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Home » Recipes

Contorni - Italian Side Dishes

Here you'll find delicious contorni recipes for any occasion. "Contorni" translated from Italian means "Side Dishes". Singular term is "contorno".
There are 2 more popular types of Italian contorno:
1. A simple salad that includes mostly raw veggies and sometimes other ingredients such as cheese, olives, tomatoes.
2. Simply cooked veggies. I especially love them because you can always use leftovers to make Italian Frittata the next day or make bigger batch an use it as a pasta sauce.

I'm sure you'll love these tricks too!

Italian side dishes are not overpowering as their goal is to refresh your taste palette before moving to the dessert.

Having said that some types of contorni can be served as a meal in and of itself.

On this page you'll find the best Contorni recipes to serve with your meat or fish main course.

  • Strawberry Balsamic Salad with Mixed Greens
  • Potato and Artichoke Gratin
  • Italian Stuffed Artichokes
  • Radicchio Salad Cups
  • Eggplant Parmigiana (Melanzane Alla Parmigiana)
  • Crispy Oven-Fried Veggies
  • Italian Style Sauteed Mushrooms (Funghi Trifolati)
  • Crispy Parmesan Potatoes
  • Romanesco Broccoli Roman-Style (Easy & Delicious!)
  • Green Beans & Tomatoes (Italian Stewed Green Beans)
  • Green Beans And Potatoes (Plus 5 Delicious Variations)
  • Peperonata (Italian Bell Pepper Stew)
  • Braised Artichokes (for Bruschetta, Pasta, Risotto & more!)
  • Caponata (Sicilian Eggplant Salad)
  • Caprese Salad (How Italians Make It)
  • Pumpkin Wedges Wrapped In Speck With Balsamic & Honey Glaze
  • Sauteed Broccoli Rabe {Rapini}
  • Oven Roasted Eggplants Alla Sarda
  • Eggplant Steaks - Creamy Inside, Crispy Outside
  • Baked Anchovy Frittata with Tomatoes
  • Steamed Artichokes with Dipping Sauce
  • Italian Frying Peppers - 3 Delicious Ways To Cook
  • Eggplant Pizzette {Eggplant Pizza Bites}

Buongiorno e benvenuti! In my small Italian kitchen I use simple, mostly seasonal ingredients and turn them into mouth-watering meals. Join me as I share the magic of Italian home cooking and teach you how you can do it in your own kitchen.

More about me →

No Bake Desserts

  • Panna cotta on a dessert plate with a strawberry on the side.
    Panna Cotta (Classic Recipe and 3 Different Toppings)
  • Strawberry Tiramisu.
    Strawberry Tiramisu (Eggless and Without Coffee)
  • Individual Tiramisu Cups {Easy & Delicious!}
    Tiramisu Cups
  • Italian fruit salad in a bowl garnished with mint leaves.
    Italian Fruit Salad (Macedonia Di Frutta)

Popular Recipes

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    Limoncello (Recipe, Calculations & FAQs)
  • Semolina bread loaves in bread basket.
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  • Panini bread rolls in a basket.
    Italian Panini Bread
  • Traditional Focaccia Bread {Focaccia Genovese}

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