LIDIA'S KITCHEN Season 9
#901: What’s For Dinner?
Every culture has their way of asking, “What’s for Dinner?” In this episode, Lidia inspires you with some of her easy favorites! She tosses together Arborio Rice with bright, flavorful olives, roasted peppers, artichokes, and provolone to create a satisfying and vibrant “Antipasto” Rice Salad. She also pulls together a 30-minute impressive dish of Sauteed Chicken dressed in a Bright Lemon Caper Sauce over Spinach. Lidia also shares some culinary family moments with her grandson, Lorenzo, after he prepared her “Mushroom Gratinate” recipe.
#902: Cheese Please!
In Italy, it’s hard to find a meal without formaggio or cheese on the table. Lidia explains the culture of cow’s milk cheese, found mostly in central and northern Italy to the sheep’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses found in the southern part of the peninsula. She shows how it’s easy to add it to almost any dish. Recipes include Chopped Salad with Frisee and Fennel, and a summertime-inspired Tomato and Zucchini Bread Lasagna. She shares some family culinary moments via zoom with her grandson, Miles, who is making Braised Beef Rolls for his housemates in college.
#903: Family Meal
There is nothing more important to Lidia than gathering around the table with her family to share a meal. She starts this episode with a Balsamic Chicken Stir Fry. It features the classic stir-fry technique to create an Italian-style sweet-sound-sour glazed chicken that everyone will enjoy. She then connects with a friend and cookbook author living in Italy, Mimi Thorisson, to see how she made her traditional frico recipe with Montasio cheese; it’s one of her favorites! Next on the menu is a sweet Grape & Ricotta Pizza that can be served as a dessert, brunch treat, or even a crowd-pleasing snack.
#904: An Italian Lunchbox
In Italy, lunch is just as important as dinner. Italians prefer to sit down for a leisurely lunch, but in this episode, Lidia shares some lunch-on-the-go ideas to make the American tradition more Italian. In this episode, Lidia shares her Shaved Fennel, Red Onion, and Prosciutto Cotto Salad. It’s packed with texture, color, and protein to make a nourishing lunch. And for an easy, packable sweet finish, she makes a Cherry Jam Tart with Wild Cherries from Emilia Romagna. She also shares her Prosciutto, Scallion, and Egg Sandwich with her grandson Ethan via zoom.
#905: Go-To Cravings
Classic cravings include pizza and burgers! Lidia loves to talk about cravings. She has her own, and they often involve food memories that bring her back to pleasant moments during her childhood. The recipes today are more American in style but with an Italian twist. She prepares an easy and approachable Pan Pizza and a Mozzarella Cheeseburger using focaccia, mozzarella, pickled peperoncino, and a grilled tomato. The culinary chat in this episode focuses on Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets with grandson, Miles.
#906 Dress Up Dinner
In this episode, the dishes might “look” a little fancy, but they are super easy and give a little flair to your weeknight or weekend dinner! Lidia starts with a Belgian and Red Endive Salad that showcases a rich egg yolk vinaigrette that dresses up this elegant and colorful salad, finished with a sprinkle of chives. She then prepares Naked Ricotta Dumplings or “Gnudi” made with a sage-butter sauce. She meets her young granddaughter, Olivia, for a culinary chat about Stuffed Tomatoes – a recipe that Olivia loves to make for herself and her roommates.
#907 Breakfast at Lidia’s
Colazione! It’s breakfast time in Lidia’s kitchen today, and she adds some Italian touches to American breakfast classics. First, she prepares Fried Potatoes with Sausage & Eggs – a one-skillet breakfast wonder – that is packed with protein in every bite, served up on a crispy bed of fried potatoes. She then prepares a Breakfast Risotto featuring Bacon, Egg & Cheese. Her culinary zoom chat is with her granddaughter, Julia, who prepared ricotta pancakes at college. Yum!
#908: Prepare the Harvest
Harvest time starts in late August in Italy, and it is one of the most important celebrations in the Italian culture! In this episode, Lidia celebrates the late-summer harvest and gets ready for the start of fall. Her Oat Risotto with Butternut Squash and Sunchokes gives risotto a new meaning. She shares a culinary moment through zoom with her granddaughter, Olivia, as they discuss Olivia’s recent preparation of Lidia’s Stuffed Mushrooms. For dessert, Lidia shares her One-Bowl Olive Oil Cake and Red Wine Poached Pears.
#909: Salt Your Pasta Water!
It’s pasta time again, so don’t forget to salt the pasta water, save it, and sauce your pasta the way the Italians do! In this episode, Lidia prepares a Pasta Primavera “New School” with creamy pesto loaded with fresh vegetables. She then shares a family culinary moment with grandson, Ethan, as he talks about his recent preparation of her Penne with Vodka Sauce. Lidia’s last recipe demonstration is a green and delicious pasta dish starring Cavatappi with Asparagus and Spinach Pesto.
#910: All in the Skillet
Weeknights are skillet nights! In this episode, Lidia prepares dishes that are straight from the skillet or poured onto a family-style platter. Her Skillet Shrimp with Asparagus consists of sauteed shrimp over grilled bread with asparagus and is a complete meal that uses only one pan. Her Skillet Gratinate of Pork, Eggplant, and Zucchini is a delicious one-skillet main course with protein and vegetables that will have the family asking for more! Lidia joins her granddaughter, Julia, for a culinary chat and encourages Julia to prepare her one- pot Soft Polenta recipe.
#911: Bread & Beans
Bread is a pillar of the Italian cuisine, but beans are the base in many of the Italian regions too. Lidia shares some delicious recipes that showcase bread and beans in this episode. Her first recipe is Crostini Two Ways. One is a Crostini with Fresh Tomatoes and Ricotta. The other is a Warm Crostini with Smothered Kale and Melty Fontina. She then prepares a Monkfish Brodetto with Cannellini, a quick and easy stew that packs lots of flavor with little effort! Lidia’s Sharing Recipes moment is with her grandson, Ethan, as they talk about his recent preparation of her recipe, Garlic Bread, Three Ways.
#912: One Dish, Two Meals
Weeknight dinners just got a little easier by Lidia simply serving one recipe two ways! Lidia prepares her creamy and delicious Zucchini, Peas and Pancetta Risotto which features fresh peas, tender zucchini, sweet corn, and rich pancetta. She reaches out to her dear friend and cookbook author, Katie Parla, who resides in Rome during her “Sharing Recipes” zoom chat and talks about Katie’s preparation of her Capellini and Asparagus Frittata that she turns into an Involtini alla Piazzetta! Then Lidia prepares her Risotto Cakes – a favorite recipe that uses any leftover risotto to make family and friends happy the next day.
#913: Fruits of the Sea
Lidia’s childhood memories of the blue Adriatic waters close to her home are precious, and she loves to prepare simple recipes with the freshest of seafood. In this episode, she creates Halibut with Saffron Fregola – a vibrant, yellow dish that is a mix between a stew and a thick soup that is dotted with Sardinian fregola and halibut. She then prepares a Tuna and Chickpea Salad with essentials that anyone can pull from their pantry. She shares a recipe moment with her grandson, Miles, today as she encourages him to prepare her famous Shrimp “Alla Buonavia” recipe – a love letter to her first restaurant in Queens, New York.
#914: Elegant Eats
In this episode, Lidia teaches us how to add elegant touches to weeknight meals, while still keeping them simple. Her Fennel & Asian Pear Salad features caramelized fennel topped with slices of delicate pears and raw fennel, resulting in an elegant salad that bursts with flavor. Then, she prepares Cheesy Veal Chops with Cabbage featuring chops stuffed with cheese, lightly fried and served in a butter sauce. Lidia’s Sharing Recipes culinary chat through zoom is with granddaughter, Olivia, where she teaches her how to prepare a simply delightful recipe of Lentil Crostini.
#915 Familiar Flavors
Lidia loves adding her touches to classic dishes, and in this episode, she prepares a delicious Roasted Chicken with Pomegranate and a Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake. The roasted chicken recipe is dressed with a pomegranate syrup as the flavor base, and cheesecake features the flavor of chocolate. Then she shares a culinary moment with grandson, Miles, as they talk about their recent preparation of Lidia’s famous Baked Beans recipe for his cookout party.
#916 Southern Italian Favorites
Lidia loves southern Italy, and some of the Mediterranean staples are grown right here in America! In this episode, she prepares a Southern Italian Style Bruschetta with something sweet, savory, and spicy. She also creates her famous Tomato and Tropea Onion Salad, featuring super-ripe tomatoes, purple onions and crispy friselle bread. Her Spicy Bloody Mary will have you begging for more with its spicy Calabrian peperoncino. Her Sharing Recipe segment features granddaughter, Julia, where they plan to make Lidia’s panzerotti recipe on her next weekend visit home.
#917 Sweet & Savory Fruit
Fruit makes everything better, and it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes! In this episode, Lidia creates a Cheese Plate with Plum Mostarda & Gnocco Fritto, a beautiful platter of cheese with seasonal fruits and her homemade plum mostarda and fluffy fried bread and served with Prosciutto Cotto. She also prepares her Sausage & Apples recipe, featuring sweet apples and savory sausage – making an easy one-pot meal that can feed a hungry family. In Lidia’s Sharing Recipes segment, Lidia chats with grandson Lorenzo, where they discuss a delicious dish Lidia just recreated from a trip to Sicily - Risotto with Orange Juice.
#918: Italian Essentials
This show is about some of Italian’s most famous staples – Chicken Parmigiana, Arancini, and Bolognese Sauce. Lidia’s Chicken Parmigiana Light is made with a breaded chicken thigh topped with fresh tomato and mozzarella, nestled in a bed of tomato sauce. Her Rice Balls Stuffed with Sausage Ragu are crunchy fried rice balls stuffed with sausage. Her grandson, Miles, plans to prepare Lidia’s traditional Bolognese Sauce and talks about his strategy for success with her during their “Sharing Recipes” segment.
#919: Keep it Fresh
Lidia focuses on fresh, summertime recipes today and creates some colorful dishes that allow the ingredients to shine. First, she prepares a beautiful Shrimp and Melon Salad with Basil Mint Pesto. Next, she connects with her grandson, Lorenzo, for the Sharing Recipe segment to see how he did with her Peaches in White Wine recipe that he prepared at his home. The final recipe is a popular Mezze Rigatoni with Raw Tomato Sauce – a dish that truly celebrates the freshness of the summer season!
#920: Italian Style Salads
Italians love their salads after the main course, so there are lots of salad recipes that go way beyond just a few pieces of lettuce! Lidia begins with the preparation of a Panzanella with Fennel and Shrimp. It’s her twist on the traditional Tuscan favorite. She then makes an eye-popping colorful Orange and Tropea Onion Salad, inspired by her time in Calabria. Finally, she livens up a green salad with crispy apples and rich provolone cheese with her Green Salad with Provolone Cheese & Green Apple. In her Sharing Recipes segment, she connects with grandson, Lorenzo, to see how he did with her recipe of Cabbage Salad with Speck.
#921: Potato, Potato
Lidia cannot get enough of potatoes – she can make almost any meal feature or star potatoes! In this episode, she prepares a Potato & Pasta Soup – a hearty vegetable stock, thickened with potatoes and finished with pasta; it’s one, filling meal! She then moves on to a nourishing salad of Green Beans with New Potatoes. Her Sharing Recipes segment features grandson, Ethan, where they talk about his plans to prepare Grandma’s Ditalini with Potatoes and Provola.
#922: The Sweet Life in Italy
Today’s episode is about sweet treats and includes an Italian cookie, an Italian parfait, and a tart! Lidia prepares a Bergamot & Ricotta Parfait featuring layers of sweetened ricotta, aromatic bergamot marmalade, crunchy nougatine, and toasted almonds. She makes an Almond Tart – from a delicate, fluffy, meringue, and almond tart shell. It’s a light and airy, sweet treat. Granddaughter Julia has been making sweets on Lidia’s shows since she was a toddler, so it’s no surprise that she is featured in the Sharing Recipes segment as Lidia talks with her about sending a sweet college care package of Chocolate Anise Biscotti.
#923: Simply Lidia
Simplicity reigns in the Italian cuisine, and Lidia is a firm believer that simple cooking is better cooking. In this episode, she prepares an Orecchiette with Breadcrumbs, Pancetta, and Cauliflower recipe that features a medley of flavors and textures that adhere beautifully to the ear-shaped Pugliese pasta. She then makes Crespelle with Wild Cherries, Chocolate & Whipped Cream. Crepes were a favorite childhood recipe of hers. Her Sharing Recipe segment is with Olivia who decided to make her grandmother’s Lemon Ice recipe. It’s so refreshing!
#924 Just Braising
In this episode, Lidia shows you that braising makes everything taste better and also makes cooking easy. To start, she prepares Oven Braised Pork Chops with Red Onions and Pears – a dish that will rise to any occasion. Then Beef & Root Vegetables are Braised in Red Wine – a one-pot meal with delicious and deep flavors. Lorenzo joins her in the Sharing Recipes segment to discuss his creation of Nonna’s Tomato-Braised Cauliflower recipe.
#925 Light Lunches
When the day is busy, and you need to give yourself a break, cook yourself a quick and easy flavorful light lunch. Lidia prepares a Striped Bass with Broccolini. The bass is dressed up with a splash of lemon to brighten up this already light, stovetop dish. Her Shrimp, Roasted Pepper & Olive Salad takes center stage on her Italian table. It has leafy greens, lots of color, and protein to make it complete. Lidia’s granddaughter Julia is back at the oven for the Sharing Recipes segment as she discusses with her grandmother how they will make Lidia’s Tomato Tart with Pecorino Romano.
#926: Little Effort, Big Flavor
Some of Lidia’s best recipes require little effort! She proves this point in her one-skillet wonder recipe of Sausages with Fennel & Olives that features crushed green olives and chunky fennel that makes her skillet sizzle with flavor. She also prepares a quick dish of Seared Lamb Chops with Mint Salsa and Roasted Potato Wedges. These quick, caramelized chops are meant to be eaten with your hands! How about a light drink to celebrate these easy recipes? She talks to her granddaughter, Olivia, about her delicious and fresh Fragoncello recipe.