Italian Shallot, Gorgonzola and Rocket Risotto

shallot, gorgonzola and rocket risotto

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 […]

Mussels with chickpeas

Mussels

These cozze e ceci make a delicious starter dish to share with the whole family. Serve with crusty bread to get every bit of flavour from the juices! Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 1 small red onion, peeled, finely sliced 1 garlic clove, peeled, crushed 150ml dry white wine 1kg mussels in their shells 450g cooked chickpeas 1 tbsp chopped […]

Apple cake

This apple cake or torta di mele is absolutely divine and a good way to use up those leftover apples!  Apple cake/ Torta di mele Ingredients: 4 large apples (1kg) juice of ½ a lemon 2 medium free-range eggs 150g brown sugar 100g wholewheat flour, sifted 100g plain flour, sifted 150ml milk 2 tsp baking powder 3 tbsp […]

Linguine with spicy prawns

This linguine with spicy prawns or linguine con gambrel picanti is a fantastic dish for a midweek meal.  Make this for your family this week – you can make it as hot or as mild as you like! Linguine with spicy prawns Ingredients: 320g linguine pasta 400g fresh prawns, shells removed, deveined 2 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed […]

Cut and dried… The story of Baccalà

From shipwrecked sailors in Norway to the tables of Vicenza, Julie Carbonara tells the extraordinary tale of baccalà all vicentina. My mother was a good, plain home cook but fish was not her strong point, which is why Fridays were not my favourite days. You see, in the deeply religious, Catholic Italy of my youth, you were […]

Aubergine with Quartirolo Lombardo and chilli

This Melanzane con quartirolo e peperoncino is the perfect veggie dish served with some crusty bread! Ingredients 4 tbsp olive oil 1 large aubergine, diced 1 large garlic clove, peeled, finely chopped 1 tbsp chopped chilli peppers in olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper a handful of basil leaves, chopped 100g Quartirolo Lombardo […]

Apricot and cream tart

Treat your friends to this yummy Crostata alla crema pasticcera e albicocche! Ingredients: 600g sweet pastry 350ml whole milk 3 medium free-range egg yolks 100g caster sugar 50g plain flour 8 firm but ripe apricots, sliced 4 tbsp apricot jam Method: To make the cream, heat the milk in a pan and whisk the egg […]

Risotto Stuffed Tomatoes

These Risotto Stuffed Tomatoes by Lakeland are the perfect summer starter! Ingredients: 6 large salad tomatoes 25g risotto rice 2 tsp olive oil 1 spring onion, finely sliced 25g courgette, roughly chopped 25g chestnut mushrooms, sliced 125ml vegetable stock ½ tsp dried mixed Italian herbs 4 fresh basil leaves 2 tsp Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), […]

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

This pasta dish by Lakeland is just what is needed for a tasty meal.  Ingredients: For the pasta: 160g ‘00’ flour, plus extra to dust 240g fine semolina 5 eggs For the filling: 600g cooked spinach, squeezed as dry as possible and finely chopped 600g ricotta cheese Pinch freshly grated nutmeg 1 egg yolk Salt and […]