This Piacentine green parsley sauce is a great accompaniment to a variety of meals. Learn to make it with Mario Matassa’s recipe… Words & photo © Mario Matassa The parsley sauce is a local speciality here in the province of Piacenza. It’s usually made in bulk, jarred and stored. It’s commonly served with boiled meats, […]
This simple Neapolitan pasta dish gets its rich, creamy texture from free-range eggs and pecorino cheese. Mario Matassa shares his recipe… When choosing a pasta recipe to make with eggs, I had toyed with the idea of a carbonara, but opted instead for an even simpler Neapolitan version, cas’ e ova in the local dialect […]
Beneath the golden fried crust of zeppole lies a delightfully light and fluffy centre. These irresistible treats are an Italian twist on the ever-popular doughnut Recipe, words and photo by Mario Matassa My grandfather kept chickens for eggs in a large coop behind the house in Ireland. As a child, I loved going into the […]
Eggs aren’t just for Easter. With this all-day Italian breakfast recipe you can enjoy the humble uovo all day – and all year – long… Recipe, words and photo by Mario Matassa This Italian breakfast recipe hails back to Mario Matassa’s childhood in Ireland, inspired by a humble but filling plate of bacon, egg, and chips. […]
Rice will always be considered an essential store cupboard ingredient in every Italian household, and this recipe for rice pudding with almonds and raisins demonstrates why… For all intents and purposes, this dessert sits somewhere between a crème brûlée and a classic rice pudding, with an Italian flavour. It’s comfort food at its very best […]
Spaghetti with prawns and pistachio nuts is a favourite fish dish in Italy, and with good reason. Give this recipe a try today. Spaghetti with prawns and pistachio nuts has become something of a national tradition in Italy. It’s a dish that has become commonplace on the table on Christmas Eve when Italians prefer to […]
A staple with ancient origins, polenta has now found favour around the world. Mario Matassa demonstrates how wonderfully versatile it can be in this grilled polenta recipe Polenta’s versatility is such that it is used in Italy for any course, ranging from a simple antipasto, a hearty piato unico – a dish that serves both […]
Treat your tastebuds to an unconventional cake, with this sweet and nutty polenta almond crumble cake recipe… Polenta is perhaps one of the oldest dishes known to Italy. Made originally from any pulse – often a mix of spelt and rye – it was boiled to a thick gruel, with cheese or herbs added when […]
This courgette flower and gorgonzola risotto is a perfect recipe for a simple but stunning dinner. If you can’t get hold of courgette flowers, pumpkin makes a fine substitution. There are no shortcuts for making a good risotto. Good quality homemade stock makes the world of difference, as does a good quality variety of rice. […]
A staple with ancient origins, polenta has now found favour around the world. Mario Matassa demonstrates how wonderfully versatile it can be in this recipe for polenta pizza margherita Polenta is perhaps one of the oldest dishes known to Italy. Made originally from any pulse – often a mix of spelt and rye – it […]