Fresh or frozen, peas bring a refreshing lightness to any dish and are therefore often used to lift the spirits of what might otherwise be overly-hearty winter warmers… Warm green pea and bean salad with herb-roasted tomatoes or Insalata tiepida di piselli verdi e fave con pomodori arrostiti all’erbe Serves 4 – Preparation 10 minutes – Cooking 25 […]
A solitary market stall in Pomposa, near Ferrara, selling pumpkins of all shapes and sizes in late October of last year. It doesn’t get more Italian – and yet, of course, it’s not Italian at all… Like maize – another crop that is grown very extensively here in the Po Valley – and tomatoes – […]
How do you choose from the thousands of gastronomic festivals throughout Italy? We’ve made it easy for you with five of the best to tickle your tastebuds… International White Truffle Fair Alba, Piedmont Do you love ’em or hate ’em? Well, if you’ve got a smidgen of Italian joie de vivre coursing though your veins, the […]
Never mind Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory – it’s this ten-day carnival of confectionery that you’ll really want to get a golden ticket for. Perugia’s historic squares provide a picture-postcard setting for chocolate tastings, sculptures, demonstrations and other activities designed to tease your senses – and the best part is that bikini season is over, so […]
Tomatoes are a most versatile fruit – though they have only been in Europe for some 500 years, hundreds of Italian recipes use them. Here are just four ways of using them as a base for a tasty meal… Tomato and ricotta tart – Sfogliatina al pomodoro e ricotta Makes 1 – 28cm tart – Preparation 20 minutes – Cooking 25 minutes Ingredients […]
This month, Mario Matassa continues his delicious journey through the fascinating world of Italian cuisine, tackling, in this issue the all-important first course In a country that is as much defined by its gastronomy as it is by its history, art and architecture, there is perhaps no better place to begin to understand Italy than at […]
Peppery, refreshing and full of goodness, watercress has been farmed since prehistoric times. Its season is now, though under the right conditions it will grow nearly all year round… Spaghetti with prawns and watercress and pumpkin seed pesto OR Spaghetti con gamberi al pesto di semi di zucca e crescione d’acqua Serves 2 (with leftover pesto) […]
Dive in to Sicily’s historic and picturesque Ionian Coast, today we visit Syracuse, an area featuring some fantastic ruins and beautiful lanes My final stop involved travelling south once again, to Sicily’s third city, Syracuse. Founded on the island of Ortigia in 734 BC by the Greeks, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a shining Baroque […]
This is a simple but tasty pizza, which can be prepared and cooked in less than an hour. If fresh porcini are available, use 9oz (250g) of sliced, fresh porcini mushrooms in place of the dried ones Ham and Porcini Pizza Serves 4 Ingredients Dough 1¾ tsp (12g) active dry yeast ¾ cup plus 1 […]
This summer, step away from the burgers and kebabs… Fast food can be a good thing, when it’s Italian of course. Take a look at this tasty trio of quick fixes… Cut and Dried We’re great fans of dried spaghetti for a quick midweek supper, but if you’re cutting down on carbs, why not try Courgette Nests, for […]