most-reviewed dishes including Simplest Leek and Chickpea Soup, Eggplant Sauce with Bell Pepper, Tomato, and Basil, and Savoy Cabbage and Sausage Pasta Sauce. One member review rated the book overall at 5 out of 5
Giada De Laurentiis's 2005 collection features 125 Italian recipes, with 135 recipes indexed on Cookbooker and 46 member reviews averaging 4.2 out of 5. The most frequently reviewed recipes are Caprese Salad, Marinara Sauce, and Chicken Parmesan. Members rated the cookbook overall at 3.8 out of 5 based on 4 book reviews.
This 2007 collection from Babbo's pastry chef Gina DePalma features 99 Italian dessert recipes, with 12 member reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars. The most popular recipes on the site include the All-of-the-Lemon Tart, Cranberry Tart, and Hazelnut Cookies. Members have also rated the book itself at 5 out of 5 stars based on 2 reviews.
