Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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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…

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Mushroom and Mozzarella Skillet Chicken

Mushroom and Mozzarella Skillet Chicken

I am a huge mushroom fan and, if you follow my blog, you also know that I cannot live without cheese. So it’s easy to understand that I find today’s recipe – Mushroom and Mozzarella Skillet Chicken – simply irresistible! Hearty mushrooms? Check. Gooey stretchy cheese? Check. Juicy and tender chicken bites? Check. What more…

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Parmigiano Reggiano Brutti ma Buoni

Parmigiano Reggiano Brutti ma Buoni

Today’s recipe is a savoury variation of the more famous sweet Brutti ma Buoni (click here for the sweet recipe that I have already shared a while ago). Brutti ma Buoni are cookies made in Lombardy, the region I was born and grew up in, mainly to utilize leftovers – especially egg whites and nuts….

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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…

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Pasta frolla cookies filled with apple, one cut open to show the tender apple centre.

Apple Filled Cookies

Buttery pastry, soft apples, and gentle sweetness make Apple Filled Cookies a classic favourite for anyone who loves traditional home baking and simple flavours.

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…

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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.

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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Parmigiano Reggiano Tomato Chicken

Parmigiano Reggiano Tomato Chicken

Today’s recipe is another one of my family’s favourites: Parmigiano Reggiano Tomato Chicken. It is a very simple dish with the colours and all the flavours of Italy: tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh basil. Like all simple dishes, the quality of the ingredients you use to make it is really important. Try and use authentic…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Chicken Tonnato Wrap

Chicken Tonnato 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 before the surgery, I had to follow a strictly low-fat (fat-free, really!) diet. This Chicken Tonnato Wrap was one of my favourite lunches. It was filling, healthy and satisfying.  I…

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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…

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Chicken Involtini with Fontina, Speck and Peas

Chicken Involtini with Fontina, Speck and Peas

I love chicken involtini. Well, to be honest I love all involtini, especially when they are filled with cheese! I am always looking for different stuffing. In this case, I filled the rolls with Fontina cheese and smokey Italian Speck. I then cooked them with peas and a little bit of cream – mainly to…

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Eggplant Caviar

Eggplant Caviar

Eggplant is one of my favourite ingredients when it comes to make anything with vegetables. It is a very common ingredient in Italian cooking, especially in the south where it is present at almost every meals during the summer months, when eggplant is at its best. Today I will share with you a recipe for…

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Celery stick being dipped into olive oil vinaigrette beside carrots and cherry tomatoes.

Pinzimonio (Tuscan Crudités)

Pinzimonio is a traditional Italian crudités platter served with olive oil and vinegar for dipping. It comes together in minutes and makes a fresh appetiser or colourful platter.

Pesche al Vino

Pesche al Vino

Today’s recipe takes me back to my summers in Sicily where my aunt would often finish a delicious meal with these Pesche al Vino – aka Italian Peaches in Wine. She would skip the sugar to be completely honest, but the smell of the ripe peaches macerated in wine is still vivid in my mind….

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Chicken with Black Olive Tapenade

Chicken with Black Olive Tapenade

I often cook chicken at home as it is my kids’ favourite kind of meat, so I know they will eat it without making a fuss. Today’s recipe is Chicken with Black Olive Tapenade and it is a variation of a Rabbit recipe I published a long time ago. In this case, I use chicken…

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Monica Sandwich

Monica Sandwich

Today’s recipe makes me a little emotional, as it brings back lots of memories from my teen age years. We used to have a cafe in our high school from where we could purchase food and drinks and one of my favourite sandwiches was called “Monica”… I think it was named after the girl who…

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Close-up of cut wedge revealing airy interior and lightly crisp edges.

Schiacciata

Fresh from the oven, Schiacciata is golden and airy, brushed generously with olive oil, a Tuscan flatbread pressed thin into tins and baked until lightly crisp on top.

Pasta with Meatballs

Pasta with Meatballs

Today’s post is really important for me. As you know, I am all for real Italian food. That’s the very reason why I started this blog. I have always stated that Spaghetti with Meatballs is not a classic Italian dish. And I completely stand by it. That said, my mother used to make meatballs in…

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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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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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