Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos' Best Italian Recipes

Bring home the flavors of Tuscany with Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar's fresh, authentic Italian cooking.

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Sausage and Radicchio Orecchiette

Orecchiette, or "little ear" pasta, creates the perfect pockets for capturing bits of sausage, walnuts and Parmesan cheese. The thinly sliced radicchio adds a refreshing crisp texture to this dish.

Get the Recipe: Sausage and Radicchio Orecchiette

Hazelnut Chocolate Cake

This dark and dense chocolate cake is almost like hazelnut fudge, so there's no need to test it with a toothpick to see if it's ready. It emerges from the oven fluffy and souffled, but it will deflate to half the size during the cooling period, so don't despair when you see it sink.

Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Chocolate Cake

Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Debi and Gabriele's version of eggplant Parm layers thin slices of fried eggplant with homemade red sauce, mounds of mozzarella and fresh basil. This restaurant favorite is even better at home, baked until bubbly.

Get the Recipe: Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmigiana)

Eggplant and Pasta Incaciata

Shaped in a springform pan, this casserole’s domelike build has earned it another moniker: timpano, after the Italian word for eardrum. To create their savory cake, Debi and Gabriele wrap ziti pasta and pork ragu inside slices of meaty eggplant, then sprinkle Parmesan and breadcrumbs on top.

Get the Recipe: Eggplant and Pasta Incaciata

Green Gazpacho

Gazpacho goes green with the addition of plump green grapes and a bunch of verdant sidekicks, including scallions, parsley and buttery avocado. Along with its grassy hues, this soup serves sunny flavor in each sip.

Get the Recipe: Green Gazpacho

Raw Beet, Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

Mint and thyme provide fresh-from-the-garden flavor in this beautiful autumnal salad, which takes only 10 minutes to pull together.

Get the Recipe: Raw Beet, Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

Cream-Filled Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce

These classic French pastries are also known as cream puffs, as the choux pastry dough puffs up into hollow rounds that are perfect for filling with fluffy whipped cream.

Get the Recipe: Cream-filled Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce

Porcini Bruschette with Nipitella

The Italian herb nipitella is a member of the mint family and has a strong, refreshing taste that contrasts nicely with the earthiness of the porcini mushrooms. Can't find nipitella? Substitute a combo of mint and thyme.

Get the Recipe: Porcini Bruschette with Nipitella

Pasta Alla Norma "Nuda"

Toss large, cylinder-shaped rigatoni in a homemade tomato sauce with grilled eggplant, and generously garnish with fresh basil and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Get the Recipe: Pasta alla Norma "Nuda"

Grilled Apricots with Goat Cheese

Apricots take a spin on the grill until they're charred for a sweet, caramelized flavor. Top with velvety goat cheese and fresh, torn rosemary leaves for a savory-sweet appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Apricots with Goat Cheese

Vanilla Gelato with Cherry Compote

Cold homemade gelato meets warm flambéed cherry compote for a rustic Italian dessert.

Get the Recipe: Vanilla Gelato with Cherry Compote

Grilled Mixed Vegetables

It doesn't get more simply satisfying than flame-kissed vegetables drizzled with an herby caper sauce.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Mixed Vegetables

Risotto Croquettes

Debi and Gabriele share their recipe for golden-brown balls of cheesy risotto warm from the fryer. These arancini are stuffed with fresh parsley, mozzarella and ham before being breaded and fried.

Get the Recipe: Risotto Croquettes: Arancini Di Riso

Peach and Fennel Salad

Crisp fennel is perfectly complemented by arugula, peaches and beef bresaola.

Get the Recipe: Peach and Fennel Salad

Bruschetta Pizzaiola

This mini-pizza version of the classic bruschetta gets hit with charred grill marks before being baked with melty cheese and cherry tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta Pizzaiola

Limoncello Spritzer

This Bellini-like spritzer made with fresh pureed raspberries, limoncello and cold sparkling Prosecco should be served for a crowd (to avoid a potential headache).

Get the Recipe: Limoncello Spritzer

Butter Lettuce, Mache and Pomegranate Seeds Dressed with Champagne Vinaigrette

Pile this salad high on a large plate for an elegant presentation. The pomegranate seeds in this salad shine like bright jewels while also adding a refreshing, juicy crunch.

Get the Recipe: Butter Lettuce, Mache and Pomegranate Seeds Dressed with Champagne Vinaigrette

Lasagne Alla Bolognese

Lasagna noodles are layered between a thick, creamy Besciamella and a chunky Bolognese sauce made with beef, pork and veal.

Get the Recipe: Lasagne Alla Bolognese

Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

For a simple appetizer, you can quickly saute your favorite varieties of mushroom in extra-virgin olive oil and some herbs as a bruschetta topping.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

Margherita Pizza

Charred, chewy crust, bubbly mozzarella and a handful of fresh basil leaves: What's not to love about homemade wood-fired pizza?

Get the Recipe: Margherita Pizza

Wood-Fired Leg of Lamb

This succulent piece of meat will set the scene of any celebration. Simply dress in rosemary, lemon and garlic before roasting and you'll be sure to impress guests.

Get the Recipe: Wood-Fired Leg of Lamb

Sangria

Dark, fruity sangria is a great way to use whatever fruit you have on hand. Try this deeply spiced version infused with cloves, vanilla bean and cinnamon.

Get the Recipe: Sangria

Homemade Pappardelle

With just a few simple ingredients, this broad, flat pasta can be made at home in a cinch.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Pappardelle

Orange, Red Onion and Fennel Salad

Arugula is perfectly matched with crisp fennel and bright orange slices for a salad that makes a great, flavorful appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Orange, Red Onion and Fennel Salad

Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans

Turkey sausage becomes bedmates with cannellini beans stewed in hot peppers and cherry tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans : Sausages with Fagioli All'uccelletta

Leek and Potato Cake

Golden spuds and leeks are fanned out in a tender tart shell for an elegant take on potatoes au gratin.

Get the Recipe: Leek and Potato Cake

Italian-Style Strawberry Shortcake

The tiers of puff pastry layered between macerated strawberries and vanilla-bean whipped cream with a finishing of chocolate shavings almost looks like the Italian flag.

Get the Recipe: Italian-Style Strawberry Shortcake

Spaghetti Alle Vongole

Literally Italian for "spaghetti with clams," this restaurant-worthy recipe takes only 30 minutes to pull together, but the clam sauce is so delicious you'll need extra bread on hand to soak up every last bit.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti alle Vongole

Wild Striped Bass with Favas and Couscous

Seasoned simply with salt and pepper, Gabriele's Wild Striped Bass fillets get seared skin-side down, which keeps the flesh tender and flaky. Placed atop a bowl of pearly Israeli couscous infused with saffron and flecked with bright green Fava beans, sauteed leeks and tomato, this main dish is as healthy as it is gourmet.

Get the Recipe: Wild Striped Bass with Favas and Couscous

Warm Risotto with Melon and Speck

In Italy, cured Italian meats such as prosciutto or speck are often served with slices of sweet and juicy melon as an appetizer. Here, Debi and Gabriele showcase the contrasting combo in a rich, buttery risotto.

Get the Recipe: Warm Risotto with Melon and Speck

Grilled Calamari and Arugula Salad

Marinated in a garlic and chili infused oil, grilled calamari provide a light and flavorful source of protein, while tart and zesty grapefruit complement the nutty and slightly bitter flavor of the arugula.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Calamari and Arugula Salad

Caipirinha

This cocktail might be difficult to spell, but, man, is it easy to drink. Made with muddle lime juice, a bit of raw sugar and Cachaca – a distilled liquor originally from Brazil – it's easy to see why this sweet and refreshing drink is gaining in popularity.

Get the Recipe: Caipirinha

Ribollita

A staple in Tuscany, ribollita is a thick and hearty soup made with assorted vegetables, cannellini beans and bread. The Extra Virgin couple also includes cavolo nero or "back kale" in their Italian potage, which adds a lovely leafy texture.

Get the Recipe: Ribollita

Lobster Arrabbiata

Sweet and succulent lobster meat is the perfect addition to a spicy, chile-infused arrabbiata sauce. Try this dish from Gabriele and you'll understand why Anthony Bourdain left "blissfully happy" as a guest on Extra Virgin.

Get the Recipe: Lobster Arrabbiata

Guacamole and Baked Beet Chips

Ok, so it might not be an authentic Italian dish but Gabriele and Debi make a mean guacamole that's packed with red onion and fresh cilantro. The couple prefers serving their guac with homemade baked chips made from beets.

Get the Recipe: Guacamole and Baked Beet Chips