Mario Matassa takes a look at International Women’s Day. He revels in the mystery of the celebrations and presents some of the classic dishes… Photos by Mario Matassa The 8th of March is the day when women across Italy hang up their aprons, put on their best frocks, and walk out of the door – […]
This Italian hard cheese has long lived in the shadow of Parmigiano Reggiano, but there’s no real reason why it should. We put seven supermarket brands under the spotlight… Grana Padano cheese has a long and noble history: originally made by the Cistercian monks of Chiaravalle way back in the 12th century, it is now […]
Roccocò are typical of the Campania region and some claim they are the southern version of Tuscany’s cantucci biscuits – here’s how to make them… Makes 30 biscuits Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients: • 250g plain flour • 160g caster sugar • grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange • 50g blanched almonds […]
These calzoncelli di castagne are a speciality of the Puglia region, though versions of this pastry are made throughout the country, with different names and fillings… Makes about 20 Preparation time 30-45 minutes, plus resting Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients: For the pastry • 300g plain flour • 50g unsalted butter, softened • 100ml milk • 1 medium […]
This tasty cake is also known as panettone della Valtellina, though it is moister and richer than traditional panettone – Mario Matassa shares his recipe… Makes one loaf Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 40 minutes Ingredients: • 200g plain flour • 50g rye flour • 50g unsalted butter • 2 medium free-range eggs • 25g caster sugar […]
In his latest instalment in the series uncovering the secrets of Italian food, Mario Matassa looks at the delights of Italian biscuits and cakes to recreate in your kitchen Photos by Mario Matassa There can be nothing more evocative and comforting than the wafting aromas of freshly baked biscuits and cakes. Bound up in childhood […]
Yes, it’s packed with architectural treasures, fantastic shops and historic sights, but here are five reasons to visit Milan for its food and drink. How many of these have you tried? 1 Milan has lent its name to many famous dishes, and risotto alla Milanese is probably the best known.The saffron-flavoured rice, often served with the hearty […]
For a true taste of Italian Christmas, you can’t beat a slice of classic (or flavoured) panettone – here are seven to help you decide which one to serve this year The origins of panettone go back to Roman times, but it was the bakers of Milan in the early 20th century who made the […]
The ciambella rustica is a simple country cake made throughout Italy. It tends to be quite dry and so is often accompanied by a glass of white wine Makes one 26-cm cake Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 45 minutes Ingredients: • 400g self-raising flour • 180g caster sugar • 160g unsalted butter at room temperature • 3 […]
Mario Matassa shares this recipe for classic stuffed pasta – these tortelli are stuffed with the traditional combination of spinach and ricotta, but you can experiment with other fillings too… Serves 4 Preparation time 30 minutes, plus resting Cooking time 10 minutes Ingredients: For the pasta • 200g plain flour • 2 free-range eggs, beaten For the […]