Cucina Rustica: Simple, Irresistible Recipes in the Rustic Italian Style (Paperback)

by Viana La Place (Author), Evan Kleiman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Cucina Rustica proves that you can have style and taste without spending hours in the kitchen. It is a book for today"--"Chicago Tribune""In the overcrowed field of irresistible Italian cookbooks, La Place and Kleiman have carved out a niche with food that is fresh, fast, stylish, ...--"Entertainment Weekly

Product Description

Cucina Rustica,"the rustic 'kitchen,"is Italian food at its simplest and freshest. With more than 250 recipes that use readily available ingredients in deliciously creative combinations, La Place and Kleiman offer a style of cooking and eating that's inviting, easy, and elegant.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks (June 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060935111
• ISBN-13: 978-0060935115
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,565 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Italian Dishes, September 13, 2001

By	disco75 "disco75" (State College, PA United States) - See all my reviews

I have had this cookbook for a number of years now, and give it as a gift to friends who like fresh-flavored, moderately complex to simple recipes. It is written by people who love this kind of food, know the genre, and seem to have made what they write about. The recipes are effective and the food works out each time.

The book contains a number of risotto dishes, several interesting bruschetta ideas (White Bean Puree with Garlicky Mustard Greens stands out), and a range of soups, notably Fennel and Tomato Soup and Cabbage and Rice Soup. Two great side dishes are Baked Endive and Braised Fennel.

As a vegertarian, I've found that many of the pasta and polenta dishes translate quite well. The authors are fond of ground sausage, sausage links, and especially pancetta. I've substituted, at the expense of authenticity but with minimal damage, vegetarian ground sausage, sausage links, and bacon. Polenta with Mushroom Saute and Polenta with Sausage and Tomato Sauce are hearty and delicious. Sausages Braised in Tomato and Orange Juice is unique and warming. Of the pasta dishes, Orechiette with Broccoli and Sausage, Orechiette with Sausage and Fennel, and Pasta with Onion Sauce are common in our house.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This deserves a review!, December 3, 2001

By	"pollyflower" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Cucina Rustica has inspired the first review I have written. I must say that his book was one of the best impulse purchases I have ever made. So far, I have made about 10 of the recipes and each one had become an instant classic in my house. I'm especially fond of the risotto and pasta dishes (but that's the carbohydrate addict in me talking). The ingredients are simple yet cleverly put together. I think the highest praise I can give is that my first-generation Sicilian boyfriend has cleaned his plate every time I have made one of these recipes. If you are enamoured of all things Italian (as I am), this book will be a joy.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Soups, November 9, 2003

By	frk040 (NYNY) - See all my reviews

I bought this book about 10 years ago after reading it in a library. The soup recipes alone are worth buying this book. I still make the Broccoli, Bean, and Pasta soup on a regular basis. A great cookbook for vegetarians who are tired of the same old, same old...