Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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Green olive tapenade served in a white bowl garnished with fresh parsley on a wooden board.

Green Olive Tapenade

Thick, spoonable Green Olive Tapenade comes together in just 5 minutes and makes plain toast irresistibly savoury and rich.

Black Olive Tapenade

Black Olive Tapenade

Black Olive Tapenade is a Provençal dish consisting of puréed olives, herbs and olive oil. It is a popular condiment in the south of France, where it is generally eaten as an appetiser, spread on bread. Maybe not everyone knows though, that olive based tapenades are very common in Italian cuisine and trace back to…

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Lavender Sugar

Lavender Sugar

I love the smell and taste of lavender.  It reminds me of when I used to travel to the south of France with my parents.  One of our favourite spots was Aix-en-Provence.  We always stopped at the morning markets to buy beautiful bunches of lavender, hand-made lavender soap and all sorts of lavender perfumed items. …

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Finished Ficelle Picarde served in a baking dish with melted cheese.

Ficelle Picarde

Ficelle Picarde wraps mushrooms, ham, and creamy béchamel inside soft crêpes, then bakes everything until the top turns golden and irresistible for a comforting family dinner.

Tahitian Omelette

OMELETTE TAHITIENNE

I am sure you remember that last Christmas my husband got me The Complete Bocuse as a present.  It is a huge book full of recipes by Paul Bocuse which I am going to dig into.  There are so many dishes I want to try, even more after making his Sole Meunière!  It is one…

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Cherry Clafoutis

CHERRY CLAFOUTIS

Not too long ago I shared my recipe for Far Breton, a baked custard-like French dessert.  I remember saying that it was quite similar to clafoutis, another classic French dessert… so here goes my Cherry Clafoutis recipe, so you can make them both and compare them, if you wish! 🙂  I like them both equally. …

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SOLE MEUNIÈRE

Maybe not everyone knows this, but there is quite a bit of “rivalry” between Italy and France.  We call them “our transalpine cousins”, but the truth is there is a lot of competition going on… and not only about soccer!  Who has the best wine?  Or cheese?  Which cuisine is best?  French people will tell…

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Slice of Far Breton served on a small plate beside a glass of milk.

Far Breton

Creamy, fruity, and surprisingly simple to make, this Far Breton brings a soft custard texture with tender prunes, perfect for anyone who enjoys traditional French bakes at home.

TRUFFLE HONEY & VANILLA CRÈME BRÛLÉE

A little while ago, my husband and I went out to have dinner at a delightful restaurant called Chophouse.  We ate really well and I was particularly impressed by their Wagyu Tartare with truf­fle aioli, pear, pine nuts & white soy dressing and by their Wagyu Striploin with harissa… divine!  Also, I was pleasantly surprised…

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Marrons glacés arranged in paper cups with a glossy sugar coating.

Marrons Glacés (Candied Chestnuts)

Soft, glossy Marrons Glacés with a delicate vanilla scent and gentle sweetness, slowly infused in syrup, perfect for serving at Christmas or alongside coffee after a special meal.

Chestnut Rum Mousse

CHESTNUT RUM MOUSSE

Yesterday I showed you how easy it is to make your own Chestnut and Vanilla Cream… now that you have such a yummy treat in your fridge, how about making something else with it, if you haven’t finished it off the spoon yet, that is! Desserts in a glass are my kind of treat and…

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Homemade Crème de Marrons Vanillée, a smooth chestnut and vanilla cream in a glass jar wrapped with a pink ribbon.

Creme de Marron (Chestnut and Vanilla Cream)

A jar of Creme de Marron makes winter mornings sweeter. Sweet chestnuts and vanilla create a simple cream that adds warmth to breakfast or dessert on cold days.

Quiche Lorraine

QUICHE LORRAINE

Today I am going to share the recipe for a Quiche Lorraine.  I am saying A Quiche Lorraine because there are many variations of this classic French dish and I am not claiming this to be THE traditional one.  Actually, it looks like the original Quiche Lorraine did not have any milk or cheese in…

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Crème brûlée with a crisp caramelised sugar topping served in a terracotta ramekin.

Crème Brûlée

The caramel crack on top of this Crème Brûlée is unbelievably satisfying. Smooth and creamy vanilla custard makes every spoonful rich and indulgent.

Mango and Passion fruit Macarons

MANGO AND PASSION FRUIT MACARONS

And here it goes… another way to use that delicious Passion fruit Curd you have in the fridge!  I have made my share of macarons in the last few months, but this was the first time I filled them with a fruit based curd.  I can tell you one thing: I loved them, and I…

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Gateau Breton

GÂTEAU BRETON

Bretagne is the area of France I love the most (together with Provence).  I went there only once, as a child, but it was so breathtakingly beautiful that I remember it clearly.  I have the memory of eating a fantastic fish soup in a restaurant in the walled city of Saint-Malo, while it was raining…

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Filled Raspberry White Chocolate Macarons showing raspberry macarons with creamy ganache.

Raspberry White Chocolate Macarons

Raspberry and white chocolate make one of the dreamiest macaron combinations. Crisp shells, chewy centres, and creamy ganache make homemade Raspberry and White Chocolate Macarons irresistible.

Beef Bourguignon

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Our May 2012 Daring Cooks’ hostess was Fabi of fabsfood. Fabi challenged us to make Boeuf Bourguignon, a classic French stew originating from the Burgundy region of France. The last time I have eaten bœuf bourguignon I was in Paris… 10 years ago.  I remember it so well, it feels like yesterday.  My husband and…

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Close-up of the finished Galette Bretonne à la Forestière showing its crisp edges and creamy centre.

Galette Bretonne à la Forestière

Warm mushrooms, creamy béchamel, and savoury pancetta all wrapped into this beautiful Galette Bretonne à la Forestière. Treat yourself to a French-style comfort dinner tonight!

SALTED CARAMEL MACARONS

This is going to be the 3rd recipe of macarons that I am sharing on my blog.  I like all of them: the ones with a White Chocolate and Mint ganache and the ones with Quince Jelly… they are all delicious, but today’s macarons are my all time favourite macarons.  I LOVE salted caramel anything…

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MONTE BIANCO – MONT BLANC

This is the recipe of a dessert that is quite popular both in France and Italy. In fact, the 2 nations share a border and the highest mountain in Europe (Monte Bianco/Mont Blanc) which gives the name to this dessert made with chestnuts, whipped cream and chocolate. Its shape reminds of a mountain covered in…

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Duck liver paté and onion jam

DUCK LIVER PATÉ WITH ONION JAM

I love paté. All sorts of patés. It is another one of the goodies I used to enjoy in France and now miss a lot. True, you can find paté here too but there is not the same variety that you find in France. One of my favourite lunch items in Paris is definitely a…

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BAGUETTES

As many of you already know I spent quite some time holidaying in France as a child.  My parents have always loved our transalpine cousins and whenever possible they would squeeze in a few days to visit France.  I wasn’t too happy about it back then… l would have preferred to visit different places… not…

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MACARONS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE AND MINT GANACHE

I must admit I had never attempted to make macarons before!  Yes… you got that right!  I have always been intimidated by how “precise” you need to be.  Besides, I am not a “baker”.  Mind you, I do bake occasionally (and I am doing more so lately), but I tend to use the stove more…

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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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqSyzFElbRY
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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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