main course

Ideas to serve as main course or entrée.

Lobster has a very special, slightly sweet taste and a succulent texture, being juicy and tender, yet firm. A medium sized lobster, steamed or boiled just out of the water makes an indescribable meal.

This type of menestra is a meal on its own. To serve as an appetizer, halve the meat or just skip it. You can also change the vegetables to suit your taste. Stewing meat and vegetables together keeps the food moist. The result is a succulent dish, perfectly cooked and not dry at all.

Though far from the most exotic pasta recipe, spaghetti alla carbonara - more or less literally translated as 'spaghetti as that of the charcoal maker' - is a great mid-way step between that and just plain marinara. Essentially spaghetti with eggs and bacon, it is simple to make and delightful to eat.

Risotto alla Milanese, or Milanese risotto, is a classic dish from Milan in northern Italy. Saffron gives the creamy rice its distinctive golden color and delicate flavor, while butter, white wine, and broth build its rich, savory character. Serve it as a traditional first course, or as an accompaniment to dishes such as ossobuco.

In Italy, meatballs (polpette) are traditionally served as a second course, often with sauce or vegetables on the side. Smaller meatballs may also be offered as an antipasto or used in soups, pasta dishes, and other regional specialties.