Categories
Appetizers Healthy Lunch Sides Vegetarian

Vegetarian Baked Zucchini Gratin or Zucchine Gratinate

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of  Baked Zucchini Gratin or “Zucchine Gratinate”

An easy and very healthy Italian recipe of zucchinis topped with bread crumbs, parsley, garlic. Vegetarians and omnivores will love them. Perfect as an appetizer, as a side dish to meat, or as a second self, Zucchini Gratin are light appetizers and rich in vitamins, that will add a touch of color and flavor to your table.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 6 Zucchini
  • 60 grams of Breadcrumbs
  • sprig of Parsley
  • 1 sprig of Basil
  • 1 clove of Garlic
  • 3-4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. Wash and trim the zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, taking care not to break them, and with a teaspoon drain the zucchini flesh and put in a bowl.

2. Chop the parsley, basil and garlic and pour into the bowl with the zucchini flesh and add the breadcrumbs. Season with oil, salt and pepper and mix all ingredients well.

3. Stuff zucchini with the mixture, place in a baking dish, sprinkle on top with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, bake at 170° degrees for 40 minutes. Delicious and Healthy vegetarian option!

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Categories
Healthy Main Pasta Vegetarian

Easy Auntie Anna’s Fusilli Pasta with Pesto of Zucchini

How to prepare the real Auntie Anna’s Italian recipe of “Fusilli Pasta with Pesto of Zucchini”

A good alternative to the classic pesto sauce, this recipe from Tiziana’s auntie Anna, is a simple recipe an easy option for an healthy Sunday lunch with family and friends. This Pesto is made with Zucchini or Courgettes, Basil, Parmesan or Pecorino, Pine Nuts and of course Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A deliciously simple Pesto of Zucchini pasta that is full of fresh flavors, also perfect for a weekday evening meal. Any pasta will taste great with this recipe, so just pick your favorite and enjoy.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 320 grams of Fusilli Pasta
  • 300 grams of Zucchini
  • 1/2 cloves of garlic
  • 50 grams of Pine nuts
  • 60 grams of Parmesan Cheese or Pecorino Cheese
  • 100 grams of Basil
  • 125 grams of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. In a pan heat 50 grams of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with garlic until becomes blonde – not burned -then add the zucchini (or courgettes), previously cut round and thin, cover and cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes until are stiffened (if necessary add half glass of water).

2. In the other pan toast the pine nuts, when ready add to the zucchini with parmesan, a pinch of salt and the fresh basil mix well. Fresh basil is an important ingredient not to forget! Put the zucchini mix in a blender with 65 grams of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, mix all together until the sauce is creamy.

3. Cook the Fusilli or Spaghetti Pasta, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 8 to 10 minute as from instructions and always until al dente. Do not overcook pasta! Drain and mix with the zucchini sauce, serve.

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Pasta with zucchini pesto.

Categories
Cake Dessert Dinner Gluten free Vegetarian

Delicious Chocolate Capri Cake or Torta Caprese

 How to prepare the real recipe of the Italian Chocolate Capri Cake or “Torta Caprese”

A traditional cake from one of the most beautiful Islands in Italy: CAPRI!

This tasty almond and chocolate cake is from this wonderful island. The origin: the cook would indeed forget to put the flour in a chocolate cake with almonds. A fatal mistake, which has created one of the most popular desserts and appreciated by so many palates. Traditionally made on the island of Capri, this cake has a delicious aroma. Without using flour for the pan (and using parchment paper instead) this is a delicious gluten free recipe.

 

 

Ingredients for a pan of 26-28 cm

  • 350 grams Allmond, peeled and toasted
  • 250 grams of Dark Chocolate 70%
  • 200 grams of Unsalted Butter
  • 200 grams of powder Sugar
  • 6 medium Eggs (50 grams each)
  • a pinch of Salt
  • Butter and flour for the pan or use parchment paper for a gluten free recipe
  • Cocoa Powder for a pan
  • Powder sugar for a top cake

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, grease and flour a pan of 26-28 cm.

2. In a mixer finely chop the almonds with a teaspoon of sugar. Melt slowly the dark chocolate and unsalted butter together “a bagnomaria”, in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula, until chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Remove from heat. Important: do not burn the chocolate!

3. Beat the egg yolks, 200 grams of powder sugar and a pinch of salt together in a bowl with a whisk or an electric mixer until pale and very thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the chocolate with butter and almonds.

4. Beat the egg whites until stiff, add to the mixture slowly and gently, folding from bottom up, making sure you don’t loose the volume. Into the pan previously completely covered with butter and flour – use a gluten free flour or a parchment paper for a fully gluten free recipe – add the cocoa powder at the bottom and then add the full mixture.

5. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, after that let it rest outside the oven for 15 minutes and remove from the pan. Invert the cake on a serving dish. When cool, dust with powdered sugar. Simply delicious. Enjoy.

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Categories
Gluten free Healthy Lunch Sides Vegetables Vegetarian

Grand Mix of Yellow and Red Peppers or Peperonata

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Grand Mix of Peppers or better “Peperonata”

A great classic of the Italian cuisine, the origin of this Grand Mix of Peppers is from Sicily: SICILIANS DO IT BETTER! It is very tasty and you can enjoy it hot or cold better with toasted bread, it is a healthy vegetarian combination of flavors.

“Peperonata” is a very tasty pepper stew. You can find the ingredients all year round. You can enjoy it warm in the colder months; and during the summer, you can use it as a topping for your toasted bread to make a delicious “bruschetta” on top of some slices of toasted bread. “Peperonata” is perfect for vegetarians but not only. It is simply delicious.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 1 kg of Pepperoni
  • 500 grams of fresh Tomatoes
  • 2 blonde Onion or better red Onion
  • Parsley
  • 50 grams of Capers
  • 100 grams of black Olives, better “Gaeta” Olives
  • 1 tablespoon of Origan
  • 6 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. In a pan heat the oil with the onion, previously cut into strips of about 1 cm, until it has softened, after add the pepperoni previously cut into strips of 1 cm, the fresh tomatoes, the capers, the black olives, 1 tablespoon of origan, a bit of parsley, salt and pepper.

2. Cover and cook over low heat for 40 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

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Categories
Christmas Dinner Gluten free Main Rice Vegetarian

Romantic Champagne Risotto or Risotto allo Champagne

 

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Champagne Risotto or “Risotto allo Champagne”

The Champagne risotto is a classic Italian dish for an exclusive dinner or occasion. The simplicity of the ingredients is enhanced by the taste of Champagne for a great result, very romantic dinner.

Risotto allo champagne is a classic first course, easy and quick to prepare, very elegant and tasty, perfect for an important occasion such as New Year’s Eve or a special romantic encounter.  The simplicity of the ingredients is enhanced by the champagne aromas that give a touch of romanticism and an aphrodisiac effect to this dish. Champagne sparkling wine can only be called so if produced in the region of France bearing the same name. We suggest complementing this risotto with a sparkling sophisticated flute of champagne.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 400 grams of Rice
  • 30-60 grams of Butter
  • 1 Blonde Onion chopped
  • 1/2 bottle of Champagne
  • 1/2 glass of Cream
  • 500 ml of Vegetable Broth
  • 50 grams of Parmesan Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. In a casserole heat the butter with the chopped blond onion until has softened, after few minutes pour the rice, fry, stirring, over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes and then add the champagne when it’s evaporated (about 3 minutes) lower the heat and add the vegetable broth warmed up, 1 ladle of the simmering broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Actually for this recipe, you can also use any good dry sparkling wine, Italian, French or otherwise. But we suggest using original Champagne.

2. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth 1 ladle at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still firm to the bite, about 20 minutes total. Plan your timing well – it is very easy to overcook risotto!

3. The end of the cooking is critical for the final texture of the dish, so when the rice is nearly tender to the bite, but with just a hint of resistance – al dente, and the liquid you have added up to this point has been mostly absorbed, remove from the heat add the grated Parmesan cheese and butter to taste, about 30 g (2 tablespoons) add also the liquid cream if you wish, but you can also make the recipe without liquid cream for a light version. Let it stand for 1 or 2 minutes. Arrange the risotto on a serving dish, serve immediately.

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Categories
Christmas Dessert Eggs Vegetarian

Traditional Custard or Crema Pasticcera della Nonna

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of  Custard home-made or “Crema Pasticcera”

This is an easy and healthy option for a dessert at home with the family. It can be considered the basis for many Italian desserts, it never fails, good to fill a light sponge cake, a donut or simply eaten with a spoon: delicious. Ideal for children and adults and great for a healthy snack and genuine when prepared according to the tradition of my beloved great-grandmother.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 4 Egg Yolks
  • 4 tablespoons of Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of Flour
  • 1 Lemon peel (ideally organic – peel just the yellow part to avoid a bitter taste)
  • 1/2 LT of Milk

Preparation

1. In a bowl whisk 4 egg yolks with 4 tablespoons of sugar, it’s ready when it will be frothy and the eggs will look a bit pale with the sugar melted in, add the 2 tablespoons of flour and whisk for 1 minute.

2. Now pour the compose in a high pan (you can also just use a pan from the beginning) and spill half liter of milk cold, add the milk slowly and keep mixing it, cut the zest of 1 lemon and put into the custard, cooking over low heat for 15 minutes, keep mixing, turning gently with a spatula or a wood spoon, those do not stick to the mixture, forming an 8, so that the cream will stay liquid and not depositing on the bottom.

3. The cream is ready when it becomes from liquid to creamy and in general when the mixtue start boiling. Do not keep boiling just turn off the heat and enjoy warm or cold.

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Categories
Lunch Main Pasta Vegetarian

Ravioli Pasta with Ricotta Cheese and Spinach or Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Ravioli with Ricotta Cheese and Spinach filling or “Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci”, sage and butter sauce

The ravioli with ricotta cheese and spinach are a classic first course. They represent one of the best-known uses of fresh egg pasta. The filling of ricotta and spinach is light and fresh.

This is a simple stuffed ravioli made with a creamy ricotta spinach blend. Ideal for a vegetarian household, this is a special-occasion dish. Ideally for those delicate and sophisticated ravioli a butter and sage sauce would be perfect.

Ingredients for 6 people

Ingredients for Fresh Pasta Home Made

  • 500 grams of Flour “0”
  • 5 Eggs

Ingredients for Ravioli Filling with Spinach and Ricotta

  • 200 grams of Ricotta Cheese
  • 600 grams of Spinach
  • 180 grams of Parmesan Cheese
  • Salt, Pepper and Nutmeg as you prefer

Ingredients for Ravioli Sauce with Sage and Butter

  • 100 grams of Butter
  • Parmesan Cheese grated as you prefer
  • Pepper as you prefer
  • 6 fresh Sage leaves

Preparation of Fresh Pasta Egg

1. By Hand Pasta: on a clean wood surface make a well with the flour with donut shape. In a measuring cup mix the eggs, pour the liquid mixture slowly into the flour and mix slowly in round circles with your fingers until all of the liquid mixture is incorporated. Do not force the dough to take all of the flour. If you are going to use a Pasta Maker machine to roll out the dough you may at this point form the dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to rest. If you are going to roll this by hand you should knead the dough on a floured work surface for 8 to 10 minutes.

Preparation of Ravioli Filling

2. Wash the spinach and let them boil for 10 minutes in boiling water. When cooked, drain them well and let cool before you chop. It’s very important that spinach are well drainedPrepare the filling by mixing in a bowl the ricotta, spinach, 2 eggs, Parmesan, salt, pepper and nutmeg until you have a smooth mixture.

3. Take the dough, divide the dough in half and roll each part into two layers with a thickness of about 2 mm, with the aid of a rolling pin or a “Pasta Maker” machine. Spread the filling on the pastry with ricotta cheese and spinach in piles equidistant. Cover with the other sheet and cut out the ravioli with the toothed wheel or with the form ravioli.

Preparation of Ravioli Sauce

4. You can now dress the ravioli ricotta and spinach with a simple tasty sauce: with butter and sage in order to bring out the best of the filling flavor from your ravioli. Heat 100 grams of sliced butter in a pan over low heat and add the fresh sage leaves. Sauce is ready! Brush up directly in the pan the ravioli just drained and serve hat, complete the dish with a grinding of fresh pepper and of course a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.

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Categories
Dinner Main Soups Vegetarian

Delicious Pasta and Beans Soup, Pasta e Fagioli

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of a delicious Pasta and Beans or “Pasta e Fagioli”.

This soup is a classic example of Italian wonderful home cooking. Simple yet delicious cannellini or borlotti beans and short pasta mixed with chopped onion and fresh tomatoes. Beans are a great pantry staple with lots of protein and fibers. A great vegetarian, healthy dish that is delicious and comforting on a cold winter night. Loaded with fibers, low in fat and calories.

Ingredients (1 bowl of soup)

  • 2-3 spoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • finely chopped Onion
  • a handful of finely chopped Carrot and/or Celery, Bay Leaf
  • a chopped clove of Garlic
  • some Herbs, fresh or dried (sage, thyme, rosemary and oregano are all good)
  • 100 gr. fresh chopped Tomatoes, with juice
  • a tin of Beans 150g/5oz, ideally Borlotti or Cannellini
  • about 4 cups of Water or Stock
  • 50 grams small sized Pasta (maccheroni, mezze maniche, for example)
  • Salt and Pepper
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Preparation

1. Heat the olive oil in a pot and sauté the onion, carrot and celery with the bay leaf until the vegetables are soft, 10 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for another minute, then toss in the herbs, tomato. Raise the heat slightly, and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes are bubbling vigorously. Lower the heat to medium-low, and cook gently, stirring and mashing the tomatoes often, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the beans and season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour in the water or stock and bring the soup to a boil. Let it simmer for 10 mins.

2. In the meanwhile on a separate pan with a good pinch of salt as soon as the water boils cook the pasta half of the time given in the package instructions, drain, then add the pasta to the beans soup. Keep cooking the soup until pasta is cooked still “al dente“, then season with pepper. If you like, you can mash some of the beans; the smashed beans together with the starch from the pasta will thicken the soup pleasantly. Serve with a good drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and grated parmesan cheese.

TIP: soft beans make all the difference here, organic tinned beans might be better.

VARIATION: add Prosciutto chopped in pieces to the sautéed onion mix.

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Categories
Appetizers Christmas Dinner Eggs Main Vegetarian

Russian Salad or Insalata Russa

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Russian salad or “Insalata Russa”

A typical recipe for a family Christmas dinner but you can prepare it anytime and maybe for a nice dinner with friends. This is a typical cold appetizer. A recipe grandmothers use every time there’s a family gathering or a special occasion. The Russian Salad flavor and texture  differs from the standard salads, as it uses boiled veggies rather than raw ones It is an easy a vegetarian dish.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 3 large Potatoes, boiled, peeled and cubed
  • 4 Carrots peeled and diced
  • 200 grams of shelled Peas
  • 200 grams of green Beans boiled and cut in small pieces
  • 400 grams of Mayonnaise
  • 3 Eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of Mustard
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer
  • “Prezzemolo” or Parsley to decorate

Preparation

1. Clean well the carrots and the potatoes, wash and chop into little cubes of the same size. Clean the green beans and cut them into small pieces.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add potatoes and carrot. Cook until potatoes are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Boil all the vegetables in salted water, add them when the water is at boiling temperature. Drain very well so that you eliminate all the water, pour into a bowl and mix the mayonnaise with the mustard, salt, and pepper.

3. In the meanwhile boil 3 eggs and once cooled, remove the shell and cut them in slices, you will need them to garnish the dish. Let the Russian salad rest refrigerated for 1 hour, decorate with the eggs and serve.

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Healthy Lunch Main Pasta Vegetarian

Healthy Fresh Tomato and Basil Pasta

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Tomato and Basil Pasta or “Spaghetti al Pomodoro e Basilico”

There are many different ways to prepare this easy and quick recipe but below you can find the original one. Spaghetti Pasta with tomato sauce and basil is an everyday classic of the Italian cuisine: simple, easy, quick and tasty. It tastes great with any type of pasta: spaghetti, rigatoni, linguine, lasagna and fettuccine or on ravioli. A delicious sauce made with fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. You can’t miss it!

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 350 grams of Spaghetti Pasta (Like De Cecco or Barilla)
  • 600 grams of San Marzano canned Tomatoes or fresh red Tomatoes, 8-10 pounds Tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1 clove of Garlic
  • 9 Basil leaves, at least 1 cup
  • 4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt as you prefer
  • 50 grams of Parmesan Cheese

Preparation

 

1. Wash and chop the fresh tomatoes. Wash and peel the garlic. Add the Extra Virgin Olive Oil to a large saucepan over medium heat, once hot, add the garlic just unpeeled – garlic should be removed after cooking. Once the garlic have softened (do not burn it!), add the chopped tomatoes, basil, salt and cook for about 20 minutes.

2. In the meanwhile in a large pot of boiling salted water cook the pasta as from instructions “al dente“, the traditional way: read well the cooking instructions on the pasta box. Drain pasta al dente and toss with the tomato sauce, sprinkle with plenty of Parmesan Cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil raw.

TIP: Fresh tomatoes and a touch of basil added in the end for a nice aroma is a fresh healthy option for this light dish. Garlic should be removed before adding the sauce to the pasta “al dente”.

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pasta italiana spaghetti al pomodoro

Categories
Lunch Main Pasta Vegetarian

Easy Garlic, Oil and Chili Spaghetti

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Chili Spaghetti or “Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino”

A classic and very simple dish of the Italian cuisine, cooking at home made the simplest, fast and delicious. This typical late-night Roman dish is astonishingly fully flavored, and it’s so easy and inexpensive to make. Start the water before you do anything else because the sauce takes less than 10 minutes start to finish.For variety try out additional ingredients such as courgettes, asparagus or mushrooms, be creative and fast. A wonderful solution when there is little time to cook. So easy and so delicious!

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 400 grams of Spaghetti Pasta (like Barilla n°5)
  • 10 grams of Garlic
  • 10 grams Fresh Chili
  • 50 grams Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 5 grams of Parsley
  • Salt as preferred

Preparation

1. Cut the fresh red chili into small strips (removing all the seeds inside), in the meanwhile in a pan heat the olive oil with the peeled garlic and chili. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté, after about 3 minutes remove the garlic – garlic and oil should not burn – and add a little of boiling water taken from the pasta cooking water.

2. Boil pasta in plenty of salted water according to package directions. Drain the pasta as from instructions on the package to be “al dente“, and pour it into the pan, sauté for a few minutes, add the parsley and if needed max 4 tablespoons of cooking water. Serve immediately and hat.

TIP:  Garlic should always be fried in entire pieces or half big pieces, so that you can remove it once the oil got the flavor, the idea here is to get a garlic flavor not to eat entire garlics or worst scenario little garlic pieces all over pasta as in many fake Italian recipes often is suggested.

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Appetizers Christmas Dinner Eggs Vegetarian

Crème Brûlée with Parmesan Cheese

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of  “Creme Brulee with Parmesan” or Creme Brulee al Parmigiano

This is a savory version of the traditional Crème Brûlée, easy to make and flavored with Parmesan cheese. A revisitation of the classic french creme bruleé but with a salty taste all Italian. One of the simplest recipes to impress your guests.

Ingredients for 8 small pudding molds

  • 200 ml of Milk
  • 200 ml of liquid Cream
  • 6 Egg yolks
  • 60 grams of Parmesan Cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Nutmeg, Salt and Pepper as you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons light brown Sugar as you prefer

Preparation

1. In a saucepan heat the cream with the milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg and bring to boiling temperature. Turn off the heat and let it cool, meanwhile beat the 6 egg yolks and incorporate them into the mixture previously cooled, distribute into the small pudding molds and bake for 25-30 minutes at 90°.

2. Remove from the oven, let it cool, for a savory and sweet taste, sprinkle with the brown sugar and bake with grill mode for 1 or 2 minutes, based on the kind of oven.

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Appetizers Dinner Fried Vegetarian

Fried Mozzarella Sandwich or Mozzarella in Carrozza

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Fried Mozzarella Sandwich or “Mozzarella in Carrozza”

“Mozzarella in Carrozza”, literally, mozzarella cheese in a carriage, is one of the rustic glories of Neapolitan cuisine. It’s a kind of savory French Toast or a kind of grilled cheese sandwich but fried. If you have a short time to cook, then this recipe is the ideal fast and super tasty solution, better with friends.

 

 

Ingredients for 1 person

  • 2 slices of Mozzarella Cheese, use Italian imported “mozzarella di bufala” if preferred
  • 2 slices of white Bread
  • Flour
  • 3 Egg yolks
  • ½ glass of Milk
  • a pinch of Salt
  • Oil to fry

Preparation of the Fried Mozzarella Sandwich

1. Cut 2 slices, not very thin, of mozzarella cheese and white bread. Take the slices of white bread, then place a slice or two of mozzarella cheese between two of the bread slices to make a sandwich. Make sure that the mozzarella slices are smaller than the bread slices so that you have a good margin around the slices, to prevent the cheese from falling out as it melts during cooking.

2. In a bowl, beat 3 eggs with milk and salt. Fill a large skillet with oil, enough for a semi-deep frying session, about 2cm/1 inch deep. While the oil is heating up, add the sandwich into the flour and then into the eggs. Make sure that the sandwich absorbs all the eggs and then fry in hot oil. When they’re all done, golden color, but not burned, sprinkle the sandwiches with salt and serve hot immediately.

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Lunch Main Pasta Vegetarian

Angry Penne, Pasta Tomato and Chily or Penne all’Arrabbiata

How to prepare the real Italian Recipe of “Angry Penne Pasta with Tomato sauce and chili or Pasta all’Arrabbiata”

The easy spicy favorite pasta of the Italian cuisine. Although this recipe has undergone many changes generally this below is commonly used as the real recipe in Rome for “Penne all’Arrabiata”.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 320 grams of Pasta “Penne”
  • 3 or 4 Garlic gloves
  • Hot Chili as preferred
  • 500 grams of Tomato sauce or you can also use fresh slices of tomato for a healthier version
  • 4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Parsley as preferred (do not use cilantro – never!)

Preparation

1. Add 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and red pepper to a pan, fry for few minutes. Don’t let the garlic turn brown, after 2 minutes max, add the tomato sauce and a little bit of salt. Reduce the heat, cook for another few minutes, stirring occasionally and crushing the tomatoes into the sauce.

2. Cook for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, cook the penne according to the packet instructions. Boil the Penne pasta and dress with the tomato sauce and chopped parsley. Mix the pasta with sauce and garnish with parsley, optional, add and handful of grated parmesan cheese.

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Dinner Main Pie Vegetables Vegetarian

Aubergines and Tomato Pie or Parmigiana di Melanzane

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “Aubergines and Tomato Pie or Parmigiana di Melanzane”

Expression of the simple home cooking but creative and above all economic “Aubergines and Tomato Pie” is one of the most successful dishes of the Mediterranean tradition and has a great advantage, it can be prepared in advance and cooked in the oven before serving it hot and sliced.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 1 kg of Aubergines
  • 1 Kg of Tomatoes
  • 500 grams of Mozzarella Cheese
  • 100 grams of Parmesan Cheese
  • Basil as you prefer
  • 4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Peanut oil for frying

Preparation

1. Cut the Aubergines into slices about half a centimeter and sprinkle of salt, so that they lose the bitterness. In the meanwhile prepare the tomato sauce, add to a pan the extra virgin olive oil, warm and then add the tomato and salt, cook for about half an hour, over medium heat. After about 30 minutes, rinse the aubergines to remove the salt and dry well with paper towels. Flour the slices one by one and in a high-sided frying pan fry them in hot oil. Drain the oil and leave them to dry on absorbent paper.

2. When the sauce will be restricted, place in a baking pan with high sides, stratify the components in order: the tomato sauce, aubergines, mozzarella cheese slices and Parmesan cheese, repeat until all ingredients are used. Complete with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 200 ° for 30 minutes.

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parmigiana dettaglio

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Healthy Lunch Pasta Vegetarian

Vegetarian Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Cannelloni Pasta with Ricotta Cheese and Spinach or “Cannelloni Ricotta e Spinaci”

A delicious healthy vegetarian recipe. Cannelloni pasta is a classic dish of the Italian cuisine ideal for a Sunday Family Lunch. Stuff rolled lasagne sheets with creamy spinach and ricotta, baked with tomato and Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients for 12 Cannelloni Pasta

  • 12 sheets of Egg pasta
  • 400 grams of Ricotta Cheese
  • 500 grams of fresh Spinach
  • 300 ml of Besciamella or Béchamel
  • Half liter of Tomato sauce
  • 50 grams of grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Salt, Pepper, Nutmeg
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 Besciamella or Béchamel Sauce

  • 50 grams of Butter
  • 50 grams of Flour
  • Half liter of Milk
  • Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg as preferred

Preparation of the Besciamella or Béchamel Sauce 

1. Melt the butter in a pan add the flour and cook for 3 minutes; meanwhile bring the milk to a boil with salt pepper and nutmeg, stir in the butter and flour and simmer for five minutes.

SECRET: the Béchamel is ready just when you put the spoon into the sauce and when you take it out the sauce remains firmly attached to the spoon.

Preparation of Cannelloni 

2. Clean very well the fresh spinach, rinse them thoroughly and boil them in a little boiling water for a few minutes. Drain, squeeze and chop with a food processor. Boil a few at a time the sheets of pasta in boiling salted water with the addition of a tablespoon of oil for about two minutes each. Drain them, put them to cool in cold water and place them on a clean cloth and let them cool without overlapping.

3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese chopped spinach and grated Parmesan. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg and mix everything well. Fill each pastry with a bit of dough with ricotta and spinach and roll in on themselves to form the cannelloni. In a saucepan, heat a tablespoon of oil and tomato sauce. Cook covered for about 20 minutes. Arrange the cannelloni in a baking dish lightly oiled covering them with the béchamel, tomato sauce and sprinkle with a tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 200 ° C for 35 minutes.

Posted by Nicoletta and Tiziana

The Real Italian Food. Buon Appetito!

Cannelloni-al-pomodoro_1e46_5829

Categories
Christmas Dinner Pasta Vegetarian

Lasagna Pesto, Ricotta and Pachino Tomatoes

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “Lasagna Pesto, Ricotta Cheese, and Pachino Tomatoes”

Lasagna is a kind of Pasta which is flat and thin, Ricotta is a fresh typical  Italian cheese and Pachino is a quality of tomatoes from Pachino, Sicily. The best of Italy, fresh, high-quality ingredients needed for this healthy vegetarian recipe.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 250 grams of Lasagna or 1 Box of Barilla (Italian Brand)
  • 100 grams of grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 300 gr of Pesto
  • 400 grams of Ricotta Cheese
  • 600 grams of Pachino Tomatoes
  • Half Liter of Bechamel
  • Extra Virgin  Olive Oil
  • Salt, Pepper as preferred

Besciamella or Béchamel Sauce

  • 50 grams of Butter
  • 50 grams of Flour
  • Half liter of Milk
  • Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg as you prefer

Preparation 1° Besciamella or Béchamel Sauce

1. Melt the butter in a pan add the flour and cook for 3 minutes; meanwhile bring the milk to a boil with salt pepper and nutmeg, stir in the butter and flour and simmer for five minutes.

THE SECRET: the bechamel is ready just when you put the spoon into the sauce and when you take out the sauce stays firmly attached to the spoon.

Preparation 2° The Tomato Sauce

2. In a pan, cook the Pachino tomatoes with 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Oil Olive, salt and half glass of hot water for 10 minutes, without restricting too much the sauce.

3. In a bowl mix the ricotta cheese with a bit of milk dissolved (half glass ) and pesto.

Preparation 3° The Lasagna Pasta

4. Cook the lasagna according to the instructions. About 8 minutes in 6 quarts of boiling salted water. Drain, rinse with cold water. Lay the individual lasagna noodles out on kitchen towels, very delicate, not touching between each other, so they do not stick together while you layer the casserole.

5. Start by placing a little bit of béchamel sauce on the bottom of the casserole, then build the 4 layers of lasagna, alternating pasta, béchamel sauce, Ricotta Cheese and Pesto, Pachino Tomatoes Sauce and Grated Parmesan Cheese and then again for 3 layers more. Finish the lasagna with béchamel sauce, Ricotta Cheese and Pesto, Pachino Tomatoes Sauce and Grated Parmesan Cheese.

6. Bake uncovered at 200° degrees until the lasagne is bubbling and the corners are getting brown; about 30 minutes…

Posted by Nicoletta and Tiziana

The Real Italian Food. Buon Appetito!

Lasagna Pesto, Ricotta Cheese e Pachino Tomatos

 

Categories
Appetizers Bread Healthy Lunch Vegetables Vegetarian

Toasted Garlic Bread with Tomato and Basil or Bruschetta

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of  “Bruschetta” or Toasted Garlic Bread for your party with friends

This very quick, rustic and tasty typical Italian appetizer is really a favorite that never grows old. In Italy we like it often before having our pizza dinner. It’s perfect for a barbecue party. The Italian “Bruschetta” , toasted slices of garlic bread, is a humble and traditional dish that has many regional variations, it can be topped in many different ways, even with truffle or mushrooms.

It is of extreme importance that you use high-quality olive oil as a main ingredient: Italian extra-virgin olive oil only.

Ingredients of Bruschetta or Classic Garlic Bread for 4 people

  • 10 slices of rustic crusty Bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 2-3 Garlic cloves, one more for the tomato variation
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt to taste, Pepper as you like

Preparation 

Toast the bread over a wood tire, ideally, as this is the original and traditional way to prepare this recipe, or alternatively in the oven or grill. Rub the garlic on one side of each slice of bread and then pace it on a plate and top with a generous amount of oil and salt.

Ingredients of Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil for 4 people

  • Red Tomato cut into chunks, plum or cherry “Pachino” type
  • 10 slices of rustic crusty Bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 2-3 Garlic cloves, one more for the tomato variation
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt to taste, Pepper as you like
  • Basil in leaves or Origan.

Preparation

This tasty tomato and basil variation a very much loved one. Add the garlic and oil on each slice of bread, then simply top each slice with tomatoes, red but not too ripe, previously cut into chunks in a salad bowl with garlic, salt and extra virgin olive oil, and basil.

Ingredients of Bruschetta with Avocado, Tomato and Basil for 4 people

  • Avocado in chunks
  • red tomato cut into chunks, plum or cherry “Pachino” type
  • 10 slices of rustic crusty Bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, one more for the tomato variation
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt to taste, Pepper as you like
  • Basil in leaves.

Preparation 

Preparation as above for the Tomato and Basil Bruschetta, plus add the Avocado in chunks on top to the mix. Enjoy this selection of Bruschetta toasted breads with many variations, fresh and healthy option, perfect for a nice brunch or lunch with friends and family.

Posted by Nicoletta and Tiziana

The Real Italian Food. Buon Appetito!

 

bruschetta ingredients

Categories
Gluten free Healthy Rice Vegetarian

Healthy Pumpkin Rice or Riso alla Zucca

 

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of the Traditional Pumpkin “Risotto”

The pumpkin risotto is a traditional dish in Northern Italy, in particular, is very popular in Lombardia. Mantua has a fine quality of pumpkin. For this traditional recipe there are many variants, particularly as regards the firing of the pumpkin itself, we propose the recipe that seems to be the closest to the traditional.

Ingredients for 6 people

  • 500 grams of Pumpkin
  • 250 grams of Rice
  • 100 g Butter
  • 1 Onion
  • 1 sprig of Sage
  • 5 tablespoons of grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 liter of Vegetable Stock
  • Salt and Black Pepper

Preparation

1. Clean the pumpkin from the peel and the seeds inside filaments and then the wash and cut into cubes.

2. In a saucepan, melt the butter with onion, peeled and chopped and the fresh sage washed. Then you can add the rice to the pan and toast it, so that the starch remains sealed in the beans themselves.

3. Then, add the diced pumpkin and have them cook with the rice, mix continuously. Gradually add the hot vegetable stock and do not forget to mix. Let it cook over medium heat for about twenty minutes until the liquid is absorbed almost completely.

4. Towards the end of cooking, you can add the tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and another knob of butter. Serve the rice wave, nice and soft and warm.

Posted by Nicoletta and Tiziana

The Real Italian Food. Buon Appetito!

Rice dish with pumpkin, risotto on the plate