Gennaro’s Cucina: Hearty Money-Saving Meals from an Italian Kitchen

Contaldo (Gennaro’s Limoni) takes inspiration from cucina povera, an Italian tradition of frugality in the kitchen, in this no-frills guide to easy, delicious, and wallet-conscious cooking. The recipes, separated into rice and grains, beans and legumes, bread, potatoes, eggs, pasta, vegetables, meat and fish, and “sweet treats” are open to substitution, with Contaldo encouraging readers to raid their pantries rather than make special trips to the grocery store. For the baked frittata with zucchini, cooks can “use any cheese you have on hand” while the tortellini al magro can be filled with either swiss chard or spinach, depending on personal taste. Tips for stretching recipes into multiple meals add to the waste-not, want-not ethos; leftovers of the lentil soup (“simple one pot cooking at its best”), for example, can be bolstered with the addition of pasta. Many meals are quick and simple—including cannellini beans in tomato sauce and linguine alla puttanesca—and Contaldo’s straightforward instructions make even the most elaborate dishes—like the showstopping Timballo di Riso (a multi-step baked risotto) or the meatloaf with eggs, ham, and provolone served with roasted baby potatoes—feel approachable. Desserts include a gorgeous chocolate bread cake and mini ricotta doughnuts. This is an easy pick for those looking to expand their Italian repertoire without breaking the bank. (Oct.)