Category: Dinner

Categories
Dinner Main Vegetables Vegetarian

Vegetarian Spelt Meatballs or Polpette di Farro e Parmigiano

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Spelt Meatballs or “Polpette di Farro”

Spelt Meatballs with Parmesan are a tasty variation of the classic vegetarian meatballs often prepared with rice. Meatless Meatballs make a great addition to an Italian meal. Toss these wonderful vegetarian meatballs in soy sauce or any favorite sauce, and you’ve got a delicious dinner option! Spelt is an ancient grain. From a nutritional point of view, spelt compared to other cereals is slightly less caloric and richer in vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. A great Healthy Dinner option!

Ingredients

  • 100 grams of Spelt
  • 2 Eggs
  • 60 grams of  Parmesan Cheese
  • Bread Crumbs
  • Oil to fry
  • Salt as preferred

Preparation

  1. Add the spelt to a big bowl and cover it with water, leave in the water for 24 hours, now is ready to cook.
  2. Add it to a large pot with salty water, boil it for about 2 hours.
  3. Once cooked, drain it through a sieve, and place it in a bowl, adding 2 eggs, parmesan and a pinch of salt.
  4. Shape into balls, cover with breadcrumbs and fry in hot oil. Serve!

TIP: buy a ready to cook Spelt if you wish to prepare the meatballs faster so that you don’t have to add the Spelt to water a day before. In this case, you can start from step 2, cook as long as directed in cooking instructions included on packaging.

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Polpette-farro

Categories
Dinner Gluten free Healthy Main Soups Vegetables Vegetarian

Healthy Italian Lentil Soup or Zuppa di Lenticchie

lentils soup

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Lentils or “Lenticchie”

There are different varieties but, in any case, rich in iron and protein. We eat them as a first course, we like a lentils soup with pasta and potatoes, or as a side dish, healthy and tasty. Never miss for New Year’s Evening since the tradition tells that bring health, wealth and lucky.

 

Ingredients

  • 350 grams of Lentils
  • 300 grams of “Pancetta” or Bacon or also diced ham for a lighter version
  • 1 Onion
  • 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 4 tablespoons of  Tomato
  • 2 Carrots
  • 1 Celery
  • 1 Sprig of Rosemary
  • 4dl of structured Red Wine
  • Salt and Pepper as preferred

Preparation

  1. Wash the lentils in cold water, drain. Cut “Pancetta” or Bacon into cubes of about 2cm. Add the olive oil and the diced bacon in the pressure cooker and fry while open, not yet covered.
  2. Meanwhile, peel the onions and carrots and slice them, clean the celery, removing the leaves and the base of the coast, wash and cut into chunks. Combine the carrots, bacon, onions and celery, including the lentils and the rosemary, sprinkle with red wine and about 4dl of water, add salt to taste. It’s time to close the pot!
  3. When the valve of the pressure cooker starts to whistle, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.
  4. When cooked, lift the valve and let the steam out. Now you can open the pot and pour into a pot to serve. Add a sprinkling of black pepper and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

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zuppetta-di-lenticchie-di-colfiorito-con-pancetta--118533

Categories
Dinner Main St. Valentine Veal

Veal Escaloppes with Lemon sauce or Scaloppine al Limone

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Veal Escaloppes with Lemon sauce or “Scaloppine al Limone”

A classic Italian dish prepared in many different ways in various regions, delicious with marsala, with artichokes, or with white wine, here below we prepare the escallopes with lemon, the result is a delicate flavor  really enjoyable and that never fails on our table eighter for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 600 grams  of Breat of Veal sliced
  • 100 grams of Butter
  • 1 Lemon
  • Parsley Chopped
  • Flour as you need
  • Salt as you prefer

Preparation

  1. Arrange the slices of meat on a cutting board, lined with a sheet of parchment paper, cover with another sheet of paper and beat with a meat-mallet so that they are more subtle. Pass the meat in the flour, on both sides, pressing lightly with your hands to make it adhere well.
  2. Melt the butter in a pan and when it is ready, add the sliced meat without overlaps, cook over high heat turning often. Proceed with all the slices of meat in addition to the butter sauce.
  3. Once ready include the meat on a plate. In the same pan, pour the lemon juice, previously filtered, add the chopped parsley and a knob of butter, cook for 3 minutes, then add the meat and cook for about 4 minutes over medium heat, always turning. Served.

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scaloppine_limone

 

Categories
Appetizers Dinner Gluten free Healthy Main St. Valentine Vegetarian

Cheese-Balls with Pistachio or Polpettine di Caprino

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Goat Cheese-Balls with Pistachio and Rocket or “Polpettine di Caprino con Pistacchi e Rucola”

A delicious appetizer all cheese based but light and fast, those Caprino Goats Cheese-balls are suitable for any occasion. Easy, quick, super tasty. A good starter for large dinners with friends, well presented light soft cheese. Caprino is an Italian cheese traditionally made from whole or skim goat’s milk. The name of the cheese derives from the Italian word for goat, capra. Goat cheese has been made for thousands of years, and was probably one of the earliest made dairy products. Enjoy and have fun!

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 130 grams of Goat Cheese like “Caprino” or Philadelphia
  • 250 grams of white Greek Yogurt
  • 3 slices wholemeal Bread chopped
  • 100 grams of chopped Pistachios
  • Chopped Chives
  • Rocket for decoration
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, mix well the goat cheese, chopped chives, yogurt, rusks crumbled, 50 grams of chopped pistachios. Put the mix in the freezer to make it coagulate well for about 30 minutes.
  2. Now prepare the balls not too big and cover them with the remaining pistachios chopped and a leaf of arugula on each ball. Serve.

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palline-ricotta-e-pistacchi

Categories
Dinner Fried Veal

Breaded Veal Cutlet or Cotoletta alla Milanese

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Breaded Veal Cutlet or “Cotoletta alla Milanese”

Delicious main course from northern region Lombardy, popular in Milan. Breaded Veal Cutlets are a fast dinner solution and a great way to make the most of your leftover bread. To make your own bread crumbs for these veal cutlets, simply pulse day old bread in a food processor to a coarse grind. The real “Cotoletta alla Milanese” is made with veal cutlet with the bone and with a thickness of about 3 cm. To serve you can cover the bone with aluminum kitchen paper, this way is well presented. It is also popular without bone literally as “elephant ear”, a thinner larger version. Hard to say which is the best, you will judge! Compulsively delicious.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Lemon wedged
  • 4 Veal Cutlet, pounded thin (or you can ask your butcher to cut them thin)
  • 100 grams of Butter or you can also use Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Breadcrumbs as needed (you can make them or buy already made)
  • Salt, Pepper as you prefer

Preparation of Veal Cutlet

1. In a food processor, cut the bread into fine crumbs (bread should be dried not fresh). Transfer the breadcrumbs to a bowl or large plate. Beat the veal lightly with a meat mallet. In a bowl beat the eggs and break.

2. Season the veal with salt and pepper. Place the veal into the beaten eggs, coating completely. Soak the meat and let then drain the slices to slide away the excess of egg. Working with 1 piece of veal at a time, cover the cutlets with the breadcrumbs pressing them well to the bread by hand, so that the bread will be fully attached to the surface, all covered, and will not risk to come off during cooking. Place the veal into the bread crumb mixture and press crumbs into the veal. Set aside on large plate and continue with the remaining veal slices.

3. Melt the butter in a pan and fry the meat. Heat 2-3 tablespoons butter in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. While the butter is still foaming add the breaded cutlets and cook until brown, not burned. Once cooked, place the breaded cutlets on the kitchen paper towels to lose the excess cooking fat or oil, then transfer them to a serving dish and season with salt. Serve accompanied with a few slices of fresh lemon.

TIP: You can replace the butter with Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a healthier option, you can use a little saucepan full of oil, and fry the meat one by one.

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Cotoletta Milanese

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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Torta-Caprese-fetta-950x634

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
Dinner Healthy Main Veal

Veal Escaloppes with Marsala or Scaloppine al Marsala

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of” Veal Escallops with Marsala or Scaloppine al Marsala”

The Veal Escallops Marsala are a quick and easy dish to prepare, suitable for all occasions. The Escallops Marsala are a variation to those in white wine, soft flavor enhanced by the creaminess of Marsala sauce, with a sweet taste and with some harmonious note of Tabasco, really to amaze your guests.

 

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 600 grams of Breat Veal sliced
  • 100 grams of Butter
  • 1/2 glass of Marsala
  • Parsley chopped
  • Flour as you need
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. Arrange the slices of meat on cutting board, lined with a sheet of parchment paper, cover with another sheet of paper and beat with a meat mallet so that they are more subtle. Pass the meat in flour, on both sides, pressing lightly with your hands to make it adhere well.

2. Melt the butter in a pan and, when it is ready, add the sliced meat without overlapping, cook them over high heat turning. Proceed with all the slices of meat addition of readily butter.

3. Once ready put the meat on a plate. In the same pan, pour the Marsala cook for 2 minutes, then add the meat and cook for about 3-4 minutes over medium heat, turning. Served.

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scaloppine-al-marsala_02

Categories
Dinner Healthy Lunch Main Veal

Veal Rolls with Parma Ham or Involtini di Vitello al Prosciutto

involtini with parma ham

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Veal Rolls with Parma Ham or “Involtini di Vitello al Prosciutto Crudo di Parma”

The veal rolls with parma ham are a tasty main dish, easy and quick to prepare. Ideal for a tasty Italian meal when you do not have much time. It’s a great way to use the leftover ham too. The veal for this should always be of the best quality. Ask the butcher for long slices that each to weigh about 90 g (3 oz), then cut them in two and bash them out even thinner. This dish has a nice woodsy flavor provided by fresh sage.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 500 grams of Slices Veal
  • 200 grams of Parma Ham
  • 60 grams of Breadcrumbs
  • 1 glass of White Wine
  • 1 Egg yolk
  • Sage leaves for each slice of veal
  • 50 grams of Butter
  • Vegetable Broth as you need
  • Milk as you need
  • 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

  1. Put the bread to soak in a little milk. Arrange the slices of meat on cutting board, lined with a sheet of parchment paper, cover with another sheet of paper and beat with a meat-mallet so that they are more subtle.
  2. Chopped together 100 grams of parma ham and two sage leaves. Squeeze the bread and put it in a bowl, add the chopped parma ham, parmesan cheese, egg yolk, salt and pepper and mix well.
  3. Spread the filling on the slices of meat rolled to roll, wrap each roll with a slice of parma ham and stop it with a toothpick poking out of each roll a leaf of sage.
  4. In a frying pan, melt the butter with 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, add the roulades and brown for a few minutes, when they are golden-brown add the wine and let evaporate, add salt and pepper as you prefer.
  5. Add the filling of ham slices, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally the rolls, if the sauce is too dry, wet with vegetable broth. Ready to serve.

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Agrodolce

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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pastaefagioli

 

Categories
Christmas Dinner Gluten free Veal

Delicious Veal with Tuna Sauce or Vitello Tonnato

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of  Veal with Tuna Sauce or “Vitello Tonnato Tradizionale”

The Veal with Tuna Sauce or Vitel Tonné is a very Italian dish typical of Piemonte cuisine. Tasty and very fresh ideal for a starter in a gala dinner or even in the summer as a main course. A popular starter,  “Vitel Tonné”, which despite the French resemblance, is a dialectal form of Italian Vitello Tonnato which is basically a carpaccio of veal meat with a rich tuna sauce. Simply one of the most beautiful and classic dishes of Italian cuisine. This beautiful veal dish is festive and tastes superb. You can eat Vitel Tonnè as a main dish, or as an appetizer, it is a very appreciated cold dish in Italy.

 Ingredients for 6 people

  • 1 kg 500 grams of Veal
  • 1 blonde Onion
  • 1 sprig of Celery
  • 2 cloves of Carnation
  • 1 Carrots
  • 5 stalk of Parsley
  • 2 leaves of Bay
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Ingredients for the sauce

  • 300 grams of Tuna Canned
  • 3-4 Anchovies
  • 30 grams of Capers
  • 4 tablespoons of Mayonnaise
  • 1 Lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 sprig of Parsley
  • Salt and Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. Bring to a boil in a saucepan with salted water, onion, cloves, carrot, celery, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Immerse the meat, previously tied with kitchen string and boil for about 2 hours. Once ready, drain and keep the broth, I recommend let cool wrapped in aluminum foil. Wipe the meat thoroughly, remove the wire and only when it is well-chilled cut into very thin slices and arrange on a serving platter.

Now we prepare the sauce

2. Rinse the capers, to remove the excess salt, wash and clean the anchovies, drained tuna oil. Blend all ingredients together slowly adding the meat broth, previously filtered, until a creamy consistency, cover the veal cut into slices with the sauce and decorate as desired with slices of lemon and parsley.

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vitel-tonnato-ricetta-originale-890x570

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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Insalata-russa-leggera-640x480

Categories
Appetizers Christmas Dinner Eggs Vegetarian

Crème Brûlée with Parmesan Cheese

Creme Brulee

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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creme-brulee-2

Categories
Chicken Dinner Gluten free Healthy Lunch

Easy Lemon Chicken Breast or Petto di Pollo al Limone

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Lemon Chicken Breast or “Petto di Pollo al Limone”

A simple and tasty dish for an easy and delicious dinner with friends. An all-Italian interpretation of a dish that comes from distant China. There are many recipes of Lemon Chicken worldwide the one we propose here is an all Italian version from traditional authentic Italian cuisine. You can choose chicken breast as a healthy choice for this easy Italian dish. This recipe is a good option for a healthy lunch with low calories and lot’s of proteins, using chicken.

Ingredients for 8 people

  • 1Kg ½ Chicken Breast (You can also use 1 entire Chicken and maybe cut into chunks if you prefer)
  • juice of 9 Lemons
  • 2 Lemons cut into rings
  • 5 tablespoons of Mustard
  • Salt, Black Pepper, Pink Pepper as preferred
  • Olives
  • fresh Parsley

Preparation

1. Take a the chicken breast fillets (or the entire Chicken better if in chunks), add them into a bowl to marinate overnight with the juice of 7 lemons, 5 tablespoons of mustard, salt, black pepper and red pepper.

2. Transfer the chicken with half of the juice in a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes at 180°C after that wet the chicken with the sauce and garnish with the lemon slices and olives, continue cooking at 200° for 25 minutes more. Finish the preparation of the recipe of lemon chicken with a pinch of fresh parsley.

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Lemon Chicken_2015

Categories
Dinner Lunch Main Pasta

Tagliatelle with Parma Ham or Tagliatelle al Prosciutto

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Tagliatelle Pasta with Butter and Parma Ham or “Tagliatelle Burro e Prosciutto”

A nice pasta for everyday lunch with the family. Tagliatelle Pasta with Parma Ham and butter are a quick, easy and simple recipe, a very tasty dish, ideal for a Sunday lunch for adults and children. Of course, better if pasta is homemade.

Ingredients for 6 people

Preparation

1. Melt slowly 150 grams of butter in a pan and add 200 grams of Parma ham cut into strips, it’s very important that the butter melts only, it should not fry.

2. In the meanwhile boil the noodles in salted water, drain the Tagliatelle pasta, keeping aside 1 cup of the cooking water, season the pasta with the sauce and Parmesan Cheese and 3 or 4 tablespoons of the cooking water. Enjoy.

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Tagliatelle-Pasta-with-Parma-Ham_2015

 

Categories
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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Mozarella-in-carozza

 

Categories
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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Categories
Chicken Dinner Main

Hunter’s Chicken Stew or Pollo alla Cacciatora

 

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Roasted “Pollo alla Cacciatora” or Hunter’s Chicken Stew

One of the oldest recipes of the Italian cuisine, mainly from Tuscany region, this chicken olives and anchovies recipe is a great evening meal for all the family. A succulent dish with an ancient Italian heritage.

Ingredients

  • 1kg 200 grams of cut Chicken
  • 1 glass of Red Wine
  • 400 grams of fresh Tomato
  • 80 grams of Black Olives
  • 30 grams of Anchovies
  • 4 Bay leaves
  • 1 Carrot
  • 1 clove of Garlic
  • Rosemary, Salt and Pepper as you prefer
  • 4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preparation

1. In a pan add 4 tablespoons of oil, garlic and let the chicken cook for about 10 minutes, add the black olives let it cook for about 4 minutes, then add a glass of red wine and let it evaporate.

2. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and rosemary, cooking then over medium heat for 30 minutes until the meat is tender. Enjoy.

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Categories
Dinner Gluten free Healthy Lunch Main Veal

Healthy Veal Roast or Arrosto di Vitello

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “the traditional Pan Roasted Veal”

The veal roast with potatoes o “Arrosto” is a traditional holiday dish, to cook when you have free time or if you’re looking for something special.

Ingredients for 5 people

  • 800 gr. Shoulder of Veal or Roast slice
  • Stock as necessary
  • a glass of White Wine
  • 50 grams of Butter
  • a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • a sprig of Rosemary and one of Sage
  • Garlic, Salt and Pepper

Preparation

1. Picketing the meat with garlic, rosemary and sage, add salt and pepper and fry in butter and oil, splash with white wine after the wine evaporated,  add the hot stock, cook in a covered pot and over low heat for about an hour.

2. Cut the roast once warmed and serve with its gravy.

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Categories
Dinner Pasta Soups

Pasta and Chickpeas Soup, “Pasta e Ceci”

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “Chickpeas and Pasta Soup or Pasta e Ceci”

Chickpeas and Pasta soup is a whole Italian dish from the region of Lazio. It’s absolutely delicious, healthy and tasty especially if it accompanied with a good glass of red wine.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 500 grams of Dried Chickpeas
  • 300 grams of Ditali Pasta (it’s a kind of Italian pasta perfect for this recipe, as well you can use spaghetti Chopped)
  • 3 fillets of Anchovies
  • 1 tablespoon of Tomato paste
  • 3 sprigs of Rosemary
  • 2 Garlic cloves
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Black Pepper as you prefer

Preparation

1. Soak the chickpeas in cold water for 12 hours. Drain and rinse. Pour into a saucepan plenty of water and a sprig of rosemary and let cook for 3 hours. Salted chickpeas just 10 minutes before turning off the fire. In a pan pour 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 2 cloves of crushed garlic , cook for 3 minutes over medium heat , remove the garlic and add anchovies and after 2 minutes, add the tomato paste diluted in a previously glass of warm water , and simmer to reduce the sauce for 3-4 minutes.

2. Add the drained chickpeas (retaining the cooking water), 1 sprig of rosemary and let cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 3 cups of water from cooking the chickpeas, salt and cook with the lid on low heat for about 1 hour, remembering to add water from cooking the chickpeas as it dries.

3. Deleting the rosemary and mix all together, put on the fire and bring to a boil, add salt, pour the pasta and you switch off the fire. Let stand for 1 hour. When it’s ready serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and freshly ground black pepper plentiful.

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Categories
Dinner Lunch Seafood

Tuna Meatballs with Ricotta Cheese

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “delicious Italian Tuna Meatballs”

Tuna meatballs and ricotta cheese are a very tasty recipe, a different way to propose the traditional Italian meatballs but with fish instead, “fishballs” an alternative idea to cook with a top quality the canned tuna.

Ingredients for n°18/20 Tuna Meatballs

  • 200 grams canned Tuna
  • 200 grams Ricotta Cheese
  • 5 Anchovy fillets
  • 10 Capers
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped Parsley
  • 50 grams of Parmesan Cheese
  • 50 grams of Breadcrumbs
  • 2 Eggs
  • Salt and Black Pepper as you prefer

To Bread and Frying

Peanut oil q.s. Breadcrumbs 40g

Preparation

1. In a bowl mix the ricotta cheese, drained tuna, eggs and parmesan, add the capers and chopped anchovies, parsley, salt and pepper and breadcrumbs. Now we have to prepare the meatballs!

2. Prepare Tuna meatballs about 30 grams each , roll in breadcrumbs (40 grams), meanwhile heat a pan with Peanut oil and fry. Continue to fry until they are golden brown. Let them drain on paper towels for kitchen and serve the meatballs tuna and ricotta still warm.

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Categories
Appetizers Christmas Dinner Gluten free Healthy Seafood

Smoked Salmon Salad with Orange and Rocket

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of Smoked Salmon with fresh rocket, orange and flaked almond or “Salmone Affumicato”

This delicious Italian appetizer is a very simple plate and quite quick to prepare, with the right mix of ingredients it results in a very nice and fresh option. Perfect as appetizer for a dinner with friends.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • 200 grams of Smoked Salmon
  • 2 Oranges bio
  • 1 Lemon bio
  • 50 grams of Flaked Almond
  • 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • peel of half Lemon cut into lozenges
  • grains of Pink Pepper just if you like
  • 50 grams of Rocket

Preparation

1. Arrange the slices of salmon on a plate, meanwhile in a bowl add the juice of half a lemon, the juice of 1 orange and a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, stir well to emulsify.

2. In another bowl add the rocket and drizzle with the sauce, add small pieces of orange, cut into triangle and the flaked almond, let stand for 3 minutes, add the rocket over the salmon, sprinkle with the lemon peel, cut into lozenges and grains pink pepper.

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Categories
Christmas Dinner Pasta Vegetarian

Lasagna Pesto, Ricotta and Pachino Tomatoes

lasagne pesto

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…

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Lasagna Pesto, Ricotta Cheese e Pachino Tomatos

 

Categories
Dinner Lunch Main Pasta

Traditional Pasta Amatriciana with Pancetta and Tomato

How to prepare the real Italian recipe of “the Perfect  Bucatini Or Mezzemaniche all’ Amatriciana”

The real “amatriciana alla romana”, is a unique and traditional recipe. Originating from the town of Amatrice (in the mountainous Province of Rieti in Lazio area), the Amatriciana is one of the most well-known pasta sauces in Roman and Italian cuisine. While bacon comes from the sides or belly of the pig, “guanciale” or “pancetta” is the cured pork jowl. Onion is not preferred in Amatrice, but is shown in the classical handbooks of Roman cuisine.

Ingredients for 4 people

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tablespoons or more as preferred
  • 300 gr of peeled Tomatoes better if fresh
  • 400 grams of Pasta type Bucatini or Mezzemaniche
  • 150 grams of diced “Pancetta” or “Guanciale” (similar to Bacon)
  • Salt, Black Pepper as you prefer
  • 80 grams of Pecorino cheese or Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. In a casserole combine the oil and the “pancetta”, gently fry so that the “pancetta” becomes brown and crunchy. Once done drain the “pancetta” and place it in a pot.

2. Add the tomatoes in the boiling oil, add salt and pepper and cook for about 20 minutes. Once cooked add the “pancetta” or pork bacon sliced.

3. Drain the pasta, add it to the pot and stir-fry for about 1-2 minutes mixing as desired and sprinkle with Parmesan or Pecorino cheese to serve. It is important not to overcook the pasta that should be always “al dente”.

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