Today’s recipe is from the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, in central Italy. Schiacciata is very similar to focaccia, but it is much easier to make than the traditional Focaccia from Genoa. The term schiacciata literally means “pressed” and it refers to the fact that you need to press the dough down with your fingers…
Warm Maftoul Salad with Roasted Vegetables
I love salads, but sometimes I feel like eating something warm instead. I had some pearl couscous (maftoul) in my pantry and when I looked through the vegetables that I had in my fridge I thought it may be a good idea to make a warm Maftoul salad with all of that. I must admit…
Onion Pakoras
Vimala was our host for the November Daring Cooks challenge and she invited us to try our hands at some Indian snacks and treats. What amazing timing… as Indians have just celebrated Diwali – the festival of lights. I am very happy to share with all of you the recipe for one of my favourite Indian…
Cream of Mushroom Soup
While I was growing up, my mother would never buy canned food (with the only exception being tuna)… we have always eaten “real” fresh food, often bought at the local market. It is quite common in Italy and I still try and do the same here in Australia. The only time I had canned soup…
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
Come September and I start craving warm comforting food. It does not matter that we are in the middle of spring and the days are getting longer here in Australia. I have been living here for almost 10 years, but I think my mind will never get used to the reverse seasons. So, to satisfy…
Pizza Ortolana
I haven’t posted a pizza recipe in way too long! So, today I am sharing my recipe for a Pizza Ortolana. Ortolano in italian means “from the vegetable patch”. It is a great vegetarian pizza and a somewhat healthier option as it’s made with grilled eggplant, roasted bell pepper and artichoke hearts. I recently read…
Puntarelle alla Romana
During my recent trip to Italy, I didn’t really forget about my readers! Even though I was on holiday, I still did a little cooking. There are a few dishes that I have always wanted to share with you, but never could, as I was not able to find the ingredients for them. So… I…
Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil
Besides experimenting with Japanese cooking, I have also cooked some good old Italian food. This Risotto with Zucchini Cream and Basil is one of my latest favourite risotto and I have it quite often, alternating it with the Pumpkin and Gorgonzola one. I love the combination of zucchini and basil as I think their flavours…
Pasta with Bell Pepper and Gorgonzola Cream
I first had something similar to this Pasta with bell pepper and Gorgonzola cream years ago in Milano. My husband and I would go and eat at our favourite restaurant for every special occasion and this pasta was often on the menu. Bell peppers/capsicums and Gorgonzola make for a fantastic combination: the first are sweet,…
Dried Porcini and Saffron Risotto
As I have said many times, Risotto alla Milanese (Saffron Risotto) is the first dish I have ever cooked all by myself… I was probably about 6 or 7 years old. It’s always been my favourite risotto and I was so good at it, that whenever my grandfather would visit us from Sicily, he always asked…
Cherry Tomato Tarte Tatin
Tarte Tatins are among my favourite tarts… and I like them both sweet and savoury. The reason is simple: they obviously taste amazing with that hint of caramel on the top, but they also look a thousand bucks. Shiny, luscious and plain scrumptious. I have already shared the recipe for one of my favourites: Red…
Artichoke and Taleggio Risotto
Today I want to share another of my risotto recipes. As you know, I like risotto probably more than pasta and I make it often. Actually, as it can be made so quickly, I often make it for lunch when I am home alone. Yes, you read that right! Unlike what many people think, risotto…
Ravioli di Magro #SundaySupper
This week’s #SundaySupper theme is “Retro Food”. Ah, how fun is that? The thing is, being Italian, I have no idea what people in other countries used to cook and eat in the past… so, I had to resort to an Italian recipe. And I went for a classic. I must admit that this dish is…
Eggplant Sofficini
If you follow this blog, you will be already familiar with sofficini, as I have already published a Ham and Cheese Sofficini recipe and a Mushroom Sofficini recipe a while ago. For all the others who still do not know them, sofficini are delicious pockets of crunchy (yet soft) dough filled with all sorts of scrumptious cheesey…
Artichoke Frittata
While growing up, Saturday lunch was usually a frittata at my place. My mum has always loved frittata and it was a good weekly break from our pasta, fish and meat meals. I used to go to school on Saturdays (yep, we used to go to school 6 days a week…) and I would come…
Pumpkin Risotto with Gorgonzola Sauce
Today I am back with a typical Italian recipe. This is a dish that well represents Lombardy, the region where I was born. Milan is very famous for its risotto and pumpkin is often used in our cooking. Gorgonzola, my favourite cheese ever, is a blue cheese originally from the town of Gorgonzola, very close…
Chicken Spring Rolls
The other day, I decided to make Chicken Spring Rolls at home. I love spring rolls, but I often find them quite greasy and oily. That’s because they are not fried correctly, so they become soggy and absorb too much oil.
Carciofi in Pinzimonio
I grew up in a family of artichoke lovers. Every week, in winter, my parents would buy plenty of artichokes at the local market and we would eat them in all sorts of ways. I have already shared a few recipes and ideas on what to do with this delicious vegetable, and today I am…
Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes
A little while ago, I was so lucky to find some amazing artichokes at the markets. I got a tray full of them… and made them in many different ways. Remember my Carciofi alla Trapanese recipe? Those too were part of this batch… Today, I will show you yet another way of preparing a delicious…
Crespelle Cake with Broccoli
A few months ago, I shared with you the recipe for another Crespelle “cake” made with asparagus and I liked it so much that I decided to make it again using other vegetables. This time, it’s broccoli. I adore broccoli, it is one of my favourite vegetables. I have adapted a classic pairing of Italian cuisine…
Carciofi alla Trapanese #SundaySupper
This week the Sunday Supper team is sharing recipes for lighter foods to balance out the indulgences that go along with all the feasting, parties and celebrations of the upcoming holiday season. And what better than artichokes to eat lighter, healthier but still delicious food? Did you know that the total antioxidant capacity of artichokes is one…
Minestrone
Having grown up in Milan, where winters are quite cold, I have had my fair share of soups. In fact, my mum would often make soup for dinner. My favourite has always been Pasta e Fagioli, but she has always made a fantastic Minestrone. Contrary to what it may seem, Minestrone is actually a pretty…
Cucumber Sandwiches
The first time I had Cucumber Sandwiches, they were served as part of a high tea I attended with friends. To me, the idea of having savoury treats along with tea sounded quite weird. You see, Italians only have sweets with tea (mainly cookies or pastries), so the thought of eating a cucumber sandwich (of…
Bibimbap
The July Daring Cooks‘ Challenge took us to Korea, where Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado taught us to make bibimbap. This colorful rice dish can be customized to meet any taste, and is as much fun to eat as it is to say! Bibimbap (비빔밥), which literally means “mixed rice”, is one of Korea’s most…
Patatas Alioli
Patatas Alioli are a typical Spanish dish. They can be served as a tapa or as a side dish to accompany roasts or fish, or… well, that will be my next post, so stay tuned! I think they are delicious. Like Italian food, Spanish cuisine is all about simple, hearty and high quality ingredients. That’s…
Tomato and Labneh Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
Today I want to share with you the recipe for a Middle Eastern inspired salad. I have just recently begun to explore what I call “the amazing world of salads”. It is amazing indeed. Growing up, salad was always lettuce (or tomatoes) dressed with vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and salt. Nothing wrong with that,…
Risotto with Zucchini and Pesto
I know some people find the idea of making risotto daunting. I have shared many risotto recipes on this blog and it is actually the dish I first learnt how to cook on my own, as it was my favourite dish. I was 6 or 7 years old, so as you can understand, making risotto…
