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 […]
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 • […]
Meatballs (polpettine) are generally fried in a pan, but they can also work on the grill if you ensure that they remain moist, says Mario Matassa Serves 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Barbecuing time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 2 thick slices of day-old rustic bread • 100ml milk • 400g turkey breast mince • 4 limes […]
In Italy sweet muffins are usually made as a treat for children but they also make an excellent picnic food, says Mario Matassa Makes about 20 Preparation time 10 minutes plus cooling Cooking time 10-15 minutes Ingredients: • 1 large free-range egg, beaten • 125ml plain Greek-style yoghurt • 125ml whole milk • 200g self-raising flour […]
This creamy, dreamy salmon risotto from Mario Matassa makes a truly delicious midweek meal if you’re looking for something simple but indulgent Serves 6 Preparation time 5 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients: • 2 tbsp olive oil • a bunch of spring onions, finely chopped • 300g risotto rice • 1 litre of light chicken […]
Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi share this delicious chocolate and almond cake recipe from their book, The Amalfi Coast: A Collection of Italian Recipes… One of our most romantic evenings was in a restaurant overlooking the sea just outside Positano on the Amalfi coast. A couple of months before my engagement ring had broken and unbeknown to […]
Una zucca is usually a pumpkin or marrow but it can apply to anything in the squash family – this flavoursome soup is hearty and comforting at any time of year By Mario Matassa Serves 4 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 30 minutes Ingredients: • a few tablespoons of olive oil • 1 small onion, peeled, finely […]
Roccocò are typical of the Campania region and some claim they are the southern version of Tuscany’s cantucci biscuits – here’s how to make them… Recipe and photo © Mario Matassa ➤ MAKES: 30 biscuits ➤ PREPARATION: 20 minutes ➤ BAKING: 20 minutes Almond & hazelnut biscuits | Roccocò Ingredients: 250g plain flour 160g caster sugar grated zest of […]