Simply Italian: 3 Easy Skillet Recipes From Chef Lidia Bastianich

A beloved Italian-American celebrity chef, Lidia Bastianich is an Emmy Award–winning TV host and author of 15 cookbooks. In her latest cookbook, A Pot, A Pan, And A Bowl, Lidia brings the ease of skillet cooking to her best-loved Italian dishes.

This excerpt is from her latest book, published by Random House.

“The recipes in this book are some of my absolute favorites, streamlined to be as straightforward to cook as possible, using a minimal number of pots and pans, without sacrificing any flavor. These are classic Italian dishes adapted for fuss-free cooking. For me as a chef, creating simple, minimally messy dishes is a creative challenge I enjoy. I feel like a composer, composing a symphony; cooking this way affords me a wonderful opportunity to think about layering flavors. I begin by choosing ingredients that I think will harmonize when cooked together. Then, I also need to think about timing — the most important element of cooking with just one pot, pan or bowl — and when to add each ingredient. How long should the ingredients cook together? How will the textures of each contribute to the dish at the finish? In many ways, making a one-or two-pot meal is cooking at its basic level, but also at its most diverse. Some dishes take time — like soups, braising tougher cuts of meat or cooking root vegetables — but there are many quick one-pot dishes that are just as delicious and that can be prepared much faster. These recipes also tend to be balanced, incorporating vegetables, legumes and meat, making the meal healthier. And, of course, it’s convenient — there’s much less to wash up!”

Scroll down for 3 easy skillet recipes you need to try!