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 […]

In season: September

This is the month of the great harvest. These are the fantastic fruit, vegetables and fish that is in season right now… Blackberries – more There are few family activities more enjoyable than foraging for blackberries towards the end of summer. Many people these days avoid blackberries that have been growing near main roads, and with good […]

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 […]

In season: August

Early summer vegetables such as beans and courgettes are joined this month by a variety of fruits and fish as the year’s main harvest really begins come in… Apricots – albicocche In the peak of its season during the summer, the apricot, with its peach-like tang and pale orange skin, is a flavoursome, colourful ingredient to add […]

Rome’s best ice-cream parlours

Summer in Rome can be a sweltering affair, so here at Italia! we believe that ice cream is necessity. Lorenza Bacino and Michela Di Carlo seek out the best ice cream parlours in the city to ensure you enjoy the sights despite the heat. San Crispino Pasquale and Giuseppe Alongi and Paola Nesci have been […]

Italian olive oils

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in every Italian kitchen, so this month we put seven golden samples of extra-virgin olive oil under the Italia! taste team spotlight… Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in the Mediterranean diet. It is renowned for its health-giving properties, being low in unsaturated fat and […]

Cheese and Parma ham twists

These cheese and parma ham twists from Lakeland are the perfect snack!  Ingredients: 225g plain flour Pinch salt 50g butter, cubed 50g lard, cubed 150g Parmesan cheese, grated 30ml cold water 1 egg, beaten 8 slices Parma ham Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4 and line 2 baking sheets with non-stick liner. Combine the flour […]

Elderflower fritters

These Frittelle di fiori di sambuco are a delicious summery snack!  Ingredients: 10 elderflower flower heads 100g plain flour a pinch of salt 150ml light beer or lager 1 medium free-range egg groundnut or sunflower oil, for frying a few spoonfuls of runny honey Method: Be sure you know the difference between elderflower and cow parsley… […]

In Season: July

By now summer is in full swing and there is no shortage of interesting ingredients to try in your dishes. Vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers are all in good supply… Strawberries – Fragole The ultimate symbol of British summertime, these juicy red fruits are equally cherished by the Italians, and thankfully have quite a […]

Broad bean piadina

This Piadina con fave is a beautiful way of using up delicious broad beans whilst they are in season. Ingredients: 1kg broad beans, in pods 1 small bunch of spring onions, trimmed, finely chopped 100g Quartirolo Lombardo cheese 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil flat breads, for serving salt and freshly ground black pepper Method: Pod the beans […]