The ciambella rustica is a simple country ring cake made throughout Italy. It tends to be quite dry and so is often accompanied by a glass of white wine. The classic ciambella, like the crostata or the torta di frutta, is a simple country cake for which every grandmother in Italy has her own recipe. As […]
Spinach and ricotta tortelli are one of Italy’s great comfort foods, delicate parcels of fresh pasta filled with creamy ricotta and soft spinach. Served with tomato and basil, they’re elegant enough for a Sunday lunch yet reassuringly simple to make. Across Italy, stuffed pasta takes countless forms, from the tiny folded shapes of Emilia-Romagna to […]
Want to make the perfect Italian-style focaccia? Mario Matassa shows us how in this step-by-step recipe, enriched with cherry tomatoes and herbs To say that Italians take their focaccia very seriously would be a simple understatement. Once, a dentist friend asked me if I’d like to take a quick drive with him as he had […]
This breaded mushroom recipe turns fresh porcini into something irresistibly crisp and golden. With just breadcrumbs, parsley and hot oil, they’re proof that the best mushrooms need very little embellishment. In parts of Italy where porcini appear with reliable generosity, mushroom season has a rhythm all of its own. Baskets are carried into the woods […]
This simple and satisfying penne and mushroom dish is the perfect solution for a tasty midweek meal. Try it tonight! In Italy, porcini mushrooms reign supreme, but this pasta dish can also be made with other varieties, depending on what you have on hand (skip the soaking step if using fresh rather than dried). Penne […]
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 […]