I’d like to introduce you to 10 traditional and authentic Italian cucina povera recipes which have been passed down within my family.
Escarole and Beans at Il Contadino – this is what “eating out” in Italy looks like.
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What is Cucina Povera?
These are “cucina povera” style recipes, which essentially means “peasant food” (literally “poor cooking” or “poor kitchen”).
Since I shared a load of English and Scottish recipes when I was in those respective countries, I thought it would be nice to do the same with Italian recipes, given that I’m currently in Italy right now. I came to speak on a round table at the Turin Epicurean yearly event featuring everything from food to fashion. More to come on that soon!
The house where my mother was born in her small Italian village.
Cucina Povera dishes are mostly always made using super simple recipes, containing a minimal of ingredients. Usually, the products and seasonal and locally grown. As you would probably guess, those ingredients must be the best quality. There’s nothing to hide the lack of flavor otherwise.
Cucina povera recipes are the antitheses of American “Italian” chain restaurant’s dishes. If you enjoy this type of menu, that’s totally fine, just know that there is essentially nothing on it that is truly Italian.
plates of food at Il Contadino agriturismo
Traditional Italian food is not smothered in sauces, tons of cheese and/or “lots of herbs and spices”. Those are American concoctions. Authentic Italian dishes are mostly light, include lots of vegetables, very little cheese (even on pizza) and are very healthy/nutritious.
Most “Italian” recipes I see aren’t even remotely Italian
I get very upset seeing many bloggers sharing “Italian” recipes when they have made up a recipe including tomatoes and oregano on their own and call it “Italian”. People in the US also tend to think that Italian food is heavy and fattening.
It’s very frustrating as I’m trying to share and inform readers what REAL Italian-style food looks and tastes like. Cucina povera recipes fall under the classification of the Mediterranean diet which is extremely healthy and nutritious!
Since you may have never heard of or seen these dishes before, I’m adding a comment left by a reader below each photo. It may entice you to try something really new!
I hope you enjoy my family’s recipes: a true taste of Italy. (Click on the dish title for the full recipe.)
10 Italian Cucina Povera Recipes Passed Down
Within my Family
1. Pasta and Beans (aka Pasta e Fagioli)
“Love this pasta dish. Make this often but I use Cannellini beans.” -Louise G.
2. Roasted Red Peppers
“Messy, yes, but oh-so-worth it! Jarred peppers will do in a pinch, but your own are so much better.” -Rosemary W.
3. Pancetta
“Been looking for nitrate free pancetta which is virtually impossible to find. This solves the problem and I can’t wait to try. Thank you” – Rhonda
4. Dried Zucchini
“This is absolutely amazing! I love zucchini and always end up with so much through my CSA! What a great idea to preserve it for the winter months!!!” – Sarah
5. Dried Zucchini with Pancetta and Potatoes
“The stew sounds delicious, love the pancetta and other veggies and the fact that the zucchini doesn’t get mushy.” -Suzanne
6. Cabbage and Rice
“Loved this! This looked exactly like something my nonna used to make – which means it is pure comfort food for me! I love all of the simple ‘peasant’ food she used to make. I am so happy I finally got around to making it! My house smelled heavenly – just like hers did :) …” – Vittoria
7. Minestra
No comment here except to say that my neighbor now makes this as a side dish for Thanksgiving each year!
8. Pickled Eggplant/Aubergines
“Hi I made the pickle last night with baby brinjals and very good quality oiive oil. Was a breeze. Could not wait 4 days, so delicious Thanks Carol T.”
9. Zucchini and Mushrooms
I’m not a huge zucchini fan, but I love them cooked this way! – ME (Christina) ;)
10. Cioffe (Bows)
“In my Italian family they were called scatalad (scah-tah-lahd)! Love these so much! Yours were scrumptious!” -Dorothy R.
I hope you enjoyed these recipes, and if you’d like to see more of my Italian recipes, just click HERE.
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you left out what in our family we referred to as “re zut” which I found later in life was rizzuto – spelling?? apparently it is a northern italy thing – our friends from Naples didn’t know what we were talking about. This was a staple with stewed chicken, dumplings etc.
Oh goodness, this is not even the tip of the iceberg, Marcia! This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list, only a few recipes that I have on my site. I’ve never heard of that dish, but then again there will be hundreds and thousands of regional dishes across Italy like this. Sounds almost like “risotto”?
Love keeping up with your travel adventures and the wonderful recipes you share. My Mom, who turned 91 in April this year, comes from Rome. She met my Dad towards the end of World War ll, they married in August 1945 and she has been living in Cape Town, South Africa, since then. My late husband was Dutch so as you can well imagine keeping everyone happy at the dinner table was quite a challenge. All turned out fine.
Thanks so much for your note, Pat! What a wonderfully international family, I love it!! I can imagine you have quite the repertoire when it comes to the dinner menu. Hope you enjoyed some of these Italian recipes, too! :)
I most certainly will, always keen to try something new. Thank you Christina
Perfetto ! Ma non e povero . E ricco e delicioso. Grazie mille !
Si! È vero!! Grazie! :)
This is such a great collection of easy dishes. Such a great reminder that really delicious and healthy food doesn’t need to be complicated or time consuming!
That’s what the basis of Italian food is all about! :)
What a lovely collection of old time recipes! Most of which I knew, but the dried zucchini is a new one for me. How I wish I knew about that a few years back when I was growing my own and didn’t know what to do with the incredible bounty… couldn’t give it away fast enough to keep up with the production!
Thank you, Frank! Oh yes, that’s such a great way to use a bounty of zucchini! Tastes so different when it’s rehydrated, too! Lovely treat in the winter!
You have the best Italian recipes! I am looking forward to new recipes after your Turin trip. So excited to hear about it.
Thanks, Cathy!
I love so many of these, and know I will love all those I have yet to try! I am most excited about the homemade pancetta! This will be happening REALLY soon in our home!
Love to hear it. Thanks, David, and let me know how it turns out!
Great collection of recipes and great pics. This is the food I grew up on!
Thank you, I’m glad you like it!
I have always thought of Italian dishes as fattening Christina. Now I know they are not at all like the Italian meals served here and in the USA. I travelled in Greece and the food there is not like what we get in our Greek restaurants in Canada so I should have know this. I look forward everyday to reading about your food and travel adventures…
Thank you for saying this, Lindsay. It truly is sad to see the representation of most Italian food in the US, especially, and I’m glad you know now what it is supposed to be like!
All of these dishes look and sound amazing! I really love that dried courgette, pancetta and potato dish though, it’s sounds absolutely divine!
Thank you, Michelle!
All of your recipes look delicious; however, your dried zucchini recipe really caught my attention. … drying zucchini is new to me. This is definitely something I look forward to trying this summer!
Thank you, Sue! Definitely give the zucchini a try!
What delicious looking recipes – ALL of them.
Christina, I am so with you on the authentic and using the best ingredients.
Looking forward so much to hearing about your culinary trip to Turin – love seeing the ambience there on your social media.