The Silver Spoon

    • Categories: Sauces, general; Italian
    • Ingredients: white truffles; store-cupboard ingredients; salted anchovies
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Notes about this book

  • Breadcrumbs on June 04, 2011

    Purchased this book at Costco when it first came out based on an article I'd read saying this was THE book that Italians handed down through generations and, it was now being translated into English so we could all partake in these treasured dishes . . . or something like that! That said, this book has underwhelmed. When given the choice of making a dish from this book or another Italian book on my shelf, the other books have won, time and time again. Not sure if its the book's heft, its pictureless format or whether the recipes just don't appeal. I'm keen to see what others think. I probably cook Italian more than any other cuisine and was also disappointed to know that none of my Italian friends or co-workers had ever heard of this book.

  • IvyManning on September 03, 2010

    Pretty dated

  • Alifar on December 31, 2009

    Italy's best selling cookbook

  • crjoburke on December 26, 2009

    Classic and historically authentic recipes.

Notes about Recipes in this book

  • Vinaigrette

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Substitute sour cream or mayo for yogurt

  • Tomato bruschetta (Bruschetta al pomodoro)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      A classic and perfect.

  • Chicken stock (Brodo di pollo)

    • Delys77 on April 02, 2012

      I generally make notes on all the recipes I try but in this case this isn't much of a recipe as it is essentially a barebones variation. I had to add something to up the flavour so I tossed in some bay and parsley during the simmer. The results were fine, just nothing special

  • Roman crescents (Mezzelune alla Romana)

    • Delys77 on July 17, 2012

      Pg 179 Conceptually I like these, practically speaking I didn't. The instructions for the dough have you start with 1 tsp of water for over 2 cups of flour, and then states to add more if necessary. In my case the tsp, not surprisingly, barely made a dent in the flour so I ended up going with about 4 tb. Once the dough came together I happily set about making the filling and then popped the lot in the oven instead of deep frying. The results weren't bad, dough wise, but the flavour of the sage totally overpowered everything for me. I would make it again but would swap out some softer herb, like maybe a tiny touch of thyme.

  • Mushroom puffs (Sfogliatine con funghi)

    • Delys77 on August 27, 2012

      Pg. 184 These were so simple yet so tasty. It is a relatively rich little hors d'oeuvre but eaten in small quantities that is fine. I did modify the approach a little bit as the suggested assembly seemed unecessarily fussy. I simply diced the cheese and ham and mixed in with the very well browned mushrooms. Makes a bit too much stuffing for a regular sized piece of puff pastry.

  • Swiss chard and lentil soup (Minestra di coste e lenticchie)

    • Delys77 on October 15, 2012

      Pg. 273 The recipe calls for soaking the lentils, which I skipped since I was using Puy lentils which cook up quite quickly. I simmered the lentils for an additional 10 minutes or so before adding the rice and they were just right. I also added a bit of balsamic as it seemed the soup was calling for some acidity. Overall pretty good, with a nutritious mix of legumes and veggies, but not spectacular in terms of flavour. Just ok really.

  • Savoy cabbage and rice minestrone (Minestrone di verza e riso)

    • Delys77 on March 21, 2013

      Very filling and not a bad flavour but I found the rosemary a little overpowering. I wouldn't likely repeat.

    • PinchOfSalt on November 11, 2014

      Delicious, fill-you-up comforting, inexpensive and easy. I needed to add warm water several times during the cooking process. Some thoughts: Keep a kettle of water going over a very low flame in case you need to add water. Do remove the rosemary stem before serving. Do not try to make this vegetarian by skipping the prosciutto. It really makes the dish sing. (Maybe try a variation with pancetta instead of the prosciutto and the 1 TBS olive oil in the first step, browning the pancetta before adding the other items?) Canned diced tomatoes work fine and are undoubtedly better than any fresh tomato during the winter months (unless you live in a warm climate and can get good local tomatoes).

    • Pimlicocook on February 20, 2025

      Simple, warming winter soup. Used pancetta (sauteed first), tinned tomatoes and sage, as that’s what I had, and stirred in leftover cooked puy lentils at the end. Made in pressure cooker: high pressure for 1 minute (fast release) after adding the leek to the pancetta, then added remaining ingredients and cooked at high pressure for 4 minutes (natural release). Would make again, as often have ingredients on hand.

    • jordanb on November 30, 2025

      I substituted the prosciutto for bacon as I didn't have any prosciutto on hand. I suspect pancetta would work just as well. If I were to make this again (which I probably will) I would cook the rice separately and add it to the soup just before serving. This is because after I put the leftovers in the fridge the rice soaked up the remaining broth, I had to top it up with chicken broth.

  • Rice and peas (Risi e bisi)

    • amoule on March 12, 2014

      The first four ingredients listed here are not for the risotto itself but for the meat stock used in making the risotto.

  • Tuscan minestrone (Minestrone alla Toscana)

    • cgal on April 02, 2014

      I added spinach instead of endives and a spoon of tomato paste.

  • Rigatoni with meatballs (Rigatoni con polpettine)

    • Applepie24 on June 15, 2015

      Passata, not tinned tomatoes. The recipe says that the sauce and meatballs need to cook for 40 min's, which seems too long but isn't. The result is worth it, and it feeds more people than the quantity of ingredients would suggest.

  • Ricotta dumplings in broth (Bombonine di ricotta in brodo)

    • Pilar81790 on November 09, 2016

      In the Silver Spoon book, it uses a homemade broth but since I was in a bit of a hurry I just used the bouillon cubes. The fried ricotta balls tasted great but be sure when you make them that you don't make them too big otherwise they become flat and a little mushy. Easy recipe and good on a cold winter day.

  • Spaghetti carbonara (Spaghetti alla carbonara)

    • e_ballad on October 28, 2017

      You’d have to be worried if this recipe didn’t work out! Perfect, but that was unlikely to ever be in doubt.

    • literarymom on January 03, 2018

      This is my go-to carbonara recipe. It's simple - few ingredients, few steps, fast, and delicious! And it's one of the rare dishes my whole family (including picky kids) enjoys. I usually sub bacon or ham for pancetta. And I use all parmesan instead of pecorino. No cream, however, which is more authentic.

    • Elbea on October 12, 2020

      Foolproof and delicious, but also very indulgent - a real treat dinner!

    • peaceoutdesign on July 09, 2021

      I just couldn't do whole eggs because I have never heard of Carbonara prepared this way. Instead, I used the yolks and 1/4 cream. I also added fresh peas. It was good but next time I'll try as written to see if it improves.

  • Lasagne Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese)

    • lou_weez on February 11, 2018

      My kids have begged for me to make a normal lasagna - not one with anything fancy like pumpkin, boiled egg, spinach, blah, blah, blah - so I decided to make this one and they were thrilled!! It's a great, easy, non-fancy meal that pleased everyone. I did add a heap of baby bocconcini and next time I would add sliced boiled egg, I know they'll complain but I just love it in lasagna.

  • Spaghetti with capers (Spaghetti ai capperi)

    • kateiscoooking on April 16, 2018

      YUM! Used garlic herb linguine. Great sauce and super easy

  • Rigatoni with cream, pesto and tomatoes (Rigatoni panna, pesto e pomodoro)

    • kateiscoooking on April 16, 2018

      Used about 1/2 c pesto instead of the 2T. Also didn't drain the tomatoes. Used spinach rigatoni. Just shy of a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to more pesto!

  • Chicken liver pâté (Pâté ai fegatini)

    • debkellie on November 25, 2018

      So easy, sooo tasty. Less than 15 minutes prep time. Beautiful flavour.

    • debkellie on August 21, 2020

      Made this again.. still good ;-)

  • Cream of fennel soup with smoked salmon (Crema di finocchi al salmone affumicato)

    • Pamsy on January 18, 2019

      This is a very elegant soup, definitely one to serve to guests. The smoked salmon lifts it to another level. I alter the recipe slightly, 300gr fennel, 250gr potatoes, 200gr onions, 600mls water/light stock and 100mls double or single cream. I seldom have dill so would usually use chives or parsley to garnish.

  • Maltagliati with pumpkin (Maltagliati con la zucca)

    • e_ballad on August 22, 2021

      This is mashed pumpkin on pasta. Needs stock or cream to get it to sauce consistency.

  • Eggplant and ricotta lasagne (Lasagne con melanzane e ricotta)

    • RogerP on August 27, 2024

      A bit dry.

  • Tagliatelle with spinach (Tagliatelle con spinaci)

    • RogerP on December 18, 2024

      Made with fresh pasta and fresh spinach, this is good comfort food.

  • Sausage pizza (Pizza con le salsicce)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      OK pizza. I brown the sausages briefly before topping to eliminate some fat. Sometimes I spread some homemade pizza sauce on the crust before topping.

  • Cream of pea and potato soup (Crema di piselli e patate)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      We love this soup. Instead of water I use chicken broth. As an alternative to the toasted bread,use homemade croutons.

  • Green soup (Minestra verde)

    • tekobo on August 25, 2025

      Bright green flavoursome soup with egg and parmesan cheese. Don't add eggs when stock is really hot - they scramble!

  • Potato gnocchi (Gnocchi di patate)

    • tekobo on August 25, 2025

      Baked the potatoes wrapped in foil and buried in coals. Used this recipe for quantities of flour and egg to add. Came out fluffly and delicious.

  • Bean and barley soup (Zuppa di fagioli e orzo)

    • jordanb on November 30, 2025

      This takes much less time than what the recipe says. The kidney beans were soft after 15 minutes boil + 60-75 minutes simmer. I salted the bean cooking water with about 1/2 tbsp sea salt and added a bay leaf. I'm thinking that this recipe is meant for pot barley, rather than pearl barley. Using pearl barley I only simmered for 30 minutes and added the potatoes after 10 minutes. It turned out great, a very hearty soup.

  • Farro and bean minestrone (Minestrone di farro e fagioli)

    • Barb_N on February 06, 2026

      There are many variations of minestrone; 9 in this cookbook. Many contain potato, zucchini and green beans, sometimes cabbage but this does not. I made mine with ingredients on hand and it is most similar to this version. I subbed pasta for the farro and cooked my beans the day prior. I also added tuscan kale. I should have seasoned the broth more, maybe with tomato paste or pesto.

  • Stracciatella

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      Beautiful soup. I’d love to serve this for a dinner party. I actually made life almost tolerable for my husband after a dental surgery once. Used both parmesan and pecorino. Love it both ways.

  • Bucatini with green tomatoes (Bucatini ai pomodori verdi)

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      Unexpectedly delightful! But be careful not to over-salt this one. It honestly barely needed more than properly salted pasta water.

  • Cream of bean soup (Crema di fave)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      We like all of the ingredients in this recipe, but it turned out rather boring. Won't make again.

  • Penne rigate in vodka (Penne rigate alla vodka)

    • kellie_l1qwnk on May 21, 2026

      I doubled the sauce quantity for the sake of the teen in the house. I’ve tried a few different pasta alla vodka recipes and this was the simplest and best! I also use chicken stock instead of vodka. I think I might throw in a little of pasta cooking water to make the sauce a bit more silky next time. However, such a tasty pasta sauce! I’m glad I’ve rediscovered the Silver Spoon!

  • Asparagus risotto (Risotto con punte di asparagi)

    • Delys77 on May 23, 2012

      This risotto makes a great primi, or even a light vegetarian meal with a side salad. The only modification I made was to add a little white wine after the rice goes in, and also I added the Parmesan to the pan and incorporated it there instead of using it as a garnish. The flavours were nice and the asparagus definitely stands out in a good way. You can also lightly salt with fleur de sel if it is a little underseasoned from just the parm.

  • Sea bass baked in a packet (Branzino al cartoccio)

    • Delys77 on June 13, 2012

      Pg 709 Not great to be honest. I suppose it is unfair to score the dish harshly because I think I simply don't like sea bass. I simply found that the herbs and lemon were overpowered bu the fish and the skin was just unpleasant given the steam cooking.

  • Rice with spinach (Riso con spinaci)

    • Delys77 on July 14, 2012

      Pg 380 Sometimes the simplest things are the best. I was tempted to add shallots or garlic to the sautéed spinach but I decided to simply proceed as the recipe states and it was great. Just some simple seasoned and buttered rice with sautéed spinach all garnished with good sprinkling of Parmesan, very nice!

  • Filled frittata (Frittata ripiena)

    • Delys77 on August 27, 2012

      Pg. 462 Ham, cheese, mushroom, and eggs! I suppose you can't really go wrong with that combination whether it be breakast, lunch, or dinner. I dind't fold it as suggested, I simply went with the more classic firttata approach of starting ont the stove top and then popping it into the oven, with a little broiling at the end to brown. Delicious, but serves closer to two than 4.

  • Sweet-and-sour pork stew (Spezzatino in agrodolce)

    • Kellyco on April 18, 2013

      Family favourite, also delicious with chicken.

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Yes! Really delicious. Increased vinegar to 2 Tblsp. Served with pilaf.

  • Spaghetti with bread crumbs (Spaghetti con la mollica)

  • Spaghetti with zucchini (Spaghetti con le zucchine)

  • Roman spring lamb (Abbacchio alla Romana)

    • amoule on March 04, 2014

      I made the variation of this that has no potatoes and adds anchovies; it was outstanding.

  • Marinated carrots (Carote marinate)

    • Rutabaga on May 04, 2014

      This was the first recipe I made from the Silver Spoon, and my husband and my parents were immediately sold. None of us had never imagined a simple salad of cold marinated carrots, but it is perfect. A good, flavorful olive oil really makes the dish.

  • Lamb meatballs with eggplant (Polpette alle melanzane)

    • vitapano on May 06, 2014

      Nice flavour, although I added sweet marjoram in place of oregano. Did one batch in the oven instead of frying and I think I prefer that. Aubergines weren't completely soft after 30min. in the oven in foil and so next time I'll make sure I chop them a bit smaller as the meatballs weren't holding their shape very well with bigger pieces. I liked the texture and the fact that aubergine was noticeable. Would be nice very hot with some yoghurt dip and pitta I think.

  • Potatoes baked in foil with yogurt (Patate al cartoccio con lo yogurt)

    • Rutabaga on May 18, 2014

      The sauce in this recipe makes for a wonderful (although deceptively fattening, considering that the lemon juice and chives cut the richness of the cream in a way that hides the fact that you really are eating a cream-based sauce) accompaniment to potatoes bakes with a little butter. But beware - if you, like I, do not frequently bake potatoes, you may not anticipate how long the baking will actually take. The recipe calls for 8 potatoes cooked for about 40 minutes at 450F, but does not specify the size or type of potato. I used medium sized Yukon golds, cutting the larger ones in half. After 40 minutes, we broke them open on our plates to discover that they were still hard in the middle. I ended up baking them for a further 20 minutes.

  • Baked Savoy cabbage (Cavolo verza al forno)

    • Rutabaga on October 21, 2016

      We ate this as an entrée; I used a full pound of sausage to turn it into a substantial main dish. It's a little like deconstructed cabbage rolls. You could easily make the dish in advance up until pouring over the cream and topping with Parmesan prior to baking.

    • Rutabaga on November 09, 2017

      I made this again with some grated cheddar in place of the mozzarella, which I found made it even tastier. My husband loved it, but all the cream makes it more of an occasional treat versus an everyday dinner.

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      We found this to be just okay. Probably won't make it again.

  • New potatoes with rosemary (Patatine novelle al rosmarino)

    • Rutabaga on January 30, 2017

      This dish was fine. My potatoes ended up softer than I would have liked, but that was really my own doing. Had I taken them off the heat about five minutes earlier, they would probably have been just right. However, the recipe uses a lot of oil and I couldn't taste the garlic or rosemary in the final product, so I don't think I will make it again.

  • Glazed carrots with lemon (Carote glassate al limone)

    • Rutabaga on November 09, 2017

      This is one of my favorite ways to cook carrots. It's much quicker than roasting, and the butter and lemon form a delicious glaze. Do put the lid on the pan after adding the carrots and giving them a stir. This direction isn't included in the recipe, but I think it's necessary to ensure the carrots all cook thoroughly. They should be nicely al dente after about ten minutes.

  • Garbanzo beans with anchovies (Ceci alle acciughe)

    • angrygreycat on July 26, 2018

      Made this tonight and we enjoyed it, but I think next time I might add some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.

  • Blueberry risotto (Risotto ai mirtilli)

    • JenjiRM on January 04, 2019

      This recipe is a wonderful surprise. Sweet & savory!

  • Spiced cauliflower (Cavolfiore speziato)

    • margiebh on January 18, 2019

      I added fresh red and green peppers in strips. Used one carrot.

  • Roast pork with apples (Arrosto con le mele)

    • ashallen on November 05, 2019

      This came out fine but not fabulous for me, but I'd like to try it again since I made a a substitution and since I think a few tweaks would help. Easy recipe to make. I substituted a mixture of white wine and apple cider for the red wine and my apples were pretty sad and old. I also chopped up a large shallot and added it to the pan with the apples. Some sprigs of thyme might be nice in the sauce, too, in the future. I cooked the pork as specified in the recipe and it was 185-195F in the center by the time it emerged from the oven - that's high for pork. Next time I'd take it out sooner and/or use a bone-in pork loin - I think either/both of those steps would yield a more luscious roast.

  • Spinach in white butter sauce (Spinaci in salsa bianca)

    • hillsboroks on May 18, 2020

      I made this with a mixture of baby spinach and young turnip greens as part of an Italian dinner. The flavors were mild and melded well together. While it was not a "Wow" dish it was nice and a good change of pace that was not hard to pull together.

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      We liked this a lot. It's easy and a nice blend of flavors.

  • Leg of lamb à la Périgourdine (Cosciotto alla Perigordina)

    • Pamsy on November 21, 2020

      Fabulous lamb dish. Meltingly tender and so tasty and easy. Great Sunday dinner roast.

    • debkellie on June 10, 2025

      Totally agree with Pamsy - easiest roast ever. I used my combi steam at 115 +60% and didn't bother with "tightly cover". Husband was concerned about "wasting" a bottle of wine, but changed his mind post dinner! I reduced the pan juices to a coating consistency gravy, as the lower temp +steam meant very little evaporation of the wine!

  • Roast leg of lamb (Cosciotto arrosto)

    • hilarie on December 26, 2020

      Christmas dinner 2020. Really good! The oven got smoky, though. I might skip brushing with olive oil or use something with a higher smoke point.

  • Cream and leek risotto (Risotto panna e porri)

    • amgenove on January 05, 2021

      I used chicken stock instead of vegetable stock. Delicious!

    • hillsboroks on April 17, 2022

      I only had full cream so my risotto turned out especially rich and creamy. The recipe is basic and simple but really shows off the leeks and makes a lovely side dish.

  • Nettle risotto (Risotto alle ortiche)

    • RogerP on July 31, 2021

      I found the mineral / iron flavour overly pronounced. I had better results making a basic risotto and then folding in nettles and basil at the end.

  • Carrot risotto (Risotto alle carote)

    • Charlotte_vandenberg on October 30, 2021

      Easy and delicious.

    • Beth891 on January 18, 2024

      No white wine so added a little sherry instead and didn't bother blitzing the carrots I just grated them. 2 slightly coarsely and one very fine and I added a mature Gouda instead of Emmenthal as I had some needing used. Quick and easy and pretty tasty. I must try some of the other risotto recipes in there

  • Chicken with pomegranate (Gallina alla melagrana)

    • debwfrank on October 08, 2010

      great roast chicken method & gravy

  • Frittata cake (Torta di frittate)

    • wester on March 25, 2023

      Not wild about this. Basically just a stack of omelettes and vegetables, stuck together with a lot of cheese. Pretty exactly the sum of its components.

  • Goulash (Gulasch)

    • wester on July 08, 2024

      Tweaked too much to give a star rating. I added some caraway at the start and a good splash of wine, a tablespoon of miso and some bell pepper about half an hour before the end. I didn't add any water and served the potatoes separately. Like this, it was excellent.

  • Turkey and bean salad (Insalata di tacchino e fagioli)

    • lorloff on November 30, 2024

      Made this to use up roasted turkey left over from making stock. It came out quite well. Doubled the parsley and the dressing ingredients and added a bit of vegan mayo at the end. We used 15 Oz jar of butter beans which were great in the salad.

  • Sea trout with juniper berries (Trota al ginepro)

    • saladdays on February 01, 2026

      Cooked the sea trout directly in the pan with the liquid as I didn't have a suitable steamer, removed it and then reduced the liquid to make a sauce. Would cook again as I like juniper berries!

  • Veal scallops with herbs (Scaloppine alle erbe)

    • saladdays on March 23, 2014

      A good recipe for using small escalopes of veal as the simple flavours in the wine sauce do not overwhelm the delicate meat.

    • twoyolks on June 06, 2021

      The herbs go nicely with the veal without over powering it.

  • Roast beef with carrots (Arrosto alle carote)

    • Delys77 on February 12, 2013

      This was not a winner. As written the recipe would yield a dry roast if you actually left it in for the full two hours. Also, while tha carrots are very tasty the beef itself is flavourless amd has no sauce to speak of.

  • Crostata with chocolate, hazelnuts and orange (Crostata di cioccolato, nocciole e arancia) [Lidia Bastianich]

    • hillsboroks on May 26, 2020

      The chocolate was luscious and the hazelnut and orange flavors melded in with the chocolate beautifully. I used the shortcrust recipe suggested but I didn't have any lemons so I used orange zest which I think only enhanced the orange flavor in this tart. The crust was rich and tender and soft enough to slice easily. It wasn't hard to make and I will make it again.

  • Zabaglione soufflé (Soufflé con zabaione)

    • peaceoutdesign on October 21, 2021

      This had too much sugar for me so I would reduce it by a tablespoon. The recipe states to remove from the heat once it starts to rise but continue until it has a least doubled in size and all eggs are incorporated to a thick, light, and foamy custard. The technique I prefer is in The Good Cook, Sauces, pg 69 and 167. Even better is the recipe inThe Farm Cooking School.

  • Turkey leg with herbs (Coscia alle erbe aromatiche)

    • Rutabaga on January 30, 2017

      Stuffing the turkey legs with herb butter is a great idea. I used a combination of parsley, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. But this is one of those Silver Spoon recipes that doesn't provide much direction when it comes to the actual cooking. As someone unfamiliar with cooking turkey legs on the stove, I was worried about them being underdone, so I wound up overcooking them, making the meat somewhat dry and tough. I also discovered that it can be very challenging pulling the meat off of turkey drumsticks - there are so many little bones and ligaments! The pan drippings did make for a pretty tasty gravy, however. I added flour, water, and whole milk to create a rich sauce. Since it was so hard to remove all the meat from the bones, I decided to make it easy and just threw the meaty bones into a pot with some water and herbs to make some stock for later use. While I probably wouldn't make this again, it might work well for someone more adept at cooking turkey legs.

  • Soused chicken (Petti in carpione)

    • Rutabaga on May 07, 2014

      In a rather unusual twist, this dish is meant to be served cold, after the breaded chicken cutlets have been "soused". The chicken turns out quite flavorful, and because it's made in advance and served cold, it's a great option if you want to bring something a little different to a picnic.

  • Eggplant fricassée (Fricassea di melanzane)

    • jbny on February 13, 2022

      One of my favorite comfort foods.

  • Rabbit stew with walnuts (Spezzatino alle noci)

    • shoffmann on April 17, 2017

      This was pretty flat. I used dried herbs instead of fresh since this is what I had on hand, but I don't think that would have made enough of a difference.

  • Plum and pear charlotte (Charlotte alle prugne e alle pere)

    • Charlotte_vandenberg on March 03, 2017

      Zelfs met extra gelatine nog te zacht en zakte in. Misschien volgende keer nog langer in de koelkast laten zodat lange vingers verzadigd raken en meer vocht onttrekken? Smaak was heerlijk, misschien wat zoet.

  • Rabbit with peperonata (Coniglio con peperonata)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      Made this with chicken thighs, rather than rabbit. The peperonata is delicious.

  • Meatballs in brandy (Polpette al brandy)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      This is great! Made exactly as written.

  • Sausages in tomato (Salsicce al pomodoro)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Couldn't be easier. Served with pasta.

  • Chicken in red wine (Pollo al vino rosso)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Wonderful chicken. Increased the pearl onions to 5 oz. and mushrooms to 4 oz.

  • Green beans with tomato (Fagiolini al pomodoro)

    • kbrooks on August 10, 2025

      Delicious. Full of flavor. The green olives add the right amount of umami. I used castelvetrano olives and farmers market heirloom tomatoes.

  • Seasoned boiled rice (Riso in cagnone)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      I'm sorry, boiling rice is the absolute worst way to make rice, The sage butter is nice.

  • Eggs with vinegar (Uova fritte all'aceto)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      This was very good.

  • Scrambled eggs with Fontina (Uova strapazzate alla Fontina)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      OK. Improved adding some sautéed shallots.

  • Bell pepper frittata (Frittata ai peperoni)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      OK. Recipe says to flip over to cook both sides, however I find it easier to finish in a 375F oven and skip the flip. This is improved adding some onion, prosciutto and cheese.

  • Bell pepper omelet (Omelette ai peperoni)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Liked this a lot. Reduced onion by half.

  • Fabulous broccoli (Broccoli fantasia)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Yes, it is fabulous! Made exactly as written.

  • Frosted green beans with sesame (Fagiolini glassati al sesamo)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      This is quick,easy and delicious.

  • Piedmontese fava beans (Fave alla Piemontese)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Nice simple way to do fresh favas.

  • Normandy potatoes (Patate alla Normanna)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      We really like this. Definitely a keeper.

  • Potatoes and onions baked in an earthenware dish (Patate in terracotta con cipolle)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Very homey casserole. I increased the cheese to 3/4 cup. My husband requests this often. Basically hands off once the veggies are sliced.

  • Creamy mashed potato (Puré di patate cremoso)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Really yummy mashed potatoes. Very rich.

  • Spinach in cream (Spinaci alla crema)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      This comes together in minutes and is delicious. I use prewashed baby spinach.

  • Roast pork with orange (Arrosto all'arancia)

    • kbrooks on April 08, 2025

      Sauce needs to be reduced before serving.

  • Baked sea scallops (Cappesante al forno)

    • kbrooks on March 01, 2026

      Oddly enough, these scallops are not baked, despite the recipe title. Only the scallop shells are warmed in the oven. The scallops are quickly sautéed and sprinkled with olive oil, lemon and basil. Super simple, but classic preparation.

  • Eggs in red wine (Uova fritte al civet)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      This was just OK.

  • Cauliflower salad 3 (Cavolfiore in insalata)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      Very briny with the capers, anchovies and olives. Probably won't repeat.

  • Almond-coated sole fillets (Filetti di sogliole alle mandorle)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      My husband doesn't care much for seafood, especially fish. He really likes this preparation for sole. I like it also, but then I could live on seafood!

  • Parmesan Brussels sprouts (Cavolini di Bruxelles alla Parmigiana)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      I tinkered with this. Blanched the Brussels sprouts 1 minute in salted water, and drained well.Cut them in half, pan fried, cut side down, in a little olive oil, until browned and tender. Tossed with the parmesan and served.

  • Peas with mint (Piselli alla menta)

    • kbrooks on May 04, 2026

      Can't go wrong with the classic combo of peas and mint.

  • Fava beans with ham (Fave al prosciutto)

    • kbrooks on June 26, 2024

      This also is good substituting crisp bacon or prosciutto for the ham. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions.

  • Radicchio Trevisano with quince and pancetta (Radicchio Trevisano alle mele cotogne e pancetta) [Maria Pia de Razza-Klein]

    • AllieTaylor on March 15, 2026

      J artichokes don’t agree with me so left them out. My quince was huge so cut it into many thin-ish slices — might consider cooking the quince in wine (red or white) another time. Didn’t have any vincotto so used 2 T balsamic vinegar, 1 T brown sugar, and 1t allspice. This was very good and different! And it was stunning! No one, least of all me, missed the J artichokes!

  • Sweet-and-sour bell peppers (Peperoni in agrodolce)

    • Pandan on March 31, 2024

      Made this for a simple side dish with grilled fish and roasted potatoes

  • Muffins

    • blushresponse on August 04, 2025

      These are not muffins, but actually muffin-shaped scones. Delicious, simple. Served with butter and lingonberry preserves.

  • Salted T-bone steak in sauce (Costata di bue al sale con salsa)

    • FlowerGold on July 24, 2024

      Enjoyed this. The sauce was a nice compliment to the steak. If you use a smaller cut of meat, check for doneness earlier.

  • Roast zucchini (Zucchine arrosto)

    • FlowerGold on October 08, 2024

      It was fine. Very simple and straightforward for a weeknight side dish. Ingredients also include basil, garlic and olive oil.

  • Mackerel with green beans (Sgombri ai fagiolini)

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      Delicious. Dusting the mackerel with flour worked really well. Be mindful to not take the fish all the way since it can finish in the vegetables.

  • Spaghetti Amatriciana (Spaghetti all'Amatriciana)

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      Yummy and classic! One of my favorite types of pasta dishes (tomato + cured pork). Subbed dry for the chile.

  • Three bean salad (Fagioli ai tre legumi)

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      Basic, but great proportions. Had a great experience with just grilled garbanzo beans instead of the mix.

  • Chicken ratatouille (Pollo alla ratatouille)

    • celeste_8ryupw on February 21, 2026

      No regrets. Really solid dish. Used anaheim chilis. Next time I make it I’d like to use boneless chicken pieces and double the recipe to have a comforting meal on deck in the freezer.

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  • ISBN 10 0714844675
  • ISBN 13 9780714844671
  • Published Oct 14 2005
  • Format Hardcover
  • Page Count 1,168
  • Language English
  • Countries United Kingdom
  • Publisher Phaidon Press
  • Imprint Phaidon Press Ltd

Publishers Text

The Silver Spoon is the most influential and successful cookbook in Italy. Originally published in 1950, it became an instant classic, selling over one million copies in eight editions. Considered to be essential in every household, it is still one of the most popular wedding presents today. The Silver Spoon was conceived and published by Domus, the design and architectural magazine famously directed by Gio Ponti from the 1920s to the 1970s. A group of cooking experts was commissioned to collect hundreds of traditional Italian recipes and make them available for the first time to a wider audience. In the process, they updated ingredients, quantities and methods to suit contemporary tastes and customs, at the same time preserving the memory of ancient recipes for future generations. They also included modern recipes from some of the most famous Italian chefs, resulting in a style of cooking that appeals to the gourmet as well as the occasional cook A comprehensive and lively book, its simple and user-friendly format makes it both accessible and a pleasure to read. It provides an introduction to every course, and an explanation of the main type of ingredients. Each recipe is accompanied by a recommended list of wines, and a section on menus (seasonal, special occasions, everyday) aims to help not only with the cooking but also with the planning of a pleasant culinary event. Never translated before, The Silver Spoon has now been adapted to an international market, with every recipe checked for suitability, measurements converted and methods rewritten to accommodate cultural differences, yet maintaining the authenticity of real Italian cooking. The new layout emphasises its contemporary appeal and the colour coding of each section simplifies the process of cross-referencing ingredients and methods. This is a substantial and prestigious cookbook that will share the bookshelves with other titles such as The Joy of Cooking and Larousse Gastronomique, another classic of national cuisine. With over 2,000 recipes illustrated with specially commissioned artwork and photography, the book is destined to become a new classic in the Italian cooking booklist.