Christina's Cucina

An impassioned Italian Scot sharing how to cook authentically, and travel with enthusiasm.

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Course or Meal
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast/Brunch
      • Dessert
      • Main Course
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups
    • Cuisine
      • Italian
      • Scottish (British)
      • Other Cuisines
        • Asian
        • French
        • German
        • Greek
        • Mexican
        • Other
    • Ingredient
      • Beef
      • Cheese
      • Chicken (Poultry)
      • Chocolate
      • Eggs
      • Fish & Shellfish
      • Fruit
      • Legumes
      • Pasta and Rice
      • Pork & Lamb
      • Potatoes
      • Vegetables
    • Special Diets
      • Dairy Free
      • Egg Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Nut Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Types of Food
      • Beverages
        • Alcoholic
        • Non-Alcoholic
      • Bread, Cookies & Pastries
      • Cakes & Pies
      • Candies, Sweets & Confections
      • Dressings, Sauces, Syrups & Toppings
      • Jams
      • Pickles
      • Sandwiches & Snacks
    • Non Sequitur
      • “How To…”
      • My Rants & Recommendations
  • Travel
  • Work with Me

Home » Course or Meal » 10 Traditional and Authentic Italian Recipes — Passed Down Within my Family — (Cucina Povera)

10 Traditional and Authentic Italian Recipes — Passed Down Within my Family — (Cucina Povera)

June 25th, 2017 | 56 Comments

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 cucina povera recipes
Escarole and Beans at Il Contadino – this is what “eating out” in Italy looks like.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 annual event featuring everything from food to fashion. More to come on that soon!

panorama of Nalli
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.

dishes of food at Il Contadino cucina povera recipes
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!

Escarole and beans at Il Contadino cucina povera recipes

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)

Authentic Italian Pasta and Beans cucina povera recipes
“Love this pasta dish. Make this often but I use cannellini beans.” -Louise G.

2. Roasted Red Peppers

Roasted Red Pepper Antipasto cucina povera recipes
“Messy, yes, but oh-so-worth it! Jarred peppers will do in a pinch, but your own are so much better.” -Rosemary W.

3. Polenta

Polenta in a bowl with caramelized onions
“Your polenta is awesome. All straight forward; done right w./ good ingredients.” -Tony

4. Dried Zucchini

Making Dried Zucchini cucina povera recipes
“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

Dried Zucchini Pancetta and Potatoes cucina povera recipes
“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

southern italian cabbage and rice
“DELICIOUS!!! We all polished off our bowls.” – Wendy

7. Minestra

Minestra, healthy greens and beans cucina povera recipes
No comment here except to say that my neighbor now makes this as a side dish for Thanksgiving each year!

8. Pickled Eggplant/Aubergines

pickled eggplant aubergines cucina povera recipes
“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

Italian style zucchini and mushrooms
“I made this last year, really tasty and will be doing the same again this year.” Rona B.

10. Cioffe (Bows)

Cioffe cucina povera recipes
“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.


Don’t miss another recipe or travel post; sign up for my free subscription below!

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

You may also enjoy these...

  • Rapini and Besciamella Orecchiette for National Pasta Day!Rapini and Besciamella Orecchiette for National Pasta Day!
  • Italian Green Beans (Authentic and Traditional)Italian Green Beans (Authentic and Traditional)
  • Grilled Polenta with Cheese (How to Use Leftover Polenta)Grilled Polenta with Cheese (How to Use Leftover Polenta)
  • Italian Wedding Soup (Authentic Italian Meatball Soup Recipe)Italian Wedding Soup (Authentic Italian Meatball Soup Recipe)
Older Post
Award-Winning Villa Del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico has Something for Everyone
Newer Post
A Sumptuous Stay at Eden Mansion, a 5 Star Bed and Breakfast – St Andrews, Scotland
806 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard

Appetizers, Course or Meal, Cuisine, Desserts, Italian, Main Courses, Side Dishes · cucina povera

Reader Interactions

56 Responses

  1. Frank says:
    June 28, 2017 at 5:32 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 30, 2017 at 6:21 am

      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!

      Reply
  2. Cathy A says:
    June 27, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    You have the best Italian recipes! I am looking forward to new recipes after your Turin trip. So excited to hear about it.

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 27, 2017 at 11:52 pm

      Thanks, Cathy!

      Reply
  3. David says:
    June 27, 2017 at 8:13 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 27, 2017 at 11:51 pm

      Love to hear it. Thanks, David, and let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  4. Elizabeth Conte-Vitullo says:
    June 27, 2017 at 7:02 am

    Great collection of recipes and great pics. This is the food I grew up on!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 27, 2017 at 11:55 pm

      Thank you, I’m glad you like it!

      Reply
  5. lindsay Bradley says:
    June 25, 2017 at 10:41 am

    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…

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 28, 2017 at 12:00 am

      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!

      Reply
  6. Michelle | The Last Food Blog says:
    June 25, 2017 at 9:26 am

    All of these dishes look and sound amazing! I really love that dried courgette, pancetta and potato dish though, it’s sounds absolutely divine!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 28, 2017 at 12:00 am

      Thank you, Michelle!

      Reply
  7. Sue Crum says:
    June 25, 2017 at 9:11 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      June 28, 2017 at 12:01 am

      Thank you, Sue! Definitely give the zucchini a try!

      Reply
  8. Jill @ Mad About Macarons says:
    June 25, 2017 at 2:54 am

    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.

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Join the Discussion Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Meet Christina

A Scottish Italian cook living in Los Angeles, Christina is usually cooking, baking or (cr)eating something scrumptious. When she isn't in the kitchen, she loves to travel, near and far, as long as good food is involved. Christina is on a mission to save authentic Italian dishes from extinction, and is constantly promoting Scottish (and British) food as some of the best cuisine the world has to offer—one steak pie and sticky toffee pudding at a time.



Newsletter

Most Popular Recipes

cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls (with Lavash Bread)

Sicilian Whole Orange cake on a plate with oranges

Sicilian Whole Orange Cake (Using an Entire Orange: Peel, Juice and Pulp)

Perfect Yeast Doughnuts

Perfect Yeast Doughnuts (Donut Recipe with 3 Fillings)

Footer

More please…

The Best Ever Lemon Drop Martini Recipe

Lemon Cocktails (the Best, Simplest Recipes)

lemon drop martinis with lemon

Hard Lemonade Recipe (Tip for the BEST Flavor!)

two Bellini drinks with white peaches

Peach Bellini Recipe (Just Like Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy)

overhead view of strawberry dessert

Strawberry Dessert (Easy, Delicious, and Gluten Free!)

sgroppino in a martini glass

Sgroppino, a Refreshing Italian Lemon Cocktail (Dessert)

gnocchi gorgonzola hero shot on blue plate

Gnocchi Gorgonzola (Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola)

Return to top of page
Copyright© 20112019 · Privacy Policy · Log in

806 shares