an italian cook around the world
Pico de Gallo is one of the most simple and popular Mexican sauces. This “salsa” is a must-to-serve dish over the tables of the Mexican restaurants, along with Nachos, Salsa Picante, and Salsa Tomatillo. Called also Salsa Bandera (flag sauce) because of the same colors of the Mexican Flag, Pico de Gallo is made with simple and healthy ingredients, without any fat adding: it’s vegan, and it’s delicious! Here the whole history and the traditional recipe!
Aguachile is an ancient Mexican marinating technique for fish and seafood. This salad enhances incredibly the taste of the seafood, particularly the shrimp. The best way to serve Shrimp Aguacile is over Tostadas along with mashed avocados: spicy, fresh and tasty!
The Lyonnaise Potatoes is a popular French recipe, tasty and easy to prepare. The potatoes are previously roasted into the butter, then baked with caramelized onions and finished with fresh herbs. This vegetarian side pairs perfectly with roasted meats and white fish, but also with eggs recipe. Many chefs prefers to pan-fry the potatoes, but I prefer to bake them before finishing in a cast iron skillet.
Melitzanosalata is a tasty Greek appetizer traditionally served aside meats, pita bread, and other sauces. This eggplant salad is a delicious and healthy starter, but it also a perfect ingredient for a sandwich or a Pita Gyro. I love preparing this vegan small plate along with Tzatziki sauce, Souvlaki, and Greek salad. This kind of meal remembers me my days in Greece: closing my eyes, and breathing deeply, I can still feel the flavors of the olive groves and Mediterranean sea!
Pasta salad is a must for whom, despite these heated summer days, desire to enjoy a tasty plate of pasta! It is possible to toss the pasta with various ingredients, but today I opted for delicious grilled zucchini combined with chickpeas. The flavor of lemon zests and fresh parsley complete the recipe: ready for a picnic on the beach or a dinner with friends on a hot summer night!
The Italian Giardiniera is an ancient recipe for pickled vegetables. It is also called Giardiniera Campagnola (Rural Giardiniera), because it was one of the most traditional ways to save the overabundance of the production by the farmers, and store a spare of fresh vegetables before the winter. Giardiniera recipe is a “must-to-try” of the classic Italian “aperitivo” (aperitif), and delicious paired with meats and cheeses for a fantastic Italian BBQ. The vegetables may vary depending on the availability of the garden, but commonly the ingredients I choose, compose the classic Giardiniera mix!
White anchovies salad is a recipe I love to serve all year long! The savory and sour taste of the anchovies pairs greatly with the sweetness of baked eggplants. And the best thing is the healthiness of this dish, rich in Omega-3 and vitamins!
Roasted carrots with balsamic and arugula pesto is an healthy vegetarian salad. I love the sweet taste of the carrots glazed with balsamic vinegar paired the bitter of arugula. To obtain a perfect balance between these strong flavors a very good quality balsamic vinegar is mandatory, otherwise the taste will be too sour!
Shrimp rice salad is one of my preferred recipes for summertime. Rice pilaf tossed with steamed shrimp, fresh coriander and spices is a thing that remembers me seaside and vacation. This is the perfect recipe to prepare in advance for a picnic on the beach! Even if it is possible serve this shrimp rice salad hot, I prefer taste it at room temperature or cold. Basmati is the rice I prefer for this recipe, but Arborio, Jasmine, brown or wild will work great as well, just remember to adjust time and cook technique depending the kind of rice.
Chicken salad as a great dish prefect for incoming summer. But, maintain the meat moist and tender is not easy. For this reason, often is easier opt for different parts of the chicken but the breast, or shred the meat to make it more flavorful. Today I decided to reveal my secret to obtain the most tender chicken salad with breast you ever ate! Cooked in this way, the meat texture is optimal to be reduced into slices. I love pairing this dish with a savory sun-dried and mint pesto to give a fresh summery taste!
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