Any fan of Italian cuisine should learn how to make passata – the classic tomato sauce – here’s how to do it! Recipe & image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 250g jars Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes, plus sterilising Ingredients: • 2kg ripe but firm plum tomatoes • 3 tbsp olive oil […]
These peppers can be eaten on their own as an appetiser or, more commonly, as part of a classic antipasto. Recipe & image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 250g jars Preparation time 20 minutes, plus resting time Cooking time 5 minutes Ingredients: • about 20 small round smooth-skinned spicy red peppers • 250ml white wine • […]
Italians love mushrooms (funghi), especially porcini, but if you can’t find porcini, this recipe will work with a mix of button and chestnut mushrooms. Recipe & image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 250g jars Preparation time 10 minutes, plus overnight drying Cooking time 5 minutes Ingredients: • 1kg fresh porcini mushrooms • 500ml white wine […]
Lemon marmalade (marmellata di limone) is a delicious way to preserve lemons, Italian-style. Recipe and image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 250g jars of marmalade Preparation time 20 minutes Cooking time 1 hour 20 minutes Ingredients: • 1.5kg organic lemons • about 1kg caster sugar Instructions: 1 Begin by washing the lemons very well. Then bring […]
This recipe for confettura di cipolle rosse makes a sweet jam that goes well with strong cheeses and is delicious with burgers. Recipe and image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 250g jars of jam Preparation time 10 minutes, plus 1 hour resting Cooking time 45 minutes Ingredients: • 1kg red onions, peeled • 2 bay leaves […]
This recipe for ‘verdure piccante’ is an excellent way of using up surplus summer vegetables. Recipe and image by Mario Matassa Makes 4 x 500g jars Preparation time 20 minutes, plus overnight drying Cooking time 5 minutes, plus sterilising Ingredients: • 2kg mixed vegetables, including aubergines, courgettes, sweet red and yellow peppers, red onions, etc • 1 […]
In this recipe Mario Matassa has used chicken thighs, but if you prefer white meat, you can opt for whole chicken breast (just remember to keep the skin on) Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Barbecuing time 25 minutes Ingredients: • 8 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs • 8 tbsp grated Parmesan • 2 tbsp finely diced cooked ham […]
Mario Matassa shares his technique for cooking squid (calamari) on the barbecue – a real showstopper for seafood lovers Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Barbecuing time 3 minutes Ingredients: • 1-2 fresh hot red chillies (depending on how hot you like it) • 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • juice […]
Mario Matassa shares a recipe for grilled vegetables with couscous (couscous con verdure grigliate) – a perfect complement to any barbecue Serves 4-6 Preparation time 10 minutes Barbecuing time 10 minutes Ingredients: • 2 courgettes, sliced lengthways • 1 red pepper, core and seeds removed, sliced • 1 yellow pepper, core and seeds removed, sliced • […]
Mario Matassa’s radicchio recipe makes for an excellent contorno or part of a main of mixed roasted vegetables… Serves 2 Preparation time 1 minutes Barbecuing time 5 minutes Ingredients: • 2 heads of Treviso radicchio • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice • salt and freshly ground black pepper Instructions: 1 Cut the radicchio […]