an italian cook around the world
This baked tomatoes gratin recipe is a classic Italian delish, and a fun way to feed your kids with healthy ingredients! By now, this dish is typical in all the Italian regions but mainly traditional in Southern Italy. The filling may vary depending on the local cuisines and family traditions: today, I prepared an Apulian variation of baked tomatoes, but as usual, follow your taste and make your own stuffing!
Steak Tartare is a classic recipe in many cuisines, from Europe to Levantine countries. Probably the most famous Tartare originates from France (here the recipe), but to season raw meat the sky is the limit! Here a particular Tartare made with the typical Mediterranean flavors!
The Caponata Catanese is one of the most famous Sicilian Caponata recipes. The most distinguishing trait of the Caponata Catanese is the adding of red and yellow bell peppers. This appetizer is a must to try in Sicily and often paired with bread slices, grilled meats, and fish like Mahi Mahi, Tuna, or Swordfish.
This Salmoriglio tuna steak recipe hides the story of a fantastic day on the Island of Favignana, in Sicily. Last June my wife Caterina and I spent a few days on the Aegadian Islands. One day we have been so lucky to have a day on the boat of the famous Italian fisherman Gioacchino Cataldo. Gioacchino has been a pleasant guide bringing us to explore the Island and cooking for us this delicious tuna steak recipe. On the contrary of the classic Salmoriglio marinate, the seasoning is made directly in the pan. The tuna is quickly seared on both sides, then seasoned with lemon juice and oregano: a simple, quick, and tasty recipe!
Pasta Puttanesca recipe is a daily dish in Italy; easy and tasty! This recipe was created in Naples, but Rome is proud of a variation become as traditional as the Neapolitan version. The Roman Puttanesca sauce require anchovies, and Pecorino Romano, and oregano instead of parsley: absolutely a must-to-try! If you prefer to stay in the tradition eating an amazing vegan Italian dish, go with Neapolitan version!
Tuna pasta is one of the most famous Italian comfort food! There are several version of this recipe. Today I prepared it with tomato sauce, capers and black olives. The most important think to prepare a tasty tuna pasta is add the canned fish just 5 minutes before toss and serve. Even if the sauce is perfect just cooked, the day after will be even more tasty! Just prepare the sauce one day in advance and toss with the pasta just before eating.
Are you looking for a “sunny” recipe easy to prepare in winter as well? The sun dried tomatoes sauce is perfect! This easy recipe is great with spaghetti. Crispy bread crumbs give at this dish an authentic taste of Southern-Italian tradition!
September, here we are … the stew’s season is starting! For these first days of Fall, I propose you a classic Italian chicken stew, winking to just gone summer time (yeah, I’m feeling nostalgic…), with bell peppers, black olives and pickled capers. This traditional dish, transmits all the flavors of the southern Italian farms. I fried peppers as Sicilian way, and I cooked the chicken in the same oil, with a tasty tomato and basil sauce. To prepare this recipe I strongly suggest a dutch oven with enamel interior: Your stew will be a resounding success!
In preparing this particular sauce, I was inspired by the classic Italian green sauce recipe (salsa verde). We use this sauce to accompany Piedmontese boiled meat and Tuscan offal. I needed something that would work well to accompany both fish and meat. So I eliminated the bread to lighten the sauce and added wasabi, to give it a more fresh and pungent taste. Try it cold, but not ice cold, and if you can, use a mortar leaving the mixer tightly locked in the cupboard!
This dish remind me of my days in Greece: The white-washed houses, the deep blue of the sea and the pale and spiced yellow of Retsina wine. when I returned I brought home the colors and flavors of the Peloponnese and I created a variant of the veal scaloppine with what I had left in my suitcase : Kalamata olives, fresh tomatoes, oregano, capers, feta cheese. The result was great, and I toasted to the many ingredients that are common to Italy and Greece!