Give your festive roast an Italian twist with Mario Matassa’s recipe for rolled turkey breast with a hazelnut and raisin stuffing… Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Christmas would not be the same without turkey, in some form. Here in Italy, turkey has never achieved the status it has at Christmas as in the […]
This savoury pumpkin pie recipe is a great way to make use of leftovers after carving pumpkins, but you can enjoy this hearty meal long after Halloween is over… Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Pumpkins have earned something of a bad rap and I can’t help but consider myself partially to blame. Ever […]
This warm winter salad, with roasted pumpkin, spinach, baby roasted tomatoes and mozzarella, drizzled with balsamic is a wonderful and healthy vegetarian option… Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Naturally, when we think of pumpkin, we tend to visualise the large orange head-shaped variety, perfectly suited for carving scary faces. In my local supermarket, […]
Make a delicious dish using seasonal produce with Mario Matassa’s recipe for gnocchi with pumpkin sauce… Recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Enjoy this gnocchi with a creamy pumpkin sauce, finished under the grill with taleggio cheese. It makes a delicious starter or light meal. Warm and filling, this dish is comfort food at its […]
With rich porcini mushroom and flavourful Italian sausage, this risotto makes a delicious and filling meal Recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Mushroom, sausage and sage risotto | Risotto funghi, salsiccia e salvia ➤ SERVES: 4 ➤ PREPARATION: 20 minutes ➤ COOKING: 15 minutes Ingredients: 50g dried porcini mushrooms olive oil handful of fresh sage leaves 160g Italian […]
Made with a mix of foraged and local ingredients, Mario Matassa’s wild mushroom soup recipe is a rich, down-to-earth meal to savour with crusty Italian bread Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Mushrooms in Italy are never just a side dish: they’re an event. Wild mushrooms come in many guises, each with its own […]
When it comes to pasta al pomodoro, mother knows best according to Mario Matassa. Follow this simple recipe for the perfect classic Italian dish… Words and photo © Mario Matassa When I was a child, my mother told me that I could start an argument in an empty room. Mothers, of course, tend to exaggerate […]
From local delicacies to some of Italy’s finest wines, discover our top five reasons to visit Lecce… 1. Puglian olive oil At the heart of Lecce’s cuisine lies the region’s olive oil. Puglia produces around one-third of Italy’s total olive oil exports and the oil is also a staple ingredient in many of Lecce’s traditional […]
Use the best possible ingredients in this simple cialledda recipe for a flavourful Pulgliese tomato and bread salad Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa I was searching for a salad to make with fresh, seasonal tomatoes and my friend Enrico from Tuscany said that the obvious choice was panzanella, the Tuscan bread salad. Stefano, […]
Take a sip of Italy’s coffee culture as you enjoy our pick of Italian ground coffee to suit every palate It’s no secret that Italians love their coffee. In coffee bars right across Italy, locals only drink milky variations such as cappuccino for breakfast (and never after 11 am), while espresso is drunk standing at […]