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Celebrate America's birthday, Italian style

Try Giada De Laurentiis' recipes for arugula salad, piadina and grilled steak

TODAY
updated 11:13 a.m. ET July 2, 2008

Arugula salad with grilled fruit
Giada De Laurentiis

4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS

For vinaigrette:

1/4 cup white balsamic dressing
1 shallot, minced
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For salad:

2 plums, halved, stones removed, see tips*
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, thinly sliced
8 cups (7 ounces) baby arugula
1/2 cup skinned and toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

For the dressing:
Combine the balsamic vinegar and shallot in a small bowl. Slowly pour the olive into the bowl, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper.

For the arugula salad:
Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Brush the plums with the olive oil and grill for 2 minutes on each side. On the other side of the grill cook the pancetta slices on each side, until crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Place the arugula in a large salad bowl. Slice the grilled plums and add to the bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to lightly coat the arugula. Crumble the pancetta over the top and sprinkle with the hazelnuts. Serve immediately.

TIPS

*You can use any stone fruit such as peaches or apricots. Red apples or figs are also great alternatives.

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Piadina with fontina and prosciutto
Giada De Laurentiis

4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus extra, to taste
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
10 to 12 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
6 ounces Fontina cheese, shredded
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

DIRECTIONS

Combine the flour, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt in the bowl of an upright mixer, fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes. With the machine running, slowly add the water until the mixture forms a dough around the hook. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces Form into disc shapes and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each piece of dough into an 8 to 10-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Brush each circle with the extra virgin olive oil and grill for 4 minutes each side. Remove the piadina from the grill to cool slightly. Combine the ricotta cheese and lemon zest in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread each piadina with 1/2 cup of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle the Fontina cheese evenly over the ricotta cheese. Arrange the prosciutto slices on top of the cheeses.

Cut each piadina into 8 wedges and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with the chopped basil.

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Grilled Tuscan steak with fried egg and goat cheese
Giada De Laurentiis

4 servings

INGREDIENTS

4 (8 ounce) rib eye steaks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons herbs de Provence
2 tablespoons, plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
4 eggs
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Sprinkle both sides of each steak with the herbs de Provence. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Grill for about 6 to 8 minutes per side for medium rare. Remove the steaks from the heat and allow to rest.

Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the remaining olive oil, over medium-high heat. Crack the eggs directly into the pan, seasoning quickly with salt and pepper. Cook until egg whites are set, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Place the steaks on 4 serving plates. Carefully place the eggs on top of each steak. Sprinkle with the crumbled goat cheese. Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve.

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