DISCLAIMER: No AI was used in the writing of this article. If I use a semicolon, it’s because I’ve liked using them since high school.
These are the dishes you make when you wanna feel like you’re living somewhere along the Italian Riviera, you have lemon and maybe orange trees growing in your backyard, and you own an espresso maker that’s a little too expensive (but you don’t care because good coffee is important to you).
You make these recipes because your life deserves to be beautiful on a weekly basis, and you just wanna feel like the rich aunt with a villa.
Oh btw, that’s totally understandable.
I honestly don’t think you or I have the time for boring meals that make us feel like we’re just existing.
And below are some recipes I’ve tried + approved.
These are worth your time and some of them look complex and fancy, but are ridiculously easy.
So make some good coffee, put on some good jazz, open up the windows, grab one (or more) of these recipes, and enjoy your weeknight evenings just a bit more.
Rating: 23/10. Surprisingly (very) easy + seriously tasty.
This is one of those dishes that the rich aunt (or in this case you) pulls out for a solo dinner w/ jazz, or an al fresco dinner with friends on a Friday evening.
Also, this garlicky savory recipe really is worth making along side a good pasta.
2 things I changed with this recipe:
I didn’t add the spinach.
Instead of making my own bread crumbs, I just used panko break crumbs. Easy and turned out great. 👍
Rating: 35/10. Just two ingredients + great texture + sauce clings really well to this pasta.
I used this strozzapreti recipe from The Kitchn and all I needed was a rolling pin and a knife. No fancy pasta making machine.
I did add salt, but that’s the only change I made (so I guess 3 ingredients). Also, I paired it with a nice carbonara sauce instead of the Bolognese sauce The Kitchn used.
Buy me a coffee to support my work. ☺️
Rating: 66/10. Highly recommend. Easy + looks like it’s straight out of a magazine.
I want to apologize. I forgot the exact recipe I used for this one, but many of the lemon posset recipes have a lot of the same ingredients. I just remember the one I used had cream, lemon, lemon zest, and sugar. Very simple, and very delicious.
But getting back to the rich aunt with a villa: I think this is one of those dessert recipes she preps ahead of time for those gently warm summer evenings after a really good dinner.
Rating: 65/10. Very cream, very easy, and you feel (very) cool for making a recipe that was created by an elegant actress.
I’ve been making recipes that were created and/or enjoyed by incredibly classy + elegant women, and this Hepburn recipes has been one of my favorites so far.
It’s perfect for enjoying with one other person on a random weeknight evening with some bossa nova playing in the background.
Tap for Audrey's Penne Alla Vodka
Rating: 77/10 Stupidly satisfying + fun to make.
Sometimes the rich aunt with a villa doesn’t want to order takeout. Sometimes she just wants to make it herself and enjoy while watching a really good movie.
Also, while these were a bit of a process, there’s something so satisfying about making these pan-fried buns yourself. You kind of feel accomplished and somehow it tastes even better than ordering it at a restaurant.
Side Note: You can find the recipe I used here, but I did sub out her filling for a chicken (thighs specifically) and cabbage filling that was seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. Also, I cooked the filling ahead of time and seasoned to taste. Might also pair well with the Lao Gan Ma chili oil.
Rating: Over 9000/10 (I hope someone gets that reference). Legit the best pasta dish I’ve ever had.
I can’t sing the praises of this pasta recipe enough. It’s so creamy, rich, flavorful, and worth your time.
I think this might be the perfect dish to enjoy by yourself, or with your significant other with some candles, a great playlist, and incredible conversation.
3 quick notes about this recipe:
You don’t need the chili oil. I couldn’t get it where I was and the recipe still tasted great.
I highly recommend putting in a lot more Parmigiano Reggiano than what the recipe called for. You don’t have to, but it tasted pretty good!
If you do get authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, then look for an age statement like 24 or 48 months. It really does level up the flavor.
Caramelized Onion Pasta Recipe
Rating: 43/10. The most fluffy, flavorful, and restaurant-quality scrambled eggs I’ve ever made.
I read in a book about how the famous chef, Escoffier (who worked at The Ritz), made his scrambled eggs. They’re legit addictive.
He spears a piece of garlic onto his fork and very slowly scrambled the eggs over a low heat. The result is a super soft, garlicky, rich, and almost buttery egg breakfast.
Side Note: I just can’t not see the rich aunt with a villa enjoying this when she wants breakfast for dinner.
Rating: 80/10. An amazing combination of savory, spicy, crispy, tangy, and creamy.
I made this a couple of months ago and I feel like this is the snack plate the rich aunt with a villa would be enjoying when she didn’t want to spend over 30 minutes in the kitchen.
This is her lazy dinner that still feels extra.
The components of this very good snack plate:
Parmesan + olive oil + freshly crack black pepper (a combo recommended by Chef Wolfgang Puck and I love it).
Your favorite jamón (I used jamón crudo, but jamón ibérico would probably be great too).
A fresh baguette sliced and toasted on a pan w/ olive oil.
Full-fat ricotta with capers.
Green olives + pistachios. One of my favorite snack pairings. The slight sweetness of the pistachios & the tangy goodness of the olives work really well together.
Spiced chickpeas. I just spiced these with a bit of garlic powder, chili flakes, paprika, salt, and pepper. Nothing complex and very tasty.
Walnuts w/ chili crisp (works so well together).
Crackers of your choice.
Rating: 84/10. Restaurant quality + eat-in-under-3-minutes-worthy.
Found this amazing recipe on Eatwell101 and absolutely loved it.
Looks and tastes like a restaurant recipe, but is super simple and isn’t gonna run up your grocery bill. Also, being ready in 30 minutes or less, it’s one of those great easy dinners for two that makes the weeknights just a bit more fun.
Side Note: I recommend the Barilla brand for pesto. I did an a/b test and this one definitely tastes better!
Rating: 101/10. Husband’s idea. Amazing. Will make again.
This is what you make when you wanna combine incredible flavors, incredible textures, and incredible cuisines.
There’s just something so good about juicy + crispy tonkatsu and creamy/buttery/cheesy polenta. Also, I feel like it’s the perfect thing to serve for a late night dinner with friends.
Click here for tonkatsu recipe - click here here parmesan polenta recipe.
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