Ep 9. Rustic Italian Fare

In season 21 episode 9 of America's Test Kitchen, viewers are taken on a culinary journey to Italy as the cooks explore the concept of Rustic Italian Fare. The episode starts with an introduction to the cuisine of Italy, characterized by its simplicity, freshness and harmonious combination of flavors.

The first recipe that the cooks tackle is Tomato and Bread Soup (Pappa al Pomodoro). The dish was traditionally made as a way to use up stale bread and is a perfect example of the Italian ethos of waste-not-want-not. The cooks start by toasting the bread and then combining it with other ingredients to form a rustic soup that's heartening and flavorful.

Next up, the team takes on the challenge of creating a dish that's often considered one of the most iconic and beloved Italian dishes: lasagna. Their quest is to make a Rustic Lasagna with Sausage and Mushrooms, turning away from the more classical recipe that often adds too many layers of pasta and too much sauce. In this dish, the noodles are the star of the show, supported by rich, savory flavor from sausage and mushrooms, for a comforting and homely dish.

We then move on to a main course of Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives (Pollo alla Cacciatora). This dish, which is inspired by Tuscan culinary traditions, is usually made with rabbit. However, the recipe has been adjusted for chicken, which makes it more accessible to home cooks. The dish is cooked in a sauce infused with tomatoes, olives, and pancetta, giving a hearty, smoky flavor to the dish, which is paired with a side of Anise Scented Fennel.

The final dish, and the one that takes center stage, is Butter-Basted Steak (Bistecca alla Fiorentina). This is a steak that's cooked in the classic Italian manner, with a twist. Using top round beef, the cooks show the viewers how to achieve a tender and juicy meat dish using the perfect searing technique, and then using a luxurious finish - a basting of butter and aromatic garlic with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice - to produce a steak that would melt in your mouth.

Throughout the episode, the viewers are also treated to mini-lessons on the different facets of Italian cuisine, from a discussion of the importance of bread and how to use it in recipes, to an exploration of the unique characteristics of Tuscan cuisine.

Overall, Rustic Italian Fare is an episode that mixes tradition, comfort and indulgence, delivering hearty, rustic dishes that evoke the authentic spirit of Italian cuisine.