Italian Giambotta Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 7-to 8-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 10 minutes. Add eggplant and water and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is slightly softened, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes with juice and bell peppers, then reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook green beans in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan of well-salted boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Add zucchini to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to bowl with green beans. Add potatoes to boiling water and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to beans and zucchini.
• Add boiled vegetables to stew and simmer, stirring, until all vegetables are very soft, about 15 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Heat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, bay, chopped garlic and onions and let them sweat out while you prepare the rest of the veggies. Work next to the stove and drop as you chop, in order of longest cooking time: potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and add tomatoes and stock and cook 5 minutes more, to heat through. Turn heat off and stir in basil.
• Char bread under broiler and rub with cracked garlic then drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, top with cheese and pepper and return to the broiler for 30 seconds to brown cheese. Serve cheese whole-grain toast with bowls of vegetable stew.

Steps:

• Heat skillet over medium heat.
• Add oil and coat pan.
• Add garlic and cook until soft, but not brown.
• Drain liquid from tomatoes and reserve.
• Add tomatoes and oregano to pan and cook 20-30 minutes over moderate heat, stirring occasionally.
• While tomatoes are cooking parboil potatoes and beans separately (I've nuked potatoes in the micro and obtained satisfactory results- it's quicker than boiling).
• Drain cooked (al dente preferably) beans and add them to the tomato mixture.
• Cut potatoes into 1 inch cubes and add to sauce.
• Cook for another 5-10 minutes (if the mixture needs more moisture or you just prefer this dish saucier you can add some of the reserved liquid at this stage).
• Salt and pepper to taste.