If, like me, you love fried eggplant but the thought of watching it soak up all that oil kills the craving, this oven-fried eggplant recipe is for you! Far less oil than deep-frying, for a result you could easily mistake for the real thing!

I love tarts and quiches and I love mushrooms. This week, wanting a change from my usual mushroom quiche, I came across a recipe from chef Ottolenghi, which inspired this one. I simplified it with what I had on hand and adapted it to our tastes, and everyone loved it. The tarragon and dill pairing goes beautifully with mushrooms and is what gives this tart its original flavor. The classic quiche filling (eggs + cream) is replaced here by a delicious mushroom cream (which, by the way, can be made dairy-free). I’ll let you discover it!

Arancini are little balls that are crispy on the outside and melting on the inside. They’re perfect if you have leftover risotto from the night before, but they’re so good you may end up making risotto just for them! Here’s a vegetarian version with pesto and mozzarella.

Roasted and marinated vegetable antipasti are a staple of Italian starters. Colorful and full of flavor, they also make a great side, especially with a beef carpaccio or a beautiful burrata.