This tempting Italian fruit salad is enhanced by a sweet basil syrup. It’s a perfect dessert for picnics on hot summer days Italians almost always end a meal with fruit. Desserts tend to be saved for special occasions. Normally for a picnic, the custom is to bring a piece of fruit, often a watermelon, which […]
Learn to make a perfect Italian panna cotta with this step-by-step recipe. Serve with a sweet strawberry topping for extra indulgence! All images © Mario Matassa Jump to recipe In Italy, panna cotta, like tiramisù, zabaglione and budino, falls within that category of dessert known as dolci al cucchiaio – desserts that are to be […]
If you’re in the unlikely position of having leftover panettone, this pudding recipe is a delicious way to use it up… Whether it’s a ciambella on the sideboard for the grandchildren after school, or a pandoro or panettone to enjoy over the Christmas season, you will almost always find a slice of cake to hand […]
Torta mimosa is a classic Women’s Day cake, made to imitate yellow mimosa flowers – it is served across Italy to celebrate La Festa della Donna. The 8th of March is the day when women across Italy hang up their aprons, put on their best frocks, and walk out the door – leaving us poor […]
Mario Matassa shares his passion for mushrooms in this rotolo recipe – a golden, flaky roll filled with savoury mushrooms, ham, and cheese Renato held the mushroom in both hands, admiring its impressive size. It must have been at least 500 grams – a real beauty. I glanced down at my two modest finds and […]
Mario Matassa’s mushroom tagliatelle recipe is full of flavour and made with passion. Try it for yourself! Recipe, words and photo © Mario Matassa Italians will go the extra mile for mushrooms. I know. I’ve broken a car exhaust, a collar bone and almost my neck in the pursuit of them. But, as anyone who […]
This recipe makes a stunning gorgonzola, mascarpone and walnut pâté, which is sure to impress in a festive antipasti or after-dinner formaggi e frutta Words, recipe and photos © Mario Matassa At Christmas, along with meat and fish pâté, Italian supermarkets offer huge cakes of mascarpone and gorgonzola garnished with walnuts, essential components to a […]
These hazelnut, almond and chocolate biscuits are wonderful in the morning with a cappuccino or after lunch with a glass of white wine… Words, recipe and photos © Mario Matassa For something sweet, these biscotti (or cookies), are a sideboard essential. They’re wonderful in the morning with a cappuccino and equally good after lunch with […]
Give your festive roast an Italian twist with Mario Matassa’s recipe for rolled turkey breast with a hazelnut and raisin stuffing… Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Christmas would not be the same without turkey, in some form. Here in Italy, turkey has never achieved the status it has at Christmas as in the […]
This savoury pumpkin pie recipe is a great way to make use of leftovers after carving pumpkins, but you can enjoy this hearty meal long after Halloween is over… Words, recipe and photo © Mario Matassa Pumpkins have earned something of a bad rap and I can’t help but consider myself partially to blame. Ever […]