Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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Two Tuna Mayo Onigiri wrapped with nori and served on a plate.

Tuna Mayo Onigiri (Triangle Rice Balls)

Filled with creamy tuna and wrapped in crisp nori, these Tuna Mayo Onigiri (Triangle Rice Balls) are perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, and quick snacks. Portable, satisfying, and surprisingly easy to prepare.

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.

Valentine’s Day Recipe Round-up 2017

As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought of putting together a roundup of a few of my favourite recipes that I think would work great for a romantic dinner.  Ready to drool?? Here goes MsM’s Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup for 2017! ManuLove travelling as much as cooking? Many of the recipes I…

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Saffron Pumpkin Porcini Risotto

Saffron Pumpkin Porcini Risotto

I must admit that one of the things I miss the most about living in the Northern Hemisphere are the seasons. Don’t get me wrong, we have the same seasons down here, but they are “reversed”. In fact, right now, it’s the end of spring. Besides the fact that I will never be able to…

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Chestnut Porcini Risotto

Chestnut Porcini Risotto

I have been living in the Southern Hemisphere for over 10 years now, but I will never get used to the idea that September, October and November are spring months! Every year, when September comes, I feel like eating autumn food like apples, mushrooms, pumpkin, chestnuts and the likes. I doubt I will ever get…

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Six tuna sushi roll pieces arranged on a black plate over a wooden board.

Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll

Homemade sushi night made simple with a Skinny Tuna Sushi Roll full of lean tuna, creamy mayo, and fresh cucumber crunch.

Stracchino and Speck Risotto

Stracchino and Speck Risotto

Today’s recipe is a delicious and almost sinful risotto: Stracchino and Speck Risotto. I love cheese and Stracchino is an Italian mild soft cheese that I adore. And I love Italian Speck. If you are not familiar with it, it is a smoked prosciutto from South Tyrol, in the Italian Alps. I use it often…

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Eggplant and Smoked Scamorza Risotto

Eggplant and Smoked Scamorza Risotto

The first time I made this risotto, I did it to use up some of the eggplant filling that had remained after making Eggplant Sofficini. The result was so good that I started making extra filling in order to make risotto with it! I decided to also had smoked scamorza to it because the smoky…

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Cream of Asparagus and Spumante Risotto

Cream of Asparagus and Spumante Risotto

I have always loved asparagus. When spring comes, they are on my table at least once a week! I love them poached with home-made mayo or aioli, but I also like to make risotto with them. I have already shared an Asparagus Risotto with Raspadüra recipe on the blog, but this Cream of Asparagus and…

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Castelmagno and Pear Risotto

Castelmagno and Pear Risotto

Today I am back with a typical Italian recipe. As you know, I am very fond of Italian regional products. It is because of this incredible variety of resources and flavours that Italian cuisine is so special. Besides, I love cheese – even more than I love chocolate! So, when I visited Italy last year,…

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Kabsa rice with chicken drumstick, almonds, and raisins served on a woven mat.

Chicken Kabsa

Inspired by traditional Saudi flavours, Chicken Kabsa blends spiced tomato rice and tender chicken into a dish rich in flavour and balance, loved across the Middle East. Sawsan from Chef in Disguise shared a wonderful idea, asking us to cook a rice-based main dish that shows our culture or curiosity for another cuisine. It’s exactly…

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Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil

Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil

Besides experimenting with Japanese cooking, I have also cooked some good old Italian food. This Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil is one of my latest favourite risotto and I have it quite often, alternating it with the Pumpkin and Gorgonzola one. I love the combination of zucchini and basil as I think their flavours…

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Cream of Pea and Mint Risotto

Cream of Pea and Mint Risotto

I love playing with risotto and making it different every time.  There’s much more than Mushroom risotto in the “risotto world”.  You just need to give it a chance.  You can actually make risotto with almost any vegetable and/or cheese.  Today I played with a classic combination of Italian cuisine: peas and mint.  I blended…

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South American Lamb Stew

South American Lamb Stew

As you know, I am travelling at the moment, so I thought of asking some of my favourite food blogger friends to come over and share some of their amazing creations with all of you!  I told you I would leave you in great company, right?  Today I have the honour of having yet another…

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Dried Porcini and Saffron Risotto

Dried Porcini and Saffron Risotto

As I have said many times, Risotto alla Milanese (Saffron Risotto) is the first dish I have ever cooked all by myself… I was probably about 6 or 7 years old.  It’s always been my favourite risotto and I was so good at it, that whenever my grandfather would visit us from Sicily, he always asked…

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Artichoke and Taleggio Risotto

Artichoke and Taleggio Risotto

Today I want to share another of my risotto recipes.  As you know, I like risotto probably more than pasta and I make it often.  Actually, as it can be made so quickly, I often make it for lunch when I am home alone.  Yes, you read that right!  Unlike what many people think, risotto…

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Valentine's Day Recipe Roundup 2015

Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup 2015

As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought of putting together a roundup of a few of my favourite recipes that I think would work great for a romantic dinner.  Ready to drool?? Here goes MsM’s Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup for 2015!  Ah!  And don’t miss my next recipe as that too is…

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Pumpkin Risotto with Gorgonzola Sauce

Pumpkin Risotto with Gorgonzola Sauce

Today I am back with a typical Italian recipe.  This is a dish that well represents Lombardy, the region where I was born.  Milan is very famous for its risotto and pumpkin is often used in our cooking.  Gorgonzola, my favourite cheese ever, is a blue cheese originally from the town of Gorgonzola, very close…

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Zucchini Flower and Stracchino Risotto

Zucchini Flower and Stracchino Risotto

A few weeks ago, I went to the markets and managed to find some good deals.  I bought a whole tray of artichokes for less than half the price they are usually sold at the grocery store and I was also lucky enough to find zucchini flowers.  Zucchini flowers are very common in Italy and…

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Burrata and Truffle Oil Risotto

Burrata and Truffle Oil Risotto

Maybe not everyone is familiar with Burrata.  It is a kind of fresh cheese typical of the Italian region of Apulia, in the south of the country.  It is in fact a “composite” cheese as it is made of a mozzarella outer shell filled with soft mozzarella scraps and cream and then closed to form…

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Minestrone

Minestrone

Having grown up in Milan, where winters are quite cold, I have had my fair share of soups.  In fact, my mum would often make soup for dinner.  My favourite has always been Pasta e Fagioli, but she has always made a fantastic Minestrone.  Contrary to what it may seem, Minestrone is actually a  pretty…

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Bibimbap bowl ready to be mixed at the table.

Bibimbap

Leftover veggies? This Bibimbap turns them into a cosy, colourful warm bowl with crisp vegetables and savoury sauce, perfect for relaxed weeknight meals.

Risotto with Zucchini and Pesto

Risotto with Zucchini and Pesto

I know some people find the idea of making risotto daunting.  I have shared many risotto recipes on this blog and it is actually the dish I first learnt how to cook on my own, as it was my favourite dish.  I was 6 or 7 years old, so as you can understand, making risotto…

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Pomegranate Risotto

Pomegranate Risotto

As you know, autumn has come to the Southern hemisphere.  I can’t lie… I don’t mind it.  I welcome the fresher air and the leaves changing colour on the trees.  It is a beautiful season.  And I LOVE autumn food: mushrooms, chestnuts, quince… pomegranates.  In fact, pomegranates always put a smile on my face: I…

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Valentine's Day Recipe Roundup

Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup

As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought of putting together a roundup of a few of my favourite recipes.  It’s always hard to choose, as I like everything I publish (what I don’t like doesn’t get on this blog… ever!), but I think these are all fantastic ideas for a romantic dinner.  Some…

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Arancine with Spinach

ARANCINE WITH SPINACH

If you have read my latest post, you will know that I am hosting this month’s challenge at the Daring Cooks!  I chose to challenge my fellow daring cooks to make Arancine from scratch, including risotto!  I also shared 3 different recipes with them: Arancine al Ragu’, Arancine al Burro and Arancine agli Spinaci. The…

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THE DARING COOKS’ JANUARY 2014 CHALLENGE: ARANCINE

This month’s challenge is very special for a few reasons. For starters, our hostess, Manu, graciously stepped in with very little notice and created an entire amazing challenge in pretty much no time at all. Secondly, Manu managed to do all of this while publishing her very first e-cookbook. Seriously, you simply must check it…

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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…

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Video Recipe: Orecchiette with Crudaiola Sauce

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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
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