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
Green bean, tomato and potato salad

Green Bean, Tomato and Potato Salad

Today I want to share with you the recipe for a delicious and healthy side dish.  This Green Bean Tomato and Potato Salad is very special to me and eating it always takes me back in time.  My mum would often make it in summer when we were holidaying in Sicily.  It is a very…

Read More »

Couscous, Olive and Orange Salad

COUSCOUS, OLIVE AND ORANGE SALAD

Ohhh I love couscous and I make it in all kinds of ways.  My all time favourite is my mum’s (and grandma’s) traditional Fish Couscous, but I also make the pre cooked version and serve it as a side dish.  And then there is leftover plain couscous.  Which is like a white canvas that can…

Read More »

A bowl of Spinach and Rocket Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette on a wooden table.

Spinach and Rocket Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Fresh strawberries bring a naturally sweet twist to Spinach and Rocket Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette, pairing perfectly with baby spinach, peppery rocket, and crunchy toasted pecans.

COUSCOUS AND HERB SALAD

Couscous is one of my favourite side dishes.  I love the fact that it is so versatile and that it can be easily turned into a light and healthy main dish for a weekday lunch.  I usually make couscous to go with my Lemon Chicken Tajine with Olives or my LambTajine with Quinces and I sometimes have…

Read More »

Raita in a glass bowl topped with cumin seeds, coriander, mint, and red chilli powder.

Raita

Cool, creamy, and refreshing, Raita brings balance to any Indian meal. Thick yoghurt mixed with herbs, vegetables, and gentle spice creates a side dish that pairs perfectly with biryani, curry, or grilled meats.

Thin slices of raw beef topped with baby rocket and Grana Padano shavings on a serving plate.

Beef Carpaccio with Grana Padano and Rocket

Silky, paper-thin beef dressed in bright lemon and smooth olive oil makes Beef Carpaccio with Grana Padano and Rocket feel fresh and effortlessly simple.

Fuji Fruit, Spinach and Rocket Salad

GRILLED FUJI FRUIT, SPINACH AND ROCKET SALAD

I have noticed that l don’t have enough recipes for side dishes on the blog, so I thought of remedying that and today I am going to share with you the recipe for a delicious salad.  This is perfect for autumn, when fuji fruits are in season.  In fact I have had this recipe in…

Read More »

Chicken Salad

CHICKEN SALAD

I must admit that I had my very first chicken salad when I visited the USA in 1997.  Yes… quite late in life (well, I am not THAT old, but the point is, it is not a dish I grew up eating!).  I am not sure why, but it is not something my family would…

Read More »

Roasted Tomato, Rocket and Macadamia Salad

ROAST TOMATO, ROCKET AND MACADAMIA SALAD

This is the salad I served as one of the sides for my “Come have some Aussie tucker, mate!” party for Foodbuzz 24×24.  It is one of those salads with fancy names that you could easily see on a café menu, yet it is very easy and quick to make at home.  These are the…

Read More »

FOODBUZZ 24X24: COME HAVE SOME AUSSIE TUCKER, MATE!

Even though I am Italian, I have been living in Australia for the past 6 years.  I love this country so much that I have formally become Australian a couple of years ago and I consider myself Australian as much as Italian. Australia is a wonderful country where people from different cultural backgrounds live together. …

Read More »

Caponata

CAPONATA

After sharing with you the recipe for cabbuci, today I am back with the second part of my Italian Regional dish series.  We are back in Sicily and I am going to show you how to make one of the most popular dishes of the island: caponata.  It could be described as a cooked salad…

Read More »

OCTOPUS SALAD

Today I want to share with you a very easy dish.  In fact, it is almost a “non-recipe” as all you have to do is cut the ingredients and mix them together.  Well, you may have to boil the octopus and potatoes too if you cannot find them ready.  But that’s about it.  I used…

Read More »

MIXED SALAD WITH YOGHURT AND SAFFRON DRESSING

This recipe will help you to spice up your salad with a low fat and delicious dressing.  Yes, you read that right… low fat and delicious were used in the same sentence!  It is low fat as it is a yoghurt based dressing and it is delicious thanks to the addition of saffron and curry…

Read More »

ORANGE, FENNEL AND BLACK OLIVE SALAD AND AWARDS

My series of posts dedicated to my Foodbuzz 24×24 Christmas in July event is back after a few days’ break and 2 guest posts!  Thank you again Kankana from Sunshine & Smile and Erin from Big Fat Baker!  This is a typical Christmas salad as it is made with winter ingredients, but I love it all…

Read More »

Couscous Salad served on a white plate and garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Couscous Salad

Craving something fresh and colourful? This Couscous Salad combines roasted vegetables, fluffy couscous, and a bright lemon vinaigrette in a satisfying Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Bresaola

“TRICOLORE” SALAD – INSALATA TRICOLORE

To celebrate the 150 years of the Unification of Italy I thought of creating a special theme menu.  In the next few days I will post 3 recipes (an entree, a main and a dessert) with one thing in common: they will all have the colors white, red and green in honor of the Italian…

Read More »

TEX MED SALAD – INSALATA TEX MED

No, it is not a typo!  I really meant “Med” as in Mediterranean.  It is summer here in the southern hemisphere and when it is hot, there is nothing better than a light salad for lunch.  But who says that light cannot be tasty and filling??  This is the recipe of one of my favourite salads.  It can be…

Read More »

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

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.