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The Quanto Basta Digest

Ciao and welcome! We're so glad you're here. This little corner of our website is where a lot of magical (and delicious) stuff happens. Whether it be a recipe for an obscure Sardinian pasta dish, a tutorial on how to use one of our bestselling pasta tools, or a story about the legendary Marcella Hazan, the q.b. Digest is all about inspiring you to cook all'italiana. Check out the latest below!

Italian Recipes

Corzetti Stampati with Seared Mushrooms, Marjoram & Pine Nuts

Corzetti Stampati with Seared Mushrooms, Marjoram & Pine Nuts

I’m a huge fan of Ligurian food. The flavors are, typically, light and refreshing—think Genovese pesto and focaccia, of course, but also vegetables and herbs,...

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A hand kneading pasta dough.

Basic Pasta Dough, Two Ways

Your pasta dough 101 guide, covering the basic ingredients and techniques for making fresh egg pasta dough and semolina pasta dough.

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Italian Gin & Tonic - bird's eye view of a blush-colored cocktail in a clear glass. We see a slice of lemon on top and a sprig of rosemary. There is ice in the glass. In the background, we see a bottle of spirits poking through the corner.

Italian Gin & Tonic

Sweet vermouth and Italian red bitters give this gin and tonic an Italian twist that's both refreshing and complex.

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We see a bowl of spaghetti coated in a red tomato sauce. There are a few orange and red cherry tomatoes resting around the spaghetti. A warm sunlight hits the pasta dish, creating dramatic shadows. There is a fork dipping into the spaghetti.

Spaghetti Chitarra alla Puttanesca

With cherry tomatoes, garlic, anchovies, capers, and chili pepper flakes, this classic Neapolitan pasta dish is unapologetic about its intense flavor.

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A teal low-bowl holds a heaping of golden tortellini with a creamy yellow sauce. We see a fork picking up a single tortellino. There is grated parmesan cheese on top.

Tortellini with Parmesan Zabaglione

Homemade tortellini are served with a luscious sauce of egg yolks, grated Parmesan, and heavy cream.

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A latticed pie dusted in powdered sugar rests on a wooden surface. The light is warm and sunny.

Domenica Marchetti's Apple Crostata

Move over, apple pie. This crostata recipe uses a buttery pasta frolla crust with a simple filling that leaves out the spices in order to...

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Italian Cooking Tips

We see two nests of fresh egg taglitelle pasta, a metal bench scraper, and a bag of pasta flour resting on a large, light-colored wooden pasta board.

Choosing the Perfect Pasta Board: Materials, Maintenance, and More

If you’re keen to elevate your pasta-making game, a key tool to consider is the pasta board—a staple in any serious pasta maker's kitchen. Here...

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Italian grandma making gnocchi

Embracing La Cucina Povera: Sustainable Living Starts with Using What You Have

Gillie Roberts, the founder of Ware, a sustainable essentials shop that specializes in low-waste home and body care, shares her thoughts on Italian resourcefulness in...

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Cooking tagliatelle pasta

How to Cook Pasta: Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

We unravel the secrets to cooking and serving pasta so that you can ensure each bite is flavorful and full of life.

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There is a blue splatterware bowl on a wooden surface holding three cracked eggs. Above the bowl we see a metal spoon holding a single orange egg yolk.

The Science Behind the Eggs in Your Pasta

They say pasta is an art, but it can be a science too. Here's an in-depth explanation of how eggs play a role in your...

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A Simple Hack for Grating Parmigiano Faster & Finer

A Simple Hack for Grating Parmigiano Faster & Finer

Here's why you should always grate your own Parmigiano and Pecorino, plus the simplest, fastest way to achieve a fine grate.

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Three big ravioli sit on crumpled parchment paper. We see the edge of a wooden ravioli mold off to the right.

How to Use a Ravioli Mold

Tips, tricks, and step-by-step photos for using a wooden ravioli mold.

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Italian Stories

Skyler Mapes of EXAU Olive Oil sitting in front of wooden french doors. Her hand is reaching out to touch a potted olive tree.

Interview with EXAU Olive Oil co-founder, Skyler Mapes

Skyler Mapes, co-founder of EXAU Olive Oil, shares the vision and mission for the family-owned olive oil company and gives us tips for buying, using,...

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Father's Day Gift Guide for Pasta Dads

Father's Day Gift Guide for Pasta Dads

Not sure what to get your pasta-lovin papà for Father’s Day this year? We reached out to a few of our favorite “pasta dads” and...

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Old black and white photo of Marcella Hazan stirring a pan over a stove. She's looking up at the camera and smiling. Photo taken by a student, of a class taught by Marcella Hazan in Venice in the 1980s.

Uncovering the Life of Marcella Hazan through Film

Get a sneak peek at a soon-to-be-released documentary that reveals the story of the beloved Italian cookbook writer, Marcella Hazan.

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An elderly woman in a red bandana and apron looks to her left towards Vicky Bennison, a tall woman with curly hair. Vicky is holding a video camera with a microphone. The two women are smiling at one another.

The Story Behind Pasta Grannies: An Interview with Vicky Bennison

The following is a partial transcript of our interview with Vicky Bennison. It has been lightly edited for content and clarity. Sarah Ubertaccio (S): Most people...

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Chef Joe Sasto

An interview with Chef Joe Sasto: Mastering the art of pasta from unexpected places

Chef Joe Sasto shares his Michelin-star advice for making better pasta and finding culinary inspiration in unusual ways.

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Pasta et Al - Father and son making pasta

This Father and Son Make Pasta Together Every Sunday: An Interview with Pasta et Al

Every Sunday, Alec Morris and his son, "little Al," make homemade pasta together – and it's adorable. We interview Alec to learn more about his...

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