Set yourself free from a traditional Thanksgiving spread: Host a meatball party, crank the Italian crooners, stock up on olive oil. Let your freak red- and white-checked tablecloth fly.
If at least one of the following things describes you, this menu is for you.
You work in the food industry, and it’s plausible that you’ve already cooked and consumed 3 hulking turkeys, your weight in stuffing, and enough potatoes to feed the citizens of a small town before the month of November actually began.
You don’t have your great aunt’s jello salad requirements to contend with, or a cousin who can never not bring mashed parsnips, or a mother who says she wants to "get creative" but you both know that really means pulling down the patterned gravy boat instead of last year’s cream one (YAWN!).
You like meatballs. You really, really like meatballs.
Turducken who? Your culinary white whale is a timpano.
Every year, immediately after you put in your order for a bird on holiday autopilot, you screech-yell-exclaim in your head that turkey isn’t even that good and why couldn’t this tradition have been started with rib-eye or meatloaf or practically anything else and god I’d take anything else as long as it won't dry up like shoe leather almost reflexively. You stuff those thoughts deep down inside yourself, much like you will soon stuff that dry bird, and you look for this year’s ultimate best amazing brine. That will do it, you think.
You pray at the altar of olive oil.
You often find yourself saying things like this would be soo good with breadcrumbs in it or can you pass the bread or I don’t understand why every salad doesn’t have croutons? (Apologies to Allen Miglore: Your salad is sacred, but not too sacred to add croutons to.)
Sometimes when you’re making Italian food you, you go all Giada and explain—to the air, to the kitchen, to no one—that you’re now placing the RIGOT into the SPAGHETT and you’re going to grate in a little PARMEHSAAN for that salty bite. Wouldn’t this be just so good with PROSCIUTT??
The Mains:
1 | pound lean ground beef |
1/2 | pound ground pork |
1/2 | pound ground veal |
2 | large eggs |
1 | cup grated Pecorino Romano |
1 1/2 | tablespoons chopped Italian parsley |
1/2 | small clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped |
Kosher or sea salt | |
Freshly ground pepper | |
2 | cups fresh breadcrumbs |
2 | cups lukewarm water |
1 | cup good-quality olive oil |
Your favorite marinara sauce (we like Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce With Onion and Butter, also on Food52) |
1 | pound lean ground beef |
1/2 | pound ground pork |
1/2 | pound ground veal |
2 | large eggs |
1 | cup grated Pecorino Romano |
1 1/2 | tablespoons chopped Italian parsley |
1/2 | small clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped |
Kosher or sea salt | |
Freshly ground pepper | |
2 | cups fresh breadcrumbs |
2 | cups lukewarm water |
1 | cup good-quality olive oil |
Your favorite marinara sauce (we like Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce With Onion and Butter, also on Food52) |
2 | pounds fresh, ripe tomatoes, prepared as described below, or 2 cups canned imported Italian tomatoes, cut up, with their juice |
5 | tablespoons butter |
1 | medium onion, peeled and cut in half |
Salt to taste |
2 | pounds fresh, ripe tomatoes, prepared as described below, or 2 cups canned imported Italian tomatoes, cut up, with their juice |
5 | tablespoons butter |
1 | medium onion, peeled and cut in half |
Salt to taste |
fresh, ripe plum tomatoes (or other varieties, if they are equally ripe and truly fruity, not watery) |
fresh, ripe plum tomatoes (or other varieties, if they are equally ripe and truly fruity, not watery) |
6 1/2 | cups flour |
2 | tablespoons kosher salt |
1 | teaspoon active dry yeast |
3 1/2 | cups warm water |
1/4 | cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing and drizzling |
Coarse sea salt |
6 1/2 | cups flour |
2 | tablespoons kosher salt |
1 | teaspoon active dry yeast |
3 1/2 | cups warm water |
1/4 | cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing and drizzling |
Coarse sea salt |
The Green Sides:
1 | cup Balsamic vinegar |
1 | tablespoon sugar |
1 | cup Balsamic vinegar |
1 | tablespoon sugar |
1 | pound rapini (broccolini), washed |
2 | tablespoons extra virgin olive oil |
2 | cloves garlic, peeled, left whole |
2 | peperoncino intero (about 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, fresh ones!), halved |
generous pinch kosher salt |
1 | pound rapini (broccolini), washed |
2 | tablespoons extra virgin olive oil |
2 | cloves garlic, peeled, left whole |
2 | peperoncino intero (about 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, fresh ones!), halved |
generous pinch kosher salt |
1 | large clove garlic, crushed (or grated or mashed into a paste with a pinch of salt) |
3 | tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil |
2 | teaspoons (10 ml) good balsamic vinegar |
1 | tablespoon (15 ml) anchovy paste or finely chopped anchovies (or more to taste) |
1 | tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce |
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon (I always use a full lemon) | |
1 head crisp romaine lettuce, washed, dried, torn or chopped into bite-sized pieces | |
1 stalk celery (2 stalks if small), sliced into half-moons | |
1/2 | cup (125 ml) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste |
Salt, if needed, and lots of freshly ground pepper to serve |
1 | large clove garlic, crushed (or grated or mashed into a paste with a pinch of salt) |
3 | tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil |
2 | teaspoons (10 ml) good balsamic vinegar |
1 | tablespoon (15 ml) anchovy paste or finely chopped anchovies (or more to taste) |
1 | tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce |
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon (I always use a full lemon) | |
1 head crisp romaine lettuce, washed, dried, torn or chopped into bite-sized pieces | |
1 stalk celery (2 stalks if small), sliced into half-moons | |
1/2 | cup (125 ml) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste |
Salt, if needed, and lots of freshly ground pepper to serve |
7 | tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided |
1 | pound mushrooms, delicate varieties such as cremini, oyster, or shiitake are best, wiped clean as sliced as thin as possible |
2 | tablespoons fresh lemon juice |
8 | ribs celery, shaved paper thin (use a mandolin if you have one) |
1 | cup shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese |
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste | |
1/4 | cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley |
7 | tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided |
1 | pound mushrooms, delicate varieties such as cremini, oyster, or shiitake are best, wiped clean as sliced as thin as possible |
2 | tablespoons fresh lemon juice |
8 | ribs celery, shaved paper thin (use a mandolin if you have one) |
1 | cup shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese |
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste | |
1/4 | cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley |
The Cheese (a.k.a. #fourthside):
2 | medium heads fennel, cored and very thinly sliced |
2 | tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving |
6 | strips lemon zest, thinly sliced |
2 | tablespoons lemon juice |
8 | ounces burrata |
1/2 | cup fresh mint leaves |
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper | |
Grilled or broiled bread slices, for serving |
2 | medium heads fennel, cored and very thinly sliced |
2 | tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving |
6 | strips lemon zest, thinly sliced |
2 | tablespoons lemon juice |
8 | ounces burrata |
1/2 | cup fresh mint leaves |
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper | |
Grilled or broiled bread slices, for serving |
The Dessert:
1 | heaping cup (170 grams) hazelnuts, toasted with most skins rubbed off, divided (see step 1 for instructions) |
1/3 | cup (85 grams) cream cheese (or mascarpone) |
1/3 | cup hazelnut liqueur (such as Frangelico) |
8 | ounces (225 grams) 60 to 66% chocolate, chopped |
1 | cup milk |
1/3 | cup sugar |
1/4 | teaspoon salt |
2 | eggs |
1 | cup crème fraîche, cold |
1 | heaping cup (170 grams) hazelnuts, toasted with most skins rubbed off, divided (see step 1 for instructions) |
1/3 | cup (85 grams) cream cheese (or mascarpone) |
1/3 | cup hazelnut liqueur (such as Frangelico) |
8 | ounces (225 grams) 60 to 66% chocolate, chopped |
1 | cup milk |
1/3 | cup sugar |
1/4 | teaspoon salt |
2 | eggs |
1 | cup crème fraîche, cold |
1 | pint premium vanilla, coffee, or chocolate ice cream or gelato |
1/2 | cup hot, freshly brewed espresso (up to 1 cup if you prefer) |
4 | egg yolks |
4 | tablespoons granulated sugar |
4 | tablespoons Moscato D'Asti or Marsala (optional) |
4 | lady fingers (optional) |
1 | splash Frangelico, Kahlua or liqueur of your choice (optional) |
1 | drop Whipped cream (optional) |
1 | pinch Grated bittersweet chocolate (optional) |
1 | pint premium vanilla, coffee, or chocolate ice cream or gelato |
1/2 | cup hot, freshly brewed espresso (up to 1 cup if you prefer) |
4 | egg yolks |
4 | tablespoons granulated sugar |
4 | tablespoons Moscato D'Asti or Marsala (optional) |
4 | lady fingers (optional) |
1 | splash Frangelico, Kahlua or liqueur of your choice (optional) |
1 | drop Whipped cream (optional) |
1 | pinch Grated bittersweet chocolate (optional) |
The drink I'm hoping you already have in your hand:
1 | ounce gin |
1 | ounce Campari |
1 | ounce sweet vermouth |
ice | |
orange peel (for garnish) |
1 | ounce gin |
1 | ounce Campari |
1 | ounce sweet vermouth |
ice | |
orange peel (for garnish) |
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