For many Italians, Summer means outdoor grilling, just as it does for much of the rest of the world. One of my grilling favorites is the grigliata mista, mixed grilled meats. The choice of meats is up to the cook, but it usually includes lamb, pork, chicken and, sometimes, but much less often than in places like the US or Argentina, beef. For this cookout, I made some rib lamb chops, pork chops, chicken, sausage and a T-bone steak, each (except for the sausage) with its own, slightly different marinade for variety: for the lamb chops, rosemary, salt and pepper (a mixture, when finely chopped together, is sometimes referred to as a salamoia toscana) and olive oil; for the pork chops, cumin (not very Italian, I know), salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil; for the chicken, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil, a style known as alla diavola for its spiciness, and usually used to marinate a whole, young butterflied chicken, but in this case I used just the thighs. I rubbed the T-bone with a bit of salt–that was it, as I don’t mess with the pure flavor of good beef!
Of course, an Italian meal would not be complete without some contorni, or side dishes, to round it out. This time I made a ‘home-style’ version of a classic Tuscan bean dish, fagioli al fiasco, potato salad and sauteed swiss chard. Now the real fagioli al fiasco is made by putting cannellini beans in a wide-bottomed bottle (hence the name, which means “beans in a flask” in Italian) with sage leaves, garlic cloves, black pepper and water to cover. You top with the bottle with a cork and place it by an open fire for about four hours. Not having a proper bottle or four hours to spare, I put the same ingredients in a pressure cooker for about an hour. You then season with salt and allow the beans to sit for while. Serve the beans in a bowl, dressing with abundant, fruity olive and some more black pepper ground on top. (As for all beans, they are best soaked beforehand, either overnight in cold water or, to speed up the process considerably, simply by bringing them just to the boil in enough water to cover them by about 5 cm (2 in), then letting them soak off heat for about an hour).
I prefer potato salad made without mayo or sour cream. Steam red baby potatoes until just tender, then drain them and let them cool a bit. When just cool enough to handle–warm potatoes will absorb the dressing more readily–cut then into slices or, if you prefer, into wedges. (If they are very young and have thin skins, there is no need to peel them.) Then pour over a vinaigrette made by whisking together olive oil, white wine vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper, into which you add chopped shallots and parsley. Fold the potatoes and vinaigrette together well but gently (a rubber spatula works well here) and let steep for an hour or two to develop flavor, mixing very gently from time to time. Serve topped with un filo d’olio and some more chopped parsley for color.
Last but not least, there was bieta ripassata in padella, sauteed swiss chard. Greens made this way–more often than not with the wild cicoria that grows in the countryside around the city–are a staple of the Roman table. But the same method works well for swiss chard spinach or, for that matter, just about any leafy green. You wilt the washed greens by placing them in a pot and cooking them covered in a pot with just the water that clings to them. (You can also parboil them in salted water, in the French manner, if you prefer.) You then run them under cold water to stop the cooking, allow them to drain in a colander. Chop the greens roughly and saute them in olive oil in which you have lightly browned a few garlic cloves and a hot red pepper (peperoncino) for a few minutes, to allow the greens to absorb the flavors of the seasonings.
After all this, there was little room for dessert. We just had some fresh cherries served in a bowl of ice water–my favorite way to eat them. After a caffe’ corretto, I was ready for a nap!
The meats marinating before grilling
It makes me very happy to eat authentic Italian homecooked food. There is no restaurant in the world that can recreate the atmosphere or the flavor. Italian food is so much more than spaghetti and meatballs. Great read!
That beef salad really looks good! Plus everything else. Thank you for sharing your “Wonderful Blog”
Can't wait to make the beans! My stepsons are visiting from Cape Cod and we've got a mixed grill on the menu for later this week. I think it'll be German sausages, smoked pork chops etc. The beans will be fabulous with all of that. Thank you
Kate
Wow Frank! That looks awesome!
Happy 4th to you and your family!
LL
What a fantastic spread. We had a similar meal with our neighbors here in Monte di Procida last weekend. After a massive antipasti misti we had cannelloni while the meat was grilling. I had some excellent homemade salsice and chicken kabob and was feeling quite full when the host says to me: “Bob, whatsa matta, no pork chop?” I had not even seen the second plate with the best chops I have ever tasted. Now quite stuffed, I did manage to be polite and have some eggplant parmigiana, dolce and limoncello. I will miss all this when we return to the U.S. in September.
What a tummy-filled feast! Perfection!
This looks great! Simple food and great flavors!
Estupendo menu!!!! quien pudiera probar cada uno de estos platos…
The grigliata mista is my favorite way to entertain on a summer's eve – the steak over the arugula with shaved Parmesan? Perfect. I must try the bean dish – my sage is taking over the world. If I knew you were cooking all of that, I would have showed up to borrow a cup of sugar.
man, beef, chicken, sausage, lamb – now that is a die hard carnivore … put that in front of me and I'd be in heaven – looks good Frank
Now THAT is some grill. Can I be adopted?
Glad you enjoyed it! Regards to the whole family and hope to see them again soon!
Frank, we spent a fantastic Ferragosto evening with you!
The dinner was excellent as usual and last night it was simply fantastic!!!
We loved everything, the “penne con pomodorini alla pugliese” and the “tagliata” were superb!!!
Grazie mille e abbracci da tutta la famiglia!!