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Try these Italian treats for your next gathering

Giada De Laurentiis shares some easy recipes you can whip up at home

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Giada shares warm weather recipes
Feb. 23: TODAY's Al Roker talks with Giada De Laurentiis, an Italian chef and show contributor, about the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival and warm weather favorites.

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updated 2:43 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2007

Italian chef and TODAY contributor Giada De Laurentiis and TODAY’s Al Roker are both showing off their culinary skills at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival this weekend. Together they join TODAY from Miami as they gear up for the festival. Here are some of the recipes Giada discusses on the show:

Neapolitan Calamari and Shrimp Salad
By Giada De Laurentiis

INGREDIENTS

4 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound orzo pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 pound calamari, whole bodies and tentacles
1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 zucchini, cut lengthwise in 3 slices
1 Japanese eggplant, sliced lengthwise in 3 slices
2 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 ounces arugula (about 3 cups)
3/4 cups chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 lemons, juiced
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and place in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.

Drizzle the seafood, zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the calamari and shrimp, just until cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes a side. Grill the zucchini and eggplant until tender, about 4 minutes a side. Grill the tomatoes cut side down just until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes.

Cut the calamari bodies into 1-inch rings. Add the calamari rings and tentacles and the shrimp to the bowl with the orzo. Cut the zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes into 1-inch pieces and add them to the bowl with the orzo and seafood. Toss to combine. Add the cannellini beans, arugula, basil, parsley, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper and toss again. Gently spoon the salad into a serving bowl and serve.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Amaretto Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches
By Giada De Laurentiis

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup whole almonds, toasted and chopped
3 pints vanilla ice cream, softened slightly
1/3 cup amaretto liqueur

DIRECTIONS

Line heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Finely chop the oats in a food processor. Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl. Beat in the eggs and almond extract. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts and stir just until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped almonds.

For each cookie, drop 1 rounded tablespoonful of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing 1-inch apart (do not flatten dough). Bake until the cookies are golden (cookies will flatten slightly), about 13 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. The cookies can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

To make the ice cream sandwiches: Place the ice cream in a large bowl. Mix in the amaretto. Cover the ice cream mixture and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours. Arrange 12 cookies, flat side up, on a baking sheet. Top each with a scoop of ice cream, then another cookie, flat side down, pressing slightly to adhere. Cover and freeze the sandwiches until they are firm, at least 3 hours. Sandwiches can be made up to 4 days ahead. Wrap each sandwich with plastic wrap and keep frozen.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Blissini
By Giada De Laurentiis

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups Prosecco, chilled
1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
Mint leaves, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Combine the Prosecco, orange juice, and pomegranate juice and pour into 4 Champagne glasses. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES



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