Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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How to Cook Quinoa

How to Cook Quinoa

I have only recently discovered Quinoa, but I love it. Even though it has become a thing only in recent years, it is actually a very ancient seed. In fact, the cultivation of Quinoa for human consumption dates back at least 3000 years in the Andean region of South America!

Parmigiano Reggiano Tortellini with Artichokes

Parmigiano Reggiano Tortellini with Artichokes

If you follow Manu’s Menu regularly, you will know that artichoke is my absolute favourite winter vegetable! Today I will show you how to make Parmigiano Reggiano Tortellini with Artichokes, a real treat! The tortellini are filled with Parmigiano Reggiano and the artichokes are used in a very simple sauce. The combination is amazing and…

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Fresh Homemade Spanish Chorizo sausages arranged on a wooden board.

Homemade Spanish Chorizo

Skip store-bought sausage and make Homemade Spanish Chorizo. Fresh pork seasoned with smoky paprika and garlic delivers an authentic Spanish taste you simply can’t get from a packet.

Bottle and glass of grapefruit liqueur arranged on blue cloth with a grapefruit.

Homemade Grapefruit Liqueur

Sweet, zesty, and perfect for warm nights! Make a batch of Homemade Grapefruit Liqueur and enjoy a bright sip whenever you like.

Small glass of Crema di Limoncello beside bottle and fresh lemons.

Homemade Crema di Limoncello

Creamy, zesty, and chilled from the fridge, Homemade Crema di Limoncello is a taste of Italian summer, best enjoyed slowly after dinner on a warm night.

Home-made Limoncello

Home-made Limoncello #SundaySupper

So, the #SundaySupper is celebrating the arrival of spring.  Obviously, as we are in the Southern hemisphere, this sounds a bit weird… as for us autumn has just begun, but I do love spring… and I also happen to have the perfect recipe for the event!

Whole Pandoro dusted with icing sugar, placed on a festive plate decorated with ribbons and tinsel.

Pandoro

Celebrate the holidays with soft, golden Pandoro, a buttery sweet bread that fills your kitchen with vanilla and warmth. Slice, dust with icing sugar, and enjoy a simple Christmas tradition at home.

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.

Beetroot and Ricotta Gnocchi with Gorgonzola

Beetroot and Ricotta Gnocchi with Gorgonzola

I have always love beetroot, a taste I share with my dad.  I remember often buying it at the store whenever it was available.  We would buy it cooked, ready to be sliced and eaten.  My favourite way to eat beets was to make them into a simple salad with extra virgin olive oil and…

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Homemade Verzini sausages arranged on a wooden board with fresh cabbage leaves and whole peppercorns.

Homemade Verzini

Perfect with polenta or lentils, Homemade Verzini are rustic Northern Italian sausages made with freshly ground pork, red wine, and a delicate blend of spices.

Taleggio Fonduta with Walnut Mezzelune served with creamy cheese sauce and chopped walnuts.

Taleggio and Walnut Mezzelune with Parmigiano Reggiano Fondue

For your next pasta night, Taleggio and Walnut Mezzelune with Parmigiano Reggiano Fondue brings tender half-moon pasta wrapped around creamy Taleggio and walnuts, finished with velvety Parmigiano fondue. I love making pasta from scratch. Some people find making bread relaxing and soothing. For me, making pasta has the same calming effect. Kneading the dough and…

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Malloreddus with Walnuts and Prosciutto

Malloreddus with Walnuts and Prosciutto

Today I am going to share with you one of my Regional Italian recipes!  And this time I will take you all to the beautiful island of Sardinia or, as we say, Sardegna.  Sardinia is a popular holiday destination for people who love the seaside.  In fact it has some of the best beaches and…

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Wrapped puff pastry portions stacked on a wooden board beside butter and a rolling pin.

Homemade Puff Pastry

Homemade Puff Pastry forms delicate layers of butter and dough, resulting in crisp, flaky pastries that freeze well and can be used in countless recipes.

Cappellacci served on a plate with porcini and cream sauce.

Cappellacci with Sausage and Porcini

Make dinner special with Cappellacci with Sausage and Porcini. Rich sausage and earthy mushrooms wrapped in tender pasta create an unforgettable dish.

Finished Miffy Cake decorated with green fondant, flat Miffy design, balloon detail, and small fondant flowers.

Miffy Cake

Miffy Cake cuteness is hard to resist and easier to make than it looks. Bake it for your next party and enjoy the smiles it brings to everyone around.

Homemade Cotechino resting on a wooden board with whole spices.

Homemade Cotechino

Bringing the festive mood straight to the table with this Homemade Cotechino. Slow-simmered, deeply comforting, and perfect for relaxed family meals all season long.

Homemade Sicilian Pork Sausage with Fennel coiled on a white plate.

Homemade Sicilian Pork Sausage with Fennel

Fire up the grill for Homemade Sicilian Pork Sausage with Fennel. Juicy, flavourful, and easy to cook, it’s made for outdoor meals and relaxed gatherings.

Chocolate Acorns

CHOCOLATE ACORNS

I have seen these on Pinterest and I just could not get them out of my mind.  I think they look really cute and they fitted in perfectly with my fairy theme for Victoria’s birthday party.  I have seen many “recipes” online and they all pretty much use ready made components that get assembled into…

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Finished Peppa Pig birthday cake covered in fondant.

Peppa Pig Cake

Bring the fun of Peppa Pig to your celebration with this easy Peppa Pig Cake. Simple fondant decorations, bright colours, and a soft sponge make it perfect for every birthday.

Mint & Potato Triangolini with burnt butter

MINT & POTATO TRIANGOLINI WITH BURNT BUTTER

Today’s recipe – Mint & Potato Triangolini with burnt butter – is about simple ingredients.  Actually, come to think of it, authentic Italian cooking is often about simple ingredients.  I really wanted to make some stuffed pasta, but I did not have a lot of time (nor the ingredients) to make a traditional filling for it. …

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Trofie with Walnut Sauce

TROFIE WITH WALNUT SAUCE

Today I want to share with you one of my favourite recipes. Well, it is actually a double recipe as I am going to show you how to make Trofie from scratch with a tutorial AND how to make a delicious, very simple and light walnut sauce to serve them with. Trofie are my absolute…

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A plate of cavatelli coated in pork ragù and topped with grated cheese and parsley.

Cavatelli al Ragù di Maiale

A hearty simmer brings out a rich, rounded taste in Cavatelli al Ragù di Maiale, turning simple ingredients into a warming pasta bowl.

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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