Celebrate the season with traditional
Italian holiday dishes

CHEF LORENZO BONI AND CHEF MICHELE CASADEI MASSARI SHARE
A COUPLE OF TRADITIONAL ITALIAN HOLIDAY RECIPES

Chef Lorenzo Boni, the Executive Chef of Barilla America joined our US Brand Ambassador, Chef Michele Casadei Massari for an unprecedented virtual event during which they shared memories of growing up in Bologna, as well as a couple of great recipes that combine Barilla® pasta and Parmigiano Reggiano® to deliver hearty dishes that are perfect for the holiday season. After all, what could be more Italian than a great pasta combined with the inimitable flavor of Parmigiano Reggiano?

Take a look at this video, and these two great chefs will show you how to make these recipes yourself. Enjoy!

The charm of Bologna. Childhood memories.
And a love for great food.

Chef Michele and Chef Lorenzo have much in common. They both grew up in Bologna – a magical medieval city that is widely considered one of the epicenters of Italian cuisine – with a global reputation as a foodie’s paradise. Being exposed to great food from an early age led both of them to pursue a career in the culinary arts, and ultimately they both became celebrated chefs, both moved to the US, and now both represent two of the most iconic Italian food brands: Barilla® and Parmigiano Reggiano. These two friends made time to get together before the holidays, shared memories of growing up in the same city, and cooked two of their favorite holiday recipes, so that all of you can do the same at home – and get a chance to experience a little bit of Italy during the holiday season. Take a look at the video above and enjoy watching these two talented chefs show you how to cook these dishes, step-by-step.

Tortellini in Crosta.
A recipe likely to become one of your holiday favorites.

“Tortellini in Crosta” translates to “Tortellini in a Puff Pastry”. This rich and savory northern Italian dish is one of Chef Lorenzo Boni’s go-to holiday dishes – and it might just become of your favorites as well. At the very least, it will definitely add a bit of Italian flavor to your holiday table. Made with simple seasonal ingredients and a generous amount of Parmigiano Reggiano, it takes about 20 minutes of prep time and and additional 10 minutes of cooking time. Tortellini in Crosta can be served as individual portions or it can be cooked in a bigger baking pan and served family style. Either way, it is delicious and easy to make. Below is a link to the recipe.

TORTELLINI RECIPE

Penne dei Poeti al Parmigiano Reggiano.
From the streets of Bologna to the holiday table.

According to Chef Michele, “This dish was made famous by the Osteria dei Poeti – a popular osteria in Bologna. An “osteria” is a humble restaurant, where people gather to share simple, yet delicious meals. However, I first experienced this penne dish as a kid, sitting at the holiday table, celebrating the season with my family. I guess it became our go-to holiday staple because it is an easy dish to make for large gatherings. In our house, we always served it with generous portions of Parmigiano Reggiano. As I grew older, I realized they served essentially the same dish at my local osteria, and I would always ask for a little more Parmigiano Reggiano – because it gives it such a great consistency and rich flavor. I think it is a perfect dish for the holiday season because is simple, hearty, and reminds me of our family’s traditions”.

PENNE RECIPE

These dishes feature pasta from Barilla® Collezione.

Like Parmigiano Reggiano, Barilla® is committed to exceptional quality ingredients and to preserving and advancing Italian culinary tradition. These two dishes were cooked using Three Cheese Tortellini and Penne made by Barilla® Collezione. To learn more about Barilla® Collezione, use the link below.

BARILLA® COLLEZIONE

Check out the rest of our holiday recipes.

In addition to the two recipes featured here, you can find other delicious holiday dishes made with Parmigiano Reggiano in the Holiday 2020 recipe section of our site. Below is a link.

HOLIDAY RECIPES