Mid-Week Meals: Arezzo Style Bean Soup

Try this hearty, delicious staple from Tuscany, where peasant cooking – or la cucina povera – prevails, and satisfying bean-based dishes like this form the backbone of the region’s famous cuisine Mid-Week Meals: Arezzo-Style Bean Soup Ingredients ¾ cup (5.5oz or 150g) black-eyed peas  2 ripe tomatoes  2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil  1 bay leaf  […]

Easy Italian Pesto Bread Recipe

Pretty to look at and delicious to eat, this fabulously easy no knead bread is perfect served warm as a dinner accompaniment. It tastes great served cold too, making it a fab way to jazz up those lunch boxes! Easy Italian Pesto Bread   Preparation time 10 mins plus rising – Baking time 20-25 mins – Makes […]

Dessert Recipe: Moscato and Concord Grape Jelly

Moscato and Concord Grape Jelly- Italy Travel and Life

Whip up a quick and colourful dessert with this tasty treat, which combines the fruitiness of concord grapes and the sweetness of Moscato wine to round off any meal in style Moscato and Concord Grape Jelly Ingredients For the Jelly: 1½ cups (7oz or 200g) concord grapes 2 tbsps sugar 2 tsps water 3.4 fl oz (100ml) […]

Risotto Di Verdure (Vegetable Risotto) Recipe

The winning stroke in this vegetable risotto is the fried artichokes on top. The combination of artichokes and fresh mint to pull through the risotto as you are eating is great. When making your vegetable broth, add the asparagus trimmings to give a good depth of flavour. Risotto Di Verdure – Vegetable Risotto Ingredients 225g (8oz) […]

Chicken with salmoriglio

Third in our new series of Sicilian recipes is this beautiful, flavour filled recipe…   Chicken with salmoriglio Pollo al salmoriglio  Serves 4-6 – Preparation 2 hours – Cooking 40 minutes Ingredients 1 1.8kg chicken (preferably organic), butterflied 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp fresh rosemary 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped For the salmoriglio: 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 bunches of […]

Anchovy and mozzarella mini rolls

Second in our new series of Sicilian recipes is the Anchovy and Mozerella Mini Rolls.  Anchovy and mozzarella mini rolls Crispeddi siciliani Makes 12 – Preparation 2 hours – Cooking 15 minutes Ingredients 250g white strong flour 2 tsp fine sea salt 10g fresh yeast, crumbled, or 1 tsp dried yeast 2 tbsp olive oil 150ml water, at […]

Aubergine and Pomegranate Recipe

A new series of Sicilian recipes. Sicily offers delicious influences from all over the Mediterranean and beyond! Aubergine and Pomegranate Salad   Ingredients 2 medium aubergines cut lengthways into 4mm-thick slices 3 tbsp olive oil grated zest and freshly squeezed juice of 2 unwaxed lemons 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1½ tbsp white wine vinegar […]

Cannelloni with Ricotta and Cherry Tomato Sauce

This cannelloni combines a creamy sharp ricotta filling with slightly bitter greens and a sweet tomato sauce. The contrast between the sauce and filling is amazing Method To make the tomato sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the garlic and cook until just turning golden. Add the halved tomatoes. They should hiss as […]

Chilli and spinach gnudi

Gnudi di peperoncini e spinaci Serves 2 – Preparation 30 minutes – Cooking 30 minutes – Resting 30 minutes For the gnudi 300g raw young spinach 125g ricotta, preferably ricotta di bufala, drained 25g grated Parmesan 2 pinches dried chilli 1 egg yolk grated, fresh nutmeg 2 tbsp plain flour, plus extra for the work surface salt and pepper For the […]

Southern Italian potato pie

New potatoes are abundant at this time of year and as well as being great boiled, they also bake very well. This layered potato pie will draw all the family round the table … Serves 2 – Preparation 15 minutes – Cooking 35 minutes Ingredients 450g new potatoes, scrubbed salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 onions, peeled, finely […]