an italian cook around the world
Probably, the Greek dolmades are the most worldwide famous stuffed grape leaves rolls! These delicious roulades filled with a traditionally vegan mix of rice, onions, and herbs, are popular, with some variations, not only in Greece, but also in several other regions of the Middle Eastern, Turkic, and Balkans areas. I love to serve Dolmades as an appetizer, or into a selection of small plates for my parties. Here the recipe and the history of Dolmades!
Stir-fry Shiitake mushrooms is a smart and easy way to prepare a delicious Chinese-style side dish. Even if it’s possible to use other kinds of mushrooms, the Shiitake are the most traditional and appropriate. The Oyster sauce gives an unique flavor to the mushrooms, and can easily be replaced with the vegan version.
The Shakshuka is a tasty North-African and Israeli recipe commonly prepared for breakfast and sometimes served at dinner along with hummus, sausages and Pita bread. The eggs are poached in a hearty tomato sauce enriched with bell peppers, garlic, onions, and spices. I love to serve Shakshuka as particular and amazing brunch, preparing the sauce the previous day, and poaching the eggs at the moment: delicious!
For me, born and raised in Bologna, stuffed zucchini are part of the tradition. This vegetable came in Europe from America, as a consequence of Cristoforo Colombo travelling, and was quickly introduced in the tradition of Italian cuisine. For centuries, stuffed zucchini were prepared with the leftovers of meat to provide a dish full of vitamins and protein. Here, I suggest a vegetarian version, filled with tasty goat cheese, coriander seeds, potatoes and shallots. Stuffed zucchini can be prepared either “lying” or “standing”, but I personally prefer the second option. Do not dig totally the zucchini, in order to preserve a base that will prevent leakage of the filling.