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 […]
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 […]
Leave the cream in the fridge – Mario Matassa makes this spaghetti carbonara recipe in traditional Italian style, with simple, high-quality ingredients. The history of carbonara is very short. There’s no reference to it in cookbooks over 50 years old, at least not with this name. There are many stories, of varying credibility, which claim […]
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 […]
This creamy courgette and ricotta pasta is full of fresh Italian flavour with a vibrant green courgette sauce and plenty of ricotta, of course! Courgettes are a wonderfully versatile vegetable. They’re also very forgiving for the novice gardener and require minimal attention. Pick them small and they can be used in salads. Medium courgettes work […]
Spring pasta – A Pasta primavera recipe Pasta primavera is a prime example of the principles of Italian cuisine. Pasta, being the most versatile of Italian staples, is well matched to any occasion. Here it is given a spring dressing. I’ve used asparagus, peas and baby leaf spinach but the options are practically endless. Artichokes, […]
Mario Matassa’s recipe for trofie with leeks, tomatoes and basil is a delicious taste of Liguria – known in Italian as trofie alle ligure The area around Cinque Terre, Liguria has a long-standing tradition of dried pasta. Trenette, long, thin linguine-like pasta, are served with pesto, potatoes and green beans. Equally popular today are trofie, […]
Mario Matassa’s recipe for tagliatelle con ricotta e noci is a tasty early winter treat that can be found in restaurants across Italy Serves 2 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes Ingredients: • 160g egg tagliatelle • 100g walnut halves • 150g fresh ricotta • 2-3 tbsp whole milk • 2 tbsp Parmesan • salt […]