Tuscan native and accomplished home cook Giulia Scarpaleggia shares the wholesome, comforting, and nostalgic recipes of cucina poveraItalian peasant cooking that is equal parts thrifty, nourishing, and delicious.
The Italians call itlarte dellarrangiarsi, or the art of making do with what youve got. This centuries-old approach to ingredients and techniques, known as cucina povera, or peasant cooking, reveals the soul of Italian food at its best. It starts with the humblest componentsbeans and lentils, inexpensive fish and cuts of meat, vegetables from the garden, rice, pasta, leftoversand through the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the cook, results in unforgettably delicious and satisfying meals.
In 100 recipes,Cucina Poveracelebrates the best of this tradition, from the authors favorite, pappa al pomodoro (aka leftover bread and tomato soup), to Florentine Beef Stew, Nettle and Ricotta Gnudi, and Sicilian Watermelon Pudding. Soul satisfying, super healthy, budget-friendly, and easy to make, its exactly how so many of us want to eat today.
Giulia Scarpaleggiais a Tuscan-born and -bred home cook. She is a food writer, podcaster, and cooking school instructor and the author of
Cucina Povera(Artisan, 2023), along with five other cookbooks in Italian. Her blog,
Juls’ Kitchen, was named by
Saveur as 2019’s best food culture blog. Scarpaleggia lives in Tuscany in her family country house with husband, photographer Tommaso Galli, and daughter, Livia. Find her on Instagram at @julskitchen and via her newsletter at
www.lettersfromtuscany.com.
CONTENTS
Introduction
The Italian Pantry
Vegetables: Cooking from the GardenRoasted Pepper Rolls Stuffed with Tuna and Capers Vegetable Soup
Onion Soup from Calabria Rice andls\