Lidia Bastianich’s ‘A Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl’ Is the Cooking Legend’s Gift to Home Cooks
If you’re a fan of PBS’ Italian culinary star Lidia Bastianich but have perhaps felt intimidated to try her recipes in the past, her recently released cookbook Lidia’s a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl is your chance to give some of the top chef’s favorite meals a go.
Her new book is a departure from her many others in that its approach strives to give home cooks, as its subtitle states, “simple recipes for perfect meals,” using just one pot, one pan, or one bowl. And it’s a welcome collection of dishes at just the right time from this renowned chef.
Bastianich released her latest book this fall
Published recently, the chef’s new collection of recipes isn’t focused on difficult-to-find Italian ingredients or traditional cooking methods. It’s all about making the cooking process easier, as she notes in the book’s Introduction.
“Whether they require a Dutch oven, a sheet pan, or a pot for pasta, these dishes are no-brainers,” Bastianich writes. Each of the recipes in the book, she assures, are designed to make cooking a simpler task for today’s busy home cooks. And the best part, Bastianich promises, these recipes won’t “leave you with a pile of dishes.” If that isn’t seductive enough to get you on board, if you own and love an Instant Pot pressure cooker, Bastianich offers quick recipes that incorporate the popular appliance.
The popular Italian chef took on the challenge
The chef, who has cooked for popes, written countless cookbooks, and owns several successful restaurants, admitted writing this streamlined approach to cooking was a challenge she was eager to take on, given the reality that many cooks simply don’t have the inclination to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen.
Bastianich is encouraging to nervous home cooks, urging them “not to fret about what you will cook in or about whether you have the right vessel or not.” Basically, just “choose something as close as possible to what is recommended” in the recipe.
Lidia Bastianich’s One Pan Balsamic Chicken Stir-Fry
Since the author noted that her One Pan Balsamic Chicken Stir-Fry is a favorite of her grandchildren’s, it seemed a great recipe to try out. And it was. Calling for easy-to-find ingredients including chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, honey, cornstarch, salt, olive oil, boneless skinless chicken breasts, broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper, and scallions, this dish truly is a one-pan wonder. Aside from a small bowl needed for mixing the stock, vinegar, honey, and cornstarch, all of the action takes place in a large skillet.
If you’ve made a stir-fry before, you know it’s all about cooking the diced chicken and vegetables over high heat. No mystery there. The recipe’s secret sauce, so to speak, is the sauce: the balsamic vinegar and honey lend the dish an irresistible sweet and tangy mouth appeal that you only want more of, so plan on doubling the sauce ingredient quantities. You will be asked for more. The vinegar is smooth, sweet, and thick and when it boils and thickens, along with the honey, it creates a sticky, delicious sauce. Served over rice, this dish will have even the pickiest of eaters wanting seconds.
‘Lidia’s a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl’ is available now wherever books are sold.
