Squid with chilli and lemon sauce

squid calamari

Mario Matassa shares his technique for cooking squid (calamari) on the barbecue – a real showstopper for seafood lovers Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Barbecuing time 3 minutes Ingredients: • 1-2 fresh hot red chillies (depending on how hot you like it) • 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • juice […]

Grilled vegetables with couscous

grilled vegetables with couscous

Mario Matassa shares a recipe for grilled vegetables with couscous (couscous con verdure grigliate) – a perfect complement to any barbecue Serves 4-6 Preparation time 10 minutes Barbecuing time 10 minutes Ingredients: • 2 courgettes, sliced lengthways • 1 red pepper, core and seeds removed, sliced • 1 yellow pepper, core and seeds removed, sliced • […]

Grilled radicchio

radicchio

Mario Matassa’s radicchio recipe makes for an excellent contorno or part of a main of mixed roasted vegetables… Serves 2 Preparation time 1 minutes Barbecuing time 5 minutes Ingredients: • 2 heads of Treviso radicchio • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice • salt and freshly ground black pepper Instructions: 1 Cut the radicchio […]

Sirloin steak (tagliata) with home-made salsa

sirloin steak

Mario Matassa’s sirloin steak with tomato, red onion and caper relish is sure to become a firm favourite recipe for your barbecue… Serves 2 Preparation time 10 minutes Barbecuing time 7-10 minutes Ingredients: • 1 large tomato, finely diced • 1 small red onion, peeled, finely diced • 1 tbsp capers • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil […]

Polpettine di tacchino (turkey meatballs)

polpettine

Meatballs (polpettine) are generally fried in a pan, but they can also work on the grill if you ensure that they remain moist, says Mario Matassa Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Barbecuing time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 2 thick slices of day-old rustic bread • 100ml milk • 400g turkey breast mince • 4 limes […]

Mixed fruit salad with basil syrup

Mixed fruit salad with basil syrup

Mario Matassa shares a tempting Italian fruit salad recipe – this macedonia con sciroppo al basilico is a perfect dessert for hot summer days Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes  Cooking time 10 minutes Ingredients: • 500ml water • 100g caster sugar • a handful of fresh basil leaves • 250g fresh strawberries, washed, chopped • […]

Chocolate and banana mini yoghurt muffins

Chocolate chip and banana mini yoghurt muffins for picnic

In Italy sweet muffins are usually made as a treat for children but they also make an excellent picnic food, says Mario Matassa Makes about 20 Preparation time 10 minutes plus cooling Cooking time 10-15 minutes Ingredients: • 1 large free-range egg, beaten • 125ml plain Greek-style yoghurt • 125ml whole milk • 200g self-raising flour […]

Insalata di riso (rice salad)

Rice salad

Make an Italian-inspired rice salad with this simple recipe by Mario Matassa – perfect for summer dining or a light lunch Serves 6 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 10-12 minutes Ingredients: • 300g rice • 4 artichoke heads, chopped • 10-12 black olives, pitted, chopped • 10 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped • 2 medium carrots, peeled, […]

Mediterranean sandwich

mediterranean sandwich

Give your summer dining an Italian twist with Mario Matassa’s delicious sandwich, which is bursting with glorious Mediterranean flavours Serves 4 Preparation time 5 minutes (more for the peppers) Cooking time 10 minutes Ingredients: • 2 skinned and roasted peppers (one red and one yellow) • 1 large aubergine • 2 courgettes • olive oil • […]

Chicken with crust of parsley, pine nuts and Parmesan

Chicken breast with a crust of parsley, pine nuts and Parmesan for picnic

Mario Matassa’s recipe for this petto di pollo con impanati al prezzemolo, pinoli e parmigiano is a perfect light main course or picnic addition Serves 4 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 6-8 minutes Ingredients: • 2 large chicken breasts • 1 small free-range egg • 6-8 tbsp fine breadcrumbs • 1 heaped tsp dried flat-leaf […]