Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto! - (Gennaro's Italian Cooking) by Gennaro Contaldo (Hardcover)

About the Book

This new book from celebrated chef Contaldo is all about pasta, It offers more than 100 ideas for sauces, fillings, and bakes.

Book Synopsis

This new book from celebrated chef Gennaro Contaldo is all about pasta, one of the most popular of all Italian dishes. Bestselling author and much-loved personality Gennaro reveals all of his tips and tricks to making the best of the most versatile of dishes.

Featuring recipes for dried, fresh, filled, and baked pasta dishes such as lasagna four ways, classic minestrone soup, homemade ravioli and perfect pesto, these are dishes that can be quickly whipped up for the whole family. An inexpensive staple that can be easily transformed into a luxurious meal, the possibilities of pasta are endless--perfect for busy families and for easy entertaining. Join Gennaro on an exciting Italian adventure, and discover both new and traditional recipes that will quickly become household favorites.

A delicious collection of over 100 recipes and featuring beautiful photography by distinguished photographer David Loftus, many of these recipes can be cooked in a matter of minutes. Packed full of tips for picking the best shape for sauces and featuring recipes from across Italy, this is an essential book for any pasta enthusiast.

- Gennaro appears in every episode of "Jamie Cooks Italy." He is one of the world's most-loved chefs and here he shines attention on one of the most popular of Italian dishes.
- Featuring recipes for dried, fresh, filled, and baked pasta dishes--these are recipes that can quickly come together to feed the whole family.
- Features beautiful photography by celebrated photographer David Loftus.

Review Quotes

"'There is no limit to the joys of pasta, ' writes chef Contaldo (Panetteria) in this excellent cookbook. He sorts the 100 recipes into four main pasta types that include classics and inventive variations: dried (linguine with clams; whole wheat tagliatelle with anchovies and walnuts), fresh (orecchiette with tomatoes and lemon burrata; fusilli with rabbit and orange), filled (broccoli and sausage parcels in tomato sauce; seabream ravioli with capers, lemon, and cherry tomato sauce), and baked (rigatoni with meatballs; butternut squash lasagne). Whether he shares an anecdote ('My sisters would patiently make each meatball'), celebrates Italy's regional cooking ('Sicilian cooking is all about simple "cuicina povera"?'), or offers ingredient substitutions ('If you can't get this shape, then use conchiglie or penne'), the introductions written for each recipe are equally fun to read. In conjunction with these recipes are plenty of pasta fundamentals, such as basic sauces, matching shapes to sauces (rigatoni can be used in baked dishes and ragùs, while farfalle is best with pesto), and info on the equipment needed for it all. This delightful cookbook will educate and inspire."

"Many-time author Contaldo selects his 100-plus pasta favorites from among Italy's regions of Liguria and Lombardy, Sardinia and Sicily, among others. The result is a collection of very focused and quick-to-cook dishes, both new and old, that will satisfy almost any palate. Whether describing pasta that is dried or fresh, baked or filled, pasta directions are easy to follow."

"There's nothing Gennaro doesn't know about pasta. He's an absolute legend!"

"The man cooks like an angel and no ordinary angel."

"What a fantastic book--why is he cooking so good?"


"With each recipe, Contaldo brings joy and dazzlement."

About the Author

Gennaro Contaldo is the legendary chef and restaurateur who taught Jamie Oliver all he knows about Italian cooking. Gennaro first started helping in restaurant kitchens on the Amalfi Coast at the age of eight, later becoming one of London's most celebrated chefs. He is a TV favorite, appearing in Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, Jamie Cooks Italy, and starring in PBS's Two Greedy Italians. These days he divides his time between cookbook publications, magazine articles, and teaching masterclasses at Jamie Oliver's cooking school.

Award-winning, influential and internationally acclaimed, David Loftus' photographs for the books of Jamie Oliver, Rachel Khoo, Gennaro Contaldo, Elizabeth David and April Bloomfield have brought food to life for millions of people. For over 20 years, David has photographed over 100 books including all but one of Jamie Oliver's international best-sellers. He has also directed television commercials including one of the most successful food ads of all time, for UK supermarket Sainsbury's. He works with a range of advertising clients such as American Express, Dove, Fortnum & Mason, Nespresso, Pizza Express and Philips, to name a few.