Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

  • Home
  • About
    • About me
    • About this site
    • About my photography
    • Privacy and Disclosure Policy
  • Recipes
    • Visual Archive
    • Regional Italian Recipes
  • Books
    • The Cool Side of Summer
    • Manu’s Christmas Menus
    • MsM’s Mobile App
  • Work With Me
    • Affiliate Sign-Up
    • Featured On
  • Out & About
    • Africa
      • South Africa 2019
    • Americas
      • Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize
      • CHILE AND ARGENTINA 2018
    • Asia
      • India
      • Japan 2015
      • Japan 2017
      • Japan 2018
      • Singapore
    • Europe
      • Slovenia and Croatia 2019
      • Italy 2019
    • Oceania
      • French Polynesia (Tahiti) 2017
      • French Polynesia (Tahiti)
      • New Caledonia
      • New Zealand
      • South Island – New Zealand Guide
  • Blogging Tips
    • Blogging Platform
    • Web Hosting
    • Technology Tips
    • Food Photography
    • Increasing Traffic to your Blog
    • Links
      • MsM in Your Kitchen
      • Events
        • 150 years of the Unification of Italy
        • Olio, Erbe e Fantasia – LILT
  • Tips
    • Techniques
      • Pasta and Gnocchi
      • Pizza and Other Doughs
      • Sauces and Other Basics
      • Decorations
    • Cake and Cookie decoration
      • Cake & Marshmallow Pops
        • Flowery Cake Pops
        • Hello Kitty Cake Pops
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Cake Pops
        • Christmas Tree Cake Pops
        • Sea Marshmallow Pops
      • Fondant Cakes
        • Moo Cake
        • South Pole Cake
        • Lola Cake
        • Hello Kitty Yogurt Cake
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Cake
        • The Little Mermaid Yogurt Cake
        • The Little Mermaid Fondant Cake
        • Sweet Sushi Mini Fondant Cakes
        • Peppa Pig Cake
        • Tinkerbell Cake
        • Miffy Cake
        • Olaf Yogurt Cake
        • Frozen Cake
      • Sugar Cookies
        • Heart Sugar Cookies
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Sugar Cookies
        • Christmas Tree Ornament Sugar Cookies
      • Eggless Sugar Cookies
        • Chinese New Year Cookies
        • St. Patrick’s Day Cookies
      • Shortbread Cookies
        • Shortbread and Chocolate Hearts
        • Baby Shower Shortbread Cookies
        • Flounder Shortbread Cookie Pops
      • Easy Chocolate Cookies
    • Conversion Tables
    • Gift Ideas
      • Christmas 2010
      • Christmas 2011
      • Christmas 2012
      • Christmas 2013
      • Christmas 2014
      • Christmas 2015
    • Ingredients
    • Where I Shop for Italian Food in Sydney
  • Contact
Lamb Tajine

Lamb Tajine

There is nothing I like more than to eat stew on a winter’s day. Sometimes, I like to add a touch of exotic to my dinner, so instead of making a “normal stew”, I make tajine. I have already shared my recipes for Lamb Tajine with Quinces and Lemon Chicken Tajine with Olives – 2 of my…

Read More »

Italian Sausage with Bell Peppers served with golden potatoes in a white baking dish.

Italian Sausage with Bell Peppers and Potatoes

For a hearty midweek meal, Italian Sausage with Bell Peppers and Potatoes combines juicy pork sausage with tender potatoes and naturally sweet red peppers.

Thin slices of raw beef arranged on a blue plate with Cipriani sauce, rocket, and a lemon wedge.

Beef Carpaccio alla Cipriani

Chilled, tender slices of thin beef paired with Cipriani sauce make Beef Carpaccio alla Cipriani a refreshing starter with light flavours, ideal for warm days or simple menus.

Italian Rice Salad served in a bowl with tuna, ham, Swiss cheese, vegetables and fresh basil.

Italian Rice Salad

Combining tender rice with tuna, ham, cheese, olives and vegetables, Italian Rice Salad is a chilled Italian classic that’s fresh, colourful and satisfying.

Pasta with Baby Eggplants

Pasta with Baby Eggplants

Finally I am back with another pasta recipe! This Pasta with Baby Eggplants is a dish my grandmother used to make in Sicily. I have always loved it… it’s very easy to make and whenever I find baby eggplants at the grocer, I always buy them to make this pasta. What sets this sauce aside…

Read More »

Italian Salad

Italian Salad

Some readers have asked me to share more Italian side dishes on the blog. I actually hadn’t realised that I didn’t have many! It’s probably because Italian side dishes are pretty easy and straightforward and I never think they are “blog worthy”. But then again, they may be straightforward for me, having grown up in…

Read More »

Salt-Crusted Snapper

Salt-Crusted Snapper

I am very excited about today’s recipe! Salt-Crusted Snapper is one of my mum’s signature dishes. In fact, she made it for us just a few days ago and I managed to get her recipe for it to share with all of you here on the blog! Aren’t you lucky? If you like fish, this…

Read More »

Finished Pignoccata shaped into a mound with almonds and sprinkles.

Pignoccata (Italian Honey Balls)

Pignoccata, or Italian honey balls, are coated in syrup that makes them sweet and sticky. Almonds bring crunch, sprinkles add colour, and the taste is light enough to enjoy at Carnevale.

Sicilian Sweet and Sour Mackerel

Sicilian Sweet and Sour Mackerel

My parents are here for the holidays and, like every year, I get to eat food from my childhood cooked by my mother. We used to eat a lot of fish when living in Italy and today I will share my mother’s recipe for one of my favourite dishes: Sicilian Sweet and Sour Mackerel –…

Read More »

Baked Ndunderi

Baked Ndunderi

Today I am back with a traditional recipe from the south of Italy: Baked Ndunderi (pronounced “doon-der-ee”) . Ndunderi are hand-made gnocchi-like pasta from the Amalfi Coast, near Naples. I must admit that, unfortunately, this pasta is not very well known around Italy, which is a real pity as it tastes amazing. Ndunderi are a…

Read More »

Strawberries in White Wine

Strawberries in White Wine

Today I am going to share with you a very quick and easy end of meal recipe: Strawberries in White Wine. This recipe is similar to the Peaches in Wine recipe I have already shared with you and, just like it, this too can easily substitute dessert, as the wine becomes almost a strawberry flavoured…

Read More »

Sicilian Bell Pepper Involtini

Sicilian Bell Pepper Involtini

Today’s recipe is a very simple appetiser or side dish idea: Sicilian Bell Pepper Involtini. I love capsicums (or bell peppers), I always have. I have already shared a Bell Pepper Involtini recipe before, but this one is different. They are filled with what we call the ”Zangaras’ trademark”, as we use this same stuffing…

Read More »

Lemon Chicken Wrap with Aioli

Lemon Chicken Wrap with Aioli

Today I am going to share the recipe for a delicious sandwich: Lemon Chicken Wrap with Aioli. This recipe is an ode to the Mediterranean: the chicken marinade’s flavours are of clear Greek-Turk inspiration, while the Aioli component brings in the south of France and Spain and the arugula (also known as rocket) and tomatoes…

Read More »

potato-based-focaccia

Potato-based Focaccia

I love baking all sorts of bread, but Focaccia is my favourite. I have always loved eating it: Italian focaccia is AMAZING and it is one of the things I miss the most about Italy. As there is no way of finding a focaccia that is just as good where I live, I have been…

Read More »

Finished Sicilian eggplant bake in a red baking dish.

Sicilian Eggplant Bake

Layers of roasted eggplant, sweet tomatoes, and gooey cheese make this Sicilian Eggplant Bake taste like home-cooked perfection.

Baked Olive Breadsticks tied with string and served on a linen cloth.

Olive Breadsticks

Made from a simple dough and shaped into thin sticks, these Olive Breadsticks are baked with olives for a savoury snack perfect for sharing.

Tuna Ricotta Balls

Tuna Ricotta Balls

Today I am going to share with you the recipe for Tuna Ricotta Balls. They are crunchy savoury bites the whole family will love. These croquettes are baked and not fried, so they are also quite healthy and they make the perfect appetiser or snack idea. I love anything with tuna (remember my Italian Tuna…

Read More »

Passato di Verdure

Passato di Verdure

Today I am going to share with you a typical Italian recipe: Passato di Verdure, aka Italian vegetable veloute. It is a very common soup and we often have it during the cold autumn and winter months. The truth is, there is no real recipe for Passato di Verdure, as its ingredients can vary from…

Read More »

Swordfish Caponata served in a rustic bowl with fresh basil and warm bread on the side.

Swordfish Caponata

A Sicilian classic with a seafood twist, Swordfish Caponata blends tender eggplant and firm fish in a rich sweet and sour tomato glaze.

Sweet Taralli arranged in a wooden bowl with a few biscuits placed on a folded napkin.

Sweet Taralli

Make Sweet Taralli for a warm afternoon pick-me-up. They pair well with tea and stay crisp for days, giving you a simple treat for busy moments.

Italian Tuna Loaf

Italian Tuna Loaf

My kids don’t like seafood much… but they do make an exception for tuna. So, with that in mind, I try and use tuna in different ways and recipes so that they don’t get bored of eating it. Today I will share with you my recipe for an Italian classic dish that we call Polpettone…

Read More »

Mint Chicken Pita Pockets

Mint Chicken Pita Pockets

These Mint Chicken Pita Pockets are another low-fat lunch idea I developed when I was having gallstone issues. I made it with fat-free mayo, but you can use your favourite brand/type. I used my recipe for Poached Chicken in a Mint Sauce to fill these pita pockets and I also added some lettuce and tomatoes…

Read More »

Warm Pizza Dip

Warm Pizza Dip

You know how I always complain about “Australian mozzarella”? It always feels like plastic and it never stretches enough, like real mozzarella should. Remember my video on how mozzarella is made in Italy? Well, my dear Sydneysiders, I have great news for you. I found a place that makes very good fresh mozzarella: La Stella…

Read More »

Prosciutto Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Meatloaf

Prosciutto Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Meatloaf

As you know, after my gallbladder removal, I have started to gradually re-introduce fats into my diet. I love meatloaf (my mum makes a mean one – click here for the recipe), but I still find beef mince a bit too heavy to digest. So, I have decided to try a chicken meatloaf. That’s how…

Read More »

Pasta with Garlic and Parsley served in a white ceramic bowl.

Pasta with Garlic and Parsley (Pasta con Aglietto e Prezzemolino)

Simple ingredients make Pasta with Garlic and Parsley a quick Italian dish with silky strands, mellow garlic flavour and a fresh herbal finish.

Pear Gorgonzola Gelato in Hazelnut Balsamic Tuiles

Pear Gorgonzola Gelato in Hazelnut Balsamic Tuiles

Today I am teaming up with Jomei’s Fine Foods for a very special recipe I developed to showcase their newest product: their Organic Sweet Balsamic Reduction.  The moment I tasted it, I knew I wanted to make something sweet with it, but I wanted to go beyond the usual pairing of balsamic vinegar and strawberries. You…

Read More »

Turkey Eggplant Caviar Lettuce Wrap

Turkey Eggplant Caviar Lettuce Wrap

If you follow my blog, you will know that I have recently been operated to remove my gallbladder, as I had gallstones. In the weeks leading to the surgery, I had to follow a strictly low-fat diet. As such, I had to come up with alternatives for my meals that included no more than 2…

Read More »

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Welcome to Manu’s Menu!

Hi! I am Manu, the author of Manu's Menu. I was born and brought up in Italy and my blog can show you how to create authentic Italian food in your own home! Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

HOMEMADE PASTA MADE SIMPLE – THE BOOK. CLICK TO BUY IT FROM AMAZON NOW!

Homemade Pasta Made Simple

Archives

Categories

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Video Recipe: Orecchiette with Crudaiola Sauce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqSyzFElbRY
foodgawker bowls-150x150
tastespotting150
Tasteologie badge
Pasta & Gnocchi

The Cool Side of Summer e-Book – Click to buy it now! On SALE for only $9.99!

The Cool Side of Summer e-Book

MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!

MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!
Community Table Contributor Badge
Sunday Supper Movement

manusmenu

Food blogger, cookbook author, food photographer & stylist.

A batch of homemade flaxseed crackers is always ha A batch of homemade flaxseed crackers is always handy to have in the kitchen.

They're crisp, easy to store, and pair well with dips, soft cheeses, fresh vegetables, or your favourite toppings whenever you need a quick snack.

#flaxseedcrackers #mealprep #healthysnacks #homemade #manu #manusmenu
Creamy goat cheese, crunchy pistachios, and a driz Creamy goat cheese, crunchy pistachios, and a drizzle of honey 🍯

The combination of creamy, sweet, and crunchy textures makes this such an easy appetiser to put together when you want something simple but a little different.

Serve with crusty bread or your favourite crackers and enjoy. 

#pistachios #HoneyDrizzle #sharingplatter #manusmenu
After sharing the scrambled eggs and tomato toast After sharing the scrambled eggs and tomato toast recently, I thought it would be a good time to highlight one of my favourite herb blends 🌿

Herbes de Provence is a traditional French herb blend usually made with herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano, and savoury.

It's a simple way to add extra flavour to everyday ingredients and works especially well with eggs, tomatoes, roasted vegetables, potatoes, chicken, and soups.

Have you used Herbes de Provence before?

#herbesdeprovence #frenchcooking #mediterraneanfood #herbblends #manu #manusmenu
Scrambled eggs with tomato on toast is one of thos Scrambled eggs with tomato on toast is one of those simple meals that always works 🍅

Warm, savoury, filling, and made with ingredients most people already have at home.

#scrambledeggs #QuickMeals #breakfastideas #homemademeals #manu #manusmenu
This calamari risotto turned out creamy, rich, and This calamari risotto turned out creamy, rich, and so satisfying 🍚

Made as a low FODMAP recipe, it’s a homemade seafood dinner option that feels filling and easier to enjoy for those with sensitive stomachs or lower FODMAP dietary needs.

 #lowfodmap #calamaririsotto #seafoodrecipes #homemademeals #manu #manusmenu
Pumpkin has a naturally gentle sweetness, which is Pumpkin has a naturally gentle sweetness, which is why ingredients like ginger, coconut cream, herbs, curry paste, or lime work so well with it.

Those subtle layers of flavour help create soups that feel comforting, warming, and more rounded 💛

 #pumpkinsoup #thaifood #homemademeals #homemade #manusmenu
Smooth, creamy, and filled with delicious Thai-ins Smooth, creamy, and filled with delicious Thai-inspired flavours 🍲 This pumpkin soup makes such a lovely homemade dinner idea ✨

#PumpkinSoupRecipe #homemadefood #thaifood #manu #manusmenu
A sweet homemade treat for the person who made lif A sweet homemade treat for the person who made life sweeter first 💖
These chocolate date hearts are filled with soft dates, rich chocolate, and a little homemade love for Mother’s Day 🌷

 #mothersday #mothersdaygiftideas #datehearts #manusmenu
more stories beyond the menu ✈️ #MatchaMoments #t more stories beyond the menu ✈️

#MatchaMoments #travelreels #travelwithmanuela
A simple treat for Mother’s Day 🌸 These chocolate A simple treat for Mother’s Day 🌸

These chocolate covered dates pair perfectly with a warm cup of tea and make a lovely homemade gift or afternoon treat.

Simple, sweet, and easy to make at home.

#mothersday #chocolatecovereddates #HomemadeTreats #dessertideas #teatime #manusmenu
This iced chai is simple to make and perfect when This iced chai is simple to make and perfect when you want something calm and comforting.

Made with a few ingredients and warm spices, it’s a drink you can easily prepare at home without much effort.

Sometimes it’s the simple drinks that you keep coming back to. 💓

#icedchai #homedrinks #teatime #homemade #manu #manusmenu
Ever wondered why your iced matcha tastes differen Ever wondered why your iced matcha tastes different every time?

It’s not just about the ingredients. Small details like the quality of the matcha, how you sift it, and how you whisk it can completely change the result.

Even the texture and colour can tell you a lot before you even take a sip.

Once you start paying attention to these steps, it becomes much easier to get a smoother, more balanced matcha at home 🍵

 #matcha #icedmatcha #Matchalatte #JapaneseTea #manusmenu
Follow on Instagram

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2011–© 2026 - Manu's Menu and Manuela Zangara. All rights reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.