What is Ina Garten's favorite food?

Instead of a chicken pot pie, Ina Garten likes to make a chicken stew and top it with flaky biscuits. She names it as one of her all-time favorite comfort foods, and we can easily see why. We think she would approve of this soup version on a cold night.

What does Ina Garten always say?

Ina Garten's quote, " Store-bought is fine in a pinch, but homemade is always better ," encapsulates the essence of elevating the simple act of cooking and appreciating the art of homemade food.

What coffee does Ina Garten use?

Garten likes milk in her Dallis Bros. Dallis Brothers must be good coffee to get Garten's seal of approval. And when it comes to how the cookbook author takes her daily brew, she confessed that depending on her mood, it could either be an espresso day or a traditional pot of coffee.

What is the simplest dish in the world to cook according to Ina Garten?

The Simplest Dish In The World To Make, According To Ina Garten. After testing recipes for various projects all day, Ina Garten prefers to make something simple, quick, and ready straight out of the oven. Her favored dish is roast chicken . To make a roast chicken, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

What brand of mayonnaise does Ina Garten use?

Hellmann's Mayonnaise Mayonnaise makes any sandwich better, and this classic brand is Garten's go-to choice (Hellmann's was also Julia Child's pick). You can store this in the pantry, but be sure to keep in the fridge after opening for optimal taste.

What perfume does Ina Garten wear?

Perfume. "The scent of Une Fleur de Cassie always reminds me of Paris," says Ina, who has worn it for decades.

What is Ina Garten's favorite salt?

For cooking, Garten told Bon Appétit that she uses Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt , which she called "always perfect."

What food nationality does Ina Garten focus on?

After her husband had completed his military service, the couple went on a four-month camping vacation in Europe including time in France which sparked her love for French cuisine . During this trip, she was introduced to open-air markets, produce stands, and fresh cooking ingredients.

What shoes does Ina Garten wear?

In 2018, Garten explained why, even though she's known for her Barefoot Contessa cookbook, she swears by these Allbirds slip-on sneakers . "These shoes changed my life," she told PEOPLE. "I first bought them thinking they would be really comfortable for cooking, and now I wear them everywhere.

Ina’s Best Easter Recipes - Store-Bought Is Fine (2024)

FEATURE co*ckTAIL

Juice of Few Flowers

Back to Basics, page 37 (Recipe)
RATING:4/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.7

You could go with bellinis or mimosas for Easter Brunch, but if you need something with a little more booze to get you through family time, try out Ina’s Juice of Few Flowers!

APPETIZERS

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs

How Easy Is That, page 40 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.4

You have to have deviled eggs on your Easter table – sorry, I don’t make the rules! And I love Ina’s version with smoked salmon mixed in. She also tops hers with salmon roe if you want to go extra fancy. You could also try my Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs!

Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Foolproof, page 55 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.9

OK, so it may not be peak tomato season, but you can’t go wrong with these tomato crostinis. Make them for the whipped feta alone!

Green Herb Dip

Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 21 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.7

Crudite platters always make for an easy app. Skip the store-bought veggie dip and go with this fresher, more delicious version. Just make sure you make it in advance to allow the flavors to meld.

Easy Tzatziki with Feta

Foolproof, page 76 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.7

I adore tzatziki sauce and Ina’s simplified version using Greek yogurt is so tasty. I love it served on the platter with a handful of other treats to snack on.

SALADS

Maple-Roasted Carrot Salad

Cooking for Jeffrey, page 46 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.9

Arugula used to be my favorite leafy base and this is an early go-to. The arugula is dressed with sherry wine and garlic vinaigrette and tossed with roasted carrots, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and Marcona almonds. As you can see, early on a balked at the price of Marcona almonds and used regular, but have since learned Marconas are worth the price!

Fresh Pea Salad with Mint & Manchego

Modern Comfort Food, page 73 (Recipe not online)
RATING:4/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:NA

Take advantage of the bounty of fresh spring greens for this bright side. This lemon vinaigrette-dressed salad helps balance what can otherwise be a heavy meal.

MAIN DISH

Baked Virginia Ham

Cook Like A Pro, page 52 (Recipe)
RATING:4/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.3

Growing up there was always ham on our Easter dinner table. Ina’s version is glazed with mango chutney for some sweet heat. I love making sandwiches with the leftovers!

Pastit*io

Make It Ahead, page 124 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.6

If leg of lamb intimates you and you want to feed a crowd, you can’t go wrong with Pastit*io! To make this baked dish, a lamb and beef ragu is mixed with pasta and topped with a thick yogurt-y bechamel. Yum!

Spiced Lamb-Stuffed Eggplants

Cook Like A Pro, page 133 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.7

Another ground lamb option that’s worth the effort!

Greek Lamb with Yogurt Mint Sauce

How Easy Is That, page 131 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

This dish screams Easter. Ina has a ton of lamb chop recipes and this one is my favorite! I love the technique of making them under the broiler. Never a fan of mint jelly, the sauce was a perfect, creamy alternative.

Easy Provençal Lamb

Cook Like A Pro, page 52 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:5

Looking to go traditional for Easter dinner? This was my first time making a leg of lamb and is still my favorite!

SIDES

Asparagus & Prosciutto Bundles

Make It Ahead, page 148 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:—

It’s asparagus season and I could not think of a better way to serve them and these cute little bundles! If the gruyere and prosciutto weren’t enough Ina rounds these out with some truffle butter.

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Parties, page 174 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

One of my favorite sides and a dish Ina includes in her Easter dinner menu.

Emily’s English Roasted Potatoes

Modern Comfort Food, page 171 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.9

These crispy little guys are so divine and would be even better tossed in the lamb drippings!

Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise

Barefoot in Paris, page 144 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

More asparagus! This one with a heavenly hollandaise sauce – which is easier to pull together than you’d think!

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Food Network (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

If you’re not an asparagus fan and looking for more greens, this is such a simple and universal side!

DESSERT

Carrot & Pineapple Cake

Food Network (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

One of my all-time favorite cakes! The pineapple adds moisture and you don’t even know it’s there.

Salted Pistachio Meringues

Modern Comfort Food, page 201 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

These pillow puffs aren’t traditional for Easter but they sure are beautiful! The crispy exterior encasing the pillowy interior is the perfect textural contrast!

Coconut Cupcakes

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, page 175 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.6

Another Easter (and Ina) classic! Turns out when I made this I wasn’t a huge cream cheese frosting fan?! WHAT? For a little extra flavor, go ahead and toast that coconut.

Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

Family Style, page 213 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.7

See, toasted coconut makes everything better!

Banana Rum Trifle

Modern Comfort Food, page 208 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:—

This will be on practically every list for entertaining. It’s so phenomenal!

BREAKFAST

Country French Omelet

Back to Basics, page 227 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.9

Ok so this may be better for a smaller Easter breakfast, but I recently multiplied it by three and baked it on a sheet pan for a much larger crowd. It was a hit!

Shakshuka with Feta

Cook Like A Pro, page 238 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

Spicy tomato sauce with eggs? Give me more.

Potato Basil Frittata

Family Style, page 182 (Recipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.6

Another simple and delicious option if you are hosting an Easter brunch!

Maple-Roasted Bacon

Barefoot Contessa at Home, page 225 (R ecipe)
RATING:5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING:4.8

Another that I just say make for any get-together.

But don’t forget about my Carrot Cake Trifle!

More Best of Ina lists here.