10 Authentic Italian Cucina Povera Recipes — Passed Down Within my Family
I’d like to introduce you to 10 traditional and authentic Italian cucina povera recipes which have been passed down within my family.
Cucina povera is the type of food my Nonna used to make. Continue the authentic Italian tradition by making these healthy, delicious and nutritious meals for your family, too.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
EDIT: 2022 You may be on this page because you heard Stanley Tucci discuss cucina povera on his Searching for Italy series on CNN. Recently, I’ve seen many others jump on the “authentic Italian cuisine bandwagon” to profit off Stanley’s show, but I have been posting my family’s cucina povera recipes since 2011.
You’ll see that I shared this particular list of cucina povera recipes in 2017. Just be sure the recipes you discover and try are the real-deal; many are not.
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 at a round table at the Turin Epicurean annual event featuring everything from food to fashion. More to come on that soon! (Edited to add that you can find my Turin Epicurean post here.)
Cucina povera dishes are mostly always made using super simple recipes, containing a minimal of ingredients. Usually, the dishes are vegetarian or vegan, and products are seasonal and locally sourced. For example, coastal areas would use more fish as it was accessible, whereas mountainous regions would not. As you would surmise, those ingredients must be the best quality. There’s nothing to hide the poor flavor of bad products, otherwise.
Cucina povera recipes are the antitheses of American “Italian” chain restaurant dishes. If you enjoy this type of menu, that’s totally fine, just know that there is essentially nothing on them that is truly Italian. There is no such thing as chicken Alfredo in Italy, in fact, meat is NEVER served on top of or alongside any sort of pasta. I mean EVER. Pasta as a side on a plate is also non-existent in authentic Italian cuisine.
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 to me because my mission is 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.
10 Traditional and Authentic Italian Recipes -- Passed Down Within my Family -- (Cucina Povera)
Peasant-style Italian recipes made by my family.
Pasta e Fagioli aka Pasta and Beans (and a Little Rant About Using Quality Ingredients)
Pasta and beans, or pasta e fagioli, is a quick and easy, inexpensive, nutritious and delicious meal that the entire family will enjoy. Children especially love it.
"Love this pasta dish. Make this often but I use cannellini beans." -Louise G.
Italian Roasted Red Pepper Antipasto Salad
A simple red pepper antipasto salad that is made all over Italy.
"Messy, yes, but oh-so-worth it! Jarred peppers will do in a pinch, but your own are so much better." -Rosemary W.
How to Make Polenta - an Easy Italian Recipe
A simple and delicious corn meal dish that has been made in Italy for centuries.
"Your polenta is awesome. All straight forward; done right w./ good ingredients." -Tony
Minestra: Healthy Greens and Beans
A super nutritious greens and beans dish that is made in Italy.
No comment, except to say that my neighbor now makes this as a side dish for Thanksgiving each year!
Dried Zucchini (Save Some for Winter!)
A super easy way to save the larger zucchini from the garden!
“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
Dried Zucchini, Pancetta and Potatoes (in Tomato Sauce)
Dried zucchini, pancetta and potatoes in tomato sauce is a typical dish made by my family in the south of Italy. Make use of dried zucchini in a unique and delicious way!
Italian Cabbage and Rice...Simple, Healthy and Delicious
A super simple, Italian comfort food recipe that's inexpensive, hearty and delicious.
“DELICIOUS!!! We all polished off our bowls.” – Wendy
Italian Style Zucchini and Mushrooms
A delicious and fresh way to prepare zucchini which happens to be vegan.
“I made this last year, really tasty and will be doing the same again this year.” Rona B.
Pickled Eggplant (Pickled Aubergines)
Pickled eggplant/aubergines are marinated eggplant kept under oil, flavored with garlic and oregano as is done in Italy.
“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.”
Frappe or Cioffe: Bows and Ribbons of Fried Sweetened Dough
A very traditional Italian treat known by lots of different names in Italy. Typically made for Carnevale (Fat Tuesday).
"Just made these! Thanks for the recipe, they are just like the ones my mother in law used to make, she called them ‘crispellos’." -Lavinia
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.
Your recipes are straightforward and easy to follow. Kudos! They bring memories of my grandma. She made wonderful (fattening) chocolate cookies with walnuts in them for special occaaions .They were made with LARD. Lost her recipes in a house fire. If you or anyone has this please share. Blessings!
Hi Debbie! Thank you and I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your grandma’s recipes! That is something truly irreplaceable. I will ask on my Facebook page to see if anyone has a recipe that sounds similar. Can you give me any other info to go on? Were they an Italian cookie? American? Remember the shape they were made in? These would be helpful. Let me know! Christina
You must let me know if these are the cookies your grandma made because a friend just posted this recipe TODAY! The are Sicilian Chocolate and Clove Cookies (change out the butter for lard). Hope these are the ones you’re looking for, Debbie! CC
Debbie, did this Cookie have pepper in it. My mom made Italian chocolate pepper cookies with walnuts in them. The whole cookie was then glazed. Hope you find the recipe.
My husband and I currently have an Italian exchange student with us for the school year. He has been a real trooper and tried dozens of American dishes but I want to provide a little taste fo home for him too. He has raved over the dishes I have made and I love having a reference for authentic Italian recipes!
How lovely, Debbi! That’s so kind of you to make him food from home as well as your own dishes! Thank you so much for the note, it is soooo appreciated! CC
I love your recipes . I agree with so many others , recipes on the various cooking sites are just American- Italian dishes., Nothing to do with real Italian food. I enjoy your site so much because my mothers parents were from Italy. When they came to the united states and had their children they never passed down any Italian traditions, customs, recipes or language. Sometimes I feel the only way I know I am Italian is because I had my dna tested. I am exactly 50%. So my 50% thanks you so much for your recipes.
You have no idea how much your note means to me Sharyn. I am trying my hardest to share these authentic Italian recipes in hopes that people will give this type of food a chance, and it honestly seems like a useless endeavor. All the sites that use jars of awful sauces and bottles of “Italian dressing” and “Italian seasoning” which don’t even exist in Italy, are the ones that people want most. I want to tell them, “It’s just as easy to use REAL ingredients and less of them!” I’m so sorry that your parents and grandparents didn’t pass on their traditions in all aspects of life. As an immigrant, I feel it’s important to assimilate (speak the language of the country you move to, obey the laws and respect the new culture), but at home, I also think it’s important to pass on the ethnic traditions or, as you describe, they will be lost forever.
Thank you so much for your comments and I do hope you’re able to bring some “Italianità” into your life. Do you know what part of Italy your grandparents were from?
CC
HI Christina, I completely agree with you when you say that many food bloggers offer Italian recipes in their own way when in reality they have not the slightest idea what Italian cuisine is. I’ve seen and read too many fake Italian recipes.
I am Italian, and I cannot accept that the typical Italian recipes that are part of our history, our culture and tradition are so abused.
I confess that the blood boils in my veins.
So far you are the only food blogger who offers real Italian recipes.
Well done, keep it up!
Thank you, Salvo! I appreciate your comment, however, there are many other authentic Italian food bloggers. One of my favorites is Frank at http://www.memoriediangelina.com. You will love his site, too! Grazie mille! CC