Ep 6. Stuff It Your Way

Lidia's Italy season 3 episode 6, "Stuff It Your Way," invites viewers to experience the world of Italian stuffed dishes. Host Lidia Bastianich takes us on a culinary tour of Italy, showcasing the diverse range of ingredients and techniques used in stuffing dishes.

The episode begins in her hometown of Istria, a region in Croatia that was once a part of Italy, where Lidia visits the outdoor markets and shops. She encounters a wide variety of fresh ingredients and decides to create a dish from her childhood called "Istrian-style stuffed peppers." The dish involves stuffing sweet bell peppers with a mixture of ground beef, pork, and rice. Lidia explains each step of the process, from seeding and baking the peppers to cooking the stuffing mixture and serving it with a savory tomato sauce.

Next, Lidia travels to the southern region of Campania, where she meets with a local chef who shows her how to make traditional "ziti al forno." This dish involves stuffing long, tube-shaped pasta with a mixture of ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and cooked sausage. The stuffed pasta is then baked in a dish with tomato sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese. Lidia joins the chef in her kitchen and follows along as she prepares each element of the dish, giving the viewer a thorough understanding of the process.

From Campania, Lidia heads to Tuscany to visit a farm that specializes in producing a rare type of leaf called "giglio." She learns about the traditional Tuscan dish of "pappa al pomodoro," which involves stuffing stale bread with a mixture of tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil. Lidia visits a local restaurant where the chefs use giglio leaves to wrap the stuffed bread, giving it a unique flavor and texture. The dish is a favorite among locals and Lidia gives it a try, savoring the vibrant flavors of the ripe tomatoes and crisp giglio leaves.

The final destination on Lidia's stuffed food tour is the region of Puglia, where she explores a local market filled with a variety of fresh seafood. She decides to make a special dish called "stuffed squid" that involves stuffing fresh squid with a mixture of seafood, including shrimp, calamari, and chopped-up tentacles. Lidia demonstrates the proper technique for cleaning and stuffing the squid, giving the viewer a hands-on look at the process. She then pan-fries the stuffed squid and serves it with a zesty tomato sauce and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Throughout the episode, Lidia provides helpful tips and insights into each dish, detailing the unique ingredients and techniques used in Italian cuisine. She emphasizes the importance of fresh and local ingredients and shares stories about her own experiences with stuffed dishes from her childhood and travels. Viewers are left with a comprehensive understanding of the art of stuffing in Italian cuisine and a craving for the mouth-watering dishes showcased in the episode.