Spaghetti with crispy breadcrumbs and anchovies is a simple, coastal Italian pasta that lets fresh anchovies shine. Sweet cherry tomatoes, golden breadcrumbs and good olive oil turn a modest catch into something spectacular. There is something about fresh anchovies that invites company. Perhaps it is their abundance, arriving by the kilo in crates packed with […]
Pasta salsiccia e peperoni is a simple, deeply satisfying pasta that celebrates sweet summer peppers and good Italian sausage. Quick to cook and full of flavour, it’s the sort of dish that proves you don’t need much more than excellent ingredients and a hot pan. Pasta with sausage and peppers is one of those dishes […]
Learn to make these authentic Italian pizza recipes with meat-free toppings, from tomato and Asiago to fig and mascarpone Looking for Italian pizza recipes with a vegetarian twist? First, master the basics of making the ultimate Italian-style pizza dough using fresh yeast. Then, take your pick of four meat-free recipes for authentic Italian pizza toppings. […]
This Tuscan chestnut cake, or castagnaccio, is a rustic Italian dessert made with chestnut flour, pine nuts and rosemary. Naturally egg- and dairy-free, it’s perfect for Christmas or winter gatherings. Castagnaccio is one of Tuscany’s most distinctive desserts. Made from chestnut flour rather than wheat, it’s dark, dense and gently savoury, enriched with olive oil […]
These filled mini panettoni are a charming twist on the classic Italian Christmas cake, with a rich mascarpone centre and bursts of candied peel. Perfect for gifting or sharing at festive gatherings. There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about the scent of panettone drifting through the kitchen at Christmastime. These miniature versions capture all the warmth of […]
This pumpkin and gorgonzola gnocchi is pure Italian comfort food, with crisp pancetta and a drizzle of honey. It’s a perfect meal for chilly evenings. Sweet pumpkin, creamy gorgonzola and crisp pancetta are a match made in Italian heaven, and when paired with pillowy gnocchi, they create a dish that feels both rustic and luxurious. […]
Mario Matassa shares his verdure piccanti recipe, for preserving a glut of garden vegetables into a piquant pickle that will see you through till next summer. This zesty vegetable preserve is a superb way to utilise your abundance of summer harvest. It bears a strong resemblance to the traditional giardiniera, though the classic version is […]
Mario Matassa’s recipe for chocolate cheesecake with cantucci and mascarpone makes a rich Italian-style dessert, perfect for Christmas or any special occasion. There’s something about cheesecake that feels instantly celebratory, and this Italian-inspired version, made with cantucci biscuits, is no exception. Rich, chocolatey and layered with mascarpone cream, it’s a dessert that manages to be both […]
Stuffed sweet peppers with Italian sausage and cheese make a delicious starter or side in this recipe by Mario Matassa Discerning Italians will cast a disdainful eye on the perfectly symmetrical peppers that sit on supermarket shelves all year round. They’re pretty, but often quite tasteless. The misshapen ones, the ones that have been grown […]
This elegant chocolate ciambella (ring cake) is soft, buttery, and easy to make. Learn how to make it with this recipe by Mario Matassa… There’s something gently nostalgic about a ciambella; the rustic ring-shaped cake with a hole in the centre that earns its name from the Italian word for ‘doughnut.’ In this chocolate ciambella […]