Mario Matassa guides us through the recipe for a truly authentic spaghetti carbonara… it’s both simple and delicious. Get set to cook like an Italian! Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients: • 150g guanciale or pancetta, cubed • 2 free-range eggs • 30g pecorino cheese, grated • Salt and freshly ground black pepper […]
Alexander James brings us the low-down on the top spots for food and drink in Emilia-Romagna… one of the best regions for enjoying Italy’s finest specialities Modena Modena is a city laden with hidden culinary treats. Many know it as the place-name that adorns balsamic vinegar bottles. But the real deal vinegar is very different […]
Think of Italy and its most well-known food exports, and a third of them come from one region: Emilia-Romagna. Alexander James finds out why this part of the country is such a gastronomic hot-spot… Photos by Bologna Welcome (www.bolognawelcome.com) unless otherwise stated Visit this region between the Adriatic Sea and Tuscany and you’ll find the […]
This asparagus bruschetta is great way to get in two of your five a day. With fresh green veg and creamy cheese, it’s a pretty and flavoursome dish that’s ideal for summer entertaining Makes 4 (serves 4 as a starter or snack) Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 10 mins Ingredients: 300g podded and […]
There are hundreds of pasta shapes out there, some more familiar than others. Here we try out seven short pastas – read on and enhance your Italian cooking! With the best will in the world, no one has time to make fresh pasta every day – not even Italians. This is why dried pasta is as […]
This classic Tuscan bread and tomato salad gets a summery twist, thanks to the addition of fresh Romaine lettuce. It’s a perfect dish for al fresco dining in the sunshine! Serves 2 Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 20 mins Ingredients: 4 slices stale ciabatta 300g ripe tomatoes, any type you have ¼ red […]
Serve this classic Italian seafood pasta in hot bowls and finish with a sprinkling of chopped herbs – a perfect midweek meal for any time of year Serves 4 Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 10 mins Ingredients: 800g fresh clams (discard any open ones) 12 whole shallots, finely chopped 75g butter 2 cloves of […]
In this flavoursome Italian dish the sweetness of the shallots is beautifully complemented by the robust taste of the blue cheese. It’s a great recipe for dinner parties, or makes a hearty but simple weekend dinner Serves 4 Ingredients 12 shallots, peeled and roughly diced 320g risotto rice 40g butter 2 tbsp olive oil […]
Balsamic vinegar is the lifeblood of Italian cuisine, and one of the nation’s most valuable exports. Here, we taste seven of the best… Casanova two-year-old Balsamic Vinegar of Modena From Puglia Shop Online Price £5.45 for 250ml You know it’s going to be a good balsamic when you see the sediment at the bottom of the […]
Rachael Martin continues her story of what living in Italy has taught her about food, moving on from pasta and risotto to polenta… The days get colder, wild mushrooms are picked and chestnuts roasted. Pumpkins have made their way into shops and risottos. Then autumn is about to give way to winter and Christmas is […]