Super-Italian isn’t just another Italian cookbook—it’s Giada De Laurentiis’s answer to a simple question: how do you make food that’s delicious, nourishing, and deeply satisfying? The answer, she says, is in the condiments. Anchovy-spiked breadcrumbs, Parmesan broths, chili oil, lemon zests, and tinned fish elevate everyday dishes and pack them with flavor and nutrition, without ever losing their ease or appeal.

Why This Book, and Why Now?

After more than two decades in the spotlight, Super-Italian marks a new chapter in De Laurentiis’s career—one that’s grounded in her own evolution. “All my books are an evolution of a human being,” she said. “They’re really a biography on where I am, right through food and through recipes.”

The idea came after her previous cookbook, Eat Better, Feel Better, a wellness-driven release shaped by personal health challenges and the grind of nonstop work. While that book was more prescriptive and strict, Super-Italian finds De Laurentiis embracing a more joyful, sustainable balance—reconnecting with her Italian roots and celebrating the nutrient-dense condiments, ingredients, and flavor boosters that make Mediterranean cuisine so enduring.

“I wanted to go back and reconnect with my roots,” she said. “The way I grew up, the way Italians eat—it’s very nutritious. We use a lot of condiments to enhance the dishes we love.”

Nourishment, Not Deprivation

While Super-Italian doesn’t shy away from comfort food—there’s a sheet pan chicken parm, after all—it’s built around the idea that nourishment doesn’t have to mean deprivation. In fact, many of the book’s “healthier” dishes come from a place of flavor first. Sardines get folded into a burnt pasta dish; anchovies are blitzed into zesty breadcrumbs for extra umami; and bitter greens are embraced rather than masked.

“I realized that the way I grew up and the way Italians eat is very nutritious,” she said. “There’s a lot of nutrient-dense ingredients we use in our food, but it really comes from a lot of the condiments that we use.”

The concept of nutrient-rich condiments is central to the book. De Laurentiis offers dozens of pantry staples—many of which she grew up with—that add both flavor and function to a dish. Think anchovy-spiked breadcrumbs, Sicilian nut butters, or her take on Parmesan dressing. These condiments aren’t meant to be eaten on their own, but as bridges between the food Americans love and the health benefits they often seek.

A Return to Roots—and a New Chapter

Though she’s spent decades in the spotlight, Super-Italian marks a return to something more personal for De Laurentiis. After years of building a brand that spanned television, restaurants, and retail, she found herself craving simplicity—and authenticity on her own terms.

“I wanted to go back and reconnect with my roots,” she said. “I had sort of distanced myself a little bit, in an effort to do so many other things. But I realized the food I grew up with, and the way Italians eat, is already full of so much nourishment.”

The book is part memoir, part evolution. It doesn’t reject the glamorous Vegas restaurants or the curated product lines. Instead, it folds them into a deeper narrative: one of a woman in her fifties reflecting on where she’s been—and where she’s still going. For De Laurentiis, it’s not about chasing trends or rebranding her identity. It’s about offering something meaningful to people who cook.

“I want to empower you,” she said. “I want you to feel good—not just about your own body, but about what you’re giving to your family.”

Cooking with Intention

At its heart, Super-Italian is less about restriction and more about intention. The recipes are vibrant and satisfying—but also balanced, nutrient-dense, and surprisingly simple. Rather than reinventing the wheel, De Laurentiis reimagines familiar dishes in ways that prioritize well-being without sacrificing pleasure.

It’s a culmination of everything she’s learned—not just about food, but about herself. “I think all my books are really a biography,” she said. “They tell the story of where I am in my life—through recipes.”

That story, like any good Italian meal, is meant to be shared. And with Super-Italian, De Laurentiis invites readers not just to cook, but to rethink how they nourish the people they love.

Because for her, a great dish isn’t just about flavor. It’s about connection, clarity—and the kind of joy that lingers long after the meal ends.