With rich porcini mushroom and flavourful Italian sausage, this risotto makes a delicious and filling meal Recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Mushroom, sausage and sage risotto | Risotto funghi, salsiccia e salvia ➤ SERVES: 4 ➤ PREPARATION: 20 minutes ➤ COOKING: 15 minutes Ingredients: 50g dried porcini mushrooms olive oil handful of fresh sage leaves 160g Italian […]
Made with a mix of foraged and local ingredients, Mario Matassa’s wild mushroom soup recipe is a rich, down-to-earth meal to savour with crusty Italian bread Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Mushrooms in Italy are never just a side dish: they’re an event. Wild mushrooms come in many guises, each with its own […]
When it comes to pasta al pomodoro, mother knows best according to Mario Matassa. Follow this simple recipe for the perfect classic Italian dish… Words and photo © Mario Matassa When I was a child, my mother told me that I could start an argument in an empty room. Mothers, of course, tend to exaggerate […]
From local delicacies to some of Italy’s finest wines, discover our top five reasons to visit Lecce… 1. Puglian olive oil At the heart of Lecce’s cuisine lies the region’s olive oil. Puglia produces around one-third of Italy’s total olive oil exports and the oil is also a staple ingredient in many of Lecce’s traditional […]
Use the best possible ingredients in this simple cialledda recipe for a flavourful Pulgliese tomato and bread salad Words and photo © Mario Matassa I was searching for a salad to make with fresh, seasonal tomatoes and my friend Enrico from Tuscany said that the obvious choice was panzanella, the Tuscan bread salad. Stefano, my […]
Take a sip of Italy’s coffee culture as you enjoy our pick of Italian ground coffee to suit every palate It’s no secret that Italians love their coffee. In coffee bars right across Italy, locals only drink milky variations such as cappuccino for breakfast (and never after 11 am), while espresso is drunk standing at […]
Enjoy a fusion of Italian flavours with this caprese salad omelette recipe by Mario Matassa… Words & photo © Mario Matassa This dish brings the classic caprese salad into the comfort of a fluffy omelette, creating a perfect blend of freshness and warmth. The rich, creamy texture of mozzarella di buffalo contrasts with the juicy […]
This Piacentine green parsley sauce is a great accompaniment to a variety of meals. Learn to make it with Mario Matassa’s recipe… Words & photo © Mario Matassa The parsley sauce is a local speciality here in the province of Piacenza. It’s usually made in bulk, jarred and stored. It’s commonly served with boiled meats, […]
Long summer evenings and sunny days mean getting together with friends and family – here’s our pick of Italian summer drinks that everyone can enjoy… Getting together in the summer – whether it’s an event you’ve been planning for ages, or an impromptu gathering on a warm evening – is an occasion to be savoured. […]
This simple Neapolitan pasta dish gets its rich, creamy texture from free-range eggs and pecorino cheese. Mario Matassa shares his recipe… When choosing a pasta recipe to make with eggs, I had toyed with the idea of a carbonara, but opted instead for an even simpler Neapolitan version, cas’ e ova in the local dialect […]