Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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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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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.

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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Pizza Chicken topped with melted bocconcini and oregano in a cast-iron skillet, ready to serve.

Pizza Chicken in a Skillet

Loaded with tomato sauce, oregano, and melted bocconcini, Pizza Chicken is a quick skillet dinner inspired by classic Italian flavours and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomato Pork Sausages on a wooden board with mozzarella and Sun-Dried tomatoes.

Mozzarella Sausage with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Creamy mozzarella and savoury sun-dried tomatoes give this Mozzarella Sausage with Sun-Dried Tomatoes rich Italian-style flavour, perfect for barbecues and casual dinners.

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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Elsa's Plait

Elsa’s Plait

I love savoury dishes much more than sweets, so I always make sure to have a few savoury options at parties as I know kids will need something more than sugary treats.  I made this bread plait for Victoria’s Frozen party, to simulate Elsa’s long plait.  It’s a soft bread filled with ham and mozzarella. …

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Stracci di Antrodoco

Stracci di Antrodoco #SundaySupper

This week Sunday Supper’s theme is “stuff it, roll it, and/or wrap it”!  We will be sharing recipes for food that is stuffed, rolled, and/or wrapped, so make sure to check out all the yummy links at the end of this post! Today I am going to combine my Sunday Supper post with my Regional Italian…

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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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Pizza flavoured Savoury Pastries

PIZZA FLAVOURED SAVOURY PASTRIES

Italian birthday parties always have some sort of savoury pastries in the menu.  I remember my mum buying a huge tray filled with all sorts of what we call “rustici” (small puff pastry parcels filled with different goodies) at our local bakery.  I have always had more of a savoury tooth rather than a sweet…

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Top-down view of pizza with prosciutto, fresh rocket, and Grana slivers.

Rocket Pizza with Prosciutto and Grana Cheese

Freshly baked Rocket Pizza with Prosciutto and Grana Cheese makes a light and savoury dinner, with salty prosciutto, peppery rocket, and nutty cheese in every slice.

Golden Meat-Filled Apulian Panzerotti served on a white platter with cherry tomatoes.

Meat-Filled Apulian Panzerotti

Soft fried dough and a rich filling make Meat-Filled Apulian Panzerotti traditional Italian turnovers filled with savoury beef, pork, Pecorino Romano, and mozzarella.

Freshly baked lasagne in a ceramic baking dish with golden melted cheese on top.

Lasagne Verdi

Layers of spinach pasta, rich meat sauce, béchamel, and Parmigiano create a classic Lasagne Verdi with authentic flavour and soft, creamy layers.

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina topped with golden melted cheese and fresh basil.

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (Sorrento-Style Gnocchi)

Soft gnocchi finished until melty and saucy makes Gnocchi alla Sorrentina a simple dinner with melted mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a golden top.

Lasagna portion served on a plate with sauce and melted cheese.

Classic Baked Lasagne

A generous slice with rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel layers, and golden cheese makes this Classic Baked Lasagne a family favourite, ideal for Sunday meals or make-ahead cooking.

Crispy fried Italian rice balls filled with melted mozzarella.

Suppli al Telefono

Loaded with stretchy mozzarella and rich tomato sauce, Suppli al Telefono are dangerously good and guaranteed to upgrade your weekend plans.

FRIED MOZZARELLE WITH ANCHOVIES

This is a very easy recipe for a very tasty aperitivo.  Aperitivo could be considered the Italian equivalent of the Spanish tapas and it is basically finger food eaten along with drinks.  It can also substitute a more substantial appetizer for a dinner party.  When I first met my husband he would often tell me…

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Fried pizza with melted mozzarella and tomato sauce on a golden base.

Fried Pizza (Pizza Fritta)

If you want to change up pizza night, Fried Pizza is an easy option with gooey goodness that’s crispy on the outside and soft in the centre.

RIANATA

A while ago I published the recipe for sfincione, which can be considered to be the pizza of Palermo.  Today I am going to give you the recipe for the pizza from Trapani: rianata.  There are a few versions of this pizza, some are made only with oregano (the name rianata comes from origanata which…

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Piadina and Crescione

PIADINA AND CRESCIONE – MARCO’S RECIPE

A few days ago I made and shared with you the recipe of my first piadina: Homemade piadina with prosciutto, stracchino and rocket.  When I shared it on my Facebook page, my friend Marco Drudi, who is from the area in Italy where piadine come from, kindly shared with me his family recipe!  The ingredients…

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Zucchini Flowers

FRIED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS – PLAIN OR STUFFED

Zucchini flowers are a staple in my kitchen. I love them and buy them whenever I find them! The first time I made them for my husband he thought I was joking… “I’ll never eat flowers”, he told me straight away. So, I let him be… and started making them. Once ready, I brought them…

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PANZEROTTI

A panzerotto is very similar to a calzone, but it is fried.  There is a little shop in the very center of Milano, just behind the famous Duomo (Wiki), that makes the best panzerotti ever.  It is called Luini and it very famous among the locals.  I would often eat there with my friends during…

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Meat Arancine

ARANCINE – AL RAGU E AL BURRO

This is my family recipe for arancine, a very popular street food dish from Sicily.  They are fried balls of saffron rice stuffed with either a meat sauce or a cheese sauce.  The cheese version is called “al burro” that literally means “with butter”, but they are actually filled with béchamel sauce, cheese, ham and peas, while the…

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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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MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!

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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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