Contorni: Authentic Italian Side Dishes for All Seasons [Paperback]

Susan Simon (Author), Manfredi Bellati (Photographer), Quentin Bacon (Photographer), Quentin Bacon (Author), Manfredi Bellati (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003

Discover contorni-the delicious side dishes of Italy-in this wonderful cookbook of over 60 recipes from Susan Simon, author of Insalate. Made with the freshest vegetables, these little dishes follow the seasons to take advantage of each ingredient at its most flavorful. From spring vegetable tarts-Crostate di Verdure Primaverili-to a colorful blend of winter carrots and celery root-Carote e Sedano-Rapa alla Nonna Silvera-each recipe uses ingredients that can be easily found at the local grocery. Photographs illustrate beautiful Italian countryside, street markets, and perfectly ripe vegetables, and showcase the mouthwatering recipes. With Contorni, side dishes are no longer an afterthought, they are the perfect accompaniment.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With Insalate, Simon successfully took a basic Italian food category, the salad, and expanded it to its maximum capacity to encompass all kinds of delicious vegetable dishes. Here she does the same for contorni, or side dishes. Granted, in Italy most side dishes consist of a vegetable sprinkled with olive oil and salt, but Simon's slight stretching of the definition is welcome, since it leads to inclusion of free-form Spring Vegetable Tarts and Eggplant Parmesan. She acknowledges, for example, that while Classic Risotto, Milan Style is usually served as a first course in Italy (except when it accompanies ossobuco), it can easily take the place of mashed potatoes on the American table. Simon successfully translates the Italian tendency to let the flavors of fresh produce shine through in deceptively simple creations such as Linda's Garden Green Beans, with lemon juice, tarragon and thyme, and Truffled Mushrooms, sliced thin and cooked with garlic and parsley. The author also urges readers to eat seasonally, and the chapters are divided that way, with Gabrio Bini's Baked Vegetables (squash, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower among them) appearing in the fall and Braised Belgian Endive in the spring.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Travelers returning from Italy bring back fond memories of Italian chefs' ways with vegetables. Using the freshest garden produce available in local markets, Italian chefs and home cooks prepare both exquisite side dishes and appetizers. Susan Simon's Contorni , taking its title from the Italian for side dish, explains how to prepare such delights in an American setting.

Some items such as potato croquettes and baked tomatoes adapt well to American produce. But classics such as Rome's Carciofi alla Giudia require a type of artichoke seldom found in American markets. Simon's eggplant Parmesan comes in a light version that makes the typical American version seem clumsy. Her baked stuffed radicchio could easily become any meal's most memorable dish. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811836762
• ISBN-13: 978-0811836760
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,505,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, October 5, 2003

By 

Robert Schrock (West Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contorni: Authentic Italian Side Dishes for All Seasons (Paperback)

This book should be scattered throughout the entire bookstore. It belongs in the travel, photography, history and cookbook sections. Every single page drips with sensuous photographs of gorgeous places and beautiful food. The recipes are accessible and easy to prepare. The way Ms Simon describes the food, preparation and suggestions for serving it are mouth watering. My partner made the vegetable tart the other night and it was fantastic. He wasn't crazy about peeling the asparagus, but admitted that it was certainly worth it. Coming up with inventive, delicious side dishes is always a challenge. Finally, that challenge has been met. I can't wait to try everything in the book, even the eggplant.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning intro to Italian cuisine!, July 11, 2005

By 

Shopping too much! "Val" (LA, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contorni: Authentic Italian Side Dishes for All Seasons (Paperback)

Sometimes a main dish can be very intimidating, especially when using ingrediants and techniques you aren't used to. This book is perfect for an introduction to authentic Italian cuisine.

The dishes are divided by season (the author states that vegetables are best when in season). Each offers a few different recipes with each vegetable, ranging from bell peppers to leeks. All of them look amazing, can't wait to try them all. The best is that they are vesatile enough to work for everyday dinners or special occasions.

Another thing worth mentioning: the photography in this book is worth the purchase price alone (as of now, the purchase price is around $6, you can't beat that with a stick). Beautiful rustic dishes, sprawling landscapes. Absolutely beautiful.

Worth every penny and then some!

4.0 out of 5 stars Contorni: Authentic Italian Sides, June 21, 2010

By 

Linda J. Weil "Linda, cookbook reader" (Bellingham WA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contorni: Authentic Italian Side Dishes for All Seasons (Paperback)

Thank you so much for the speedy delivery and a great cookbook! I love
all the photos and the recipes are sooooooo delish!