an italian cook around the world
The Sicilian Caponata recipe is one of the most popular Italian appetizers, and so rich in history. Tasting this recipe means discovering the real soul of the island and all the Greek, Arab, Spanish, and French influences into the Sicilian cuisine, due to the several occupations over the centuries.In Sicily, the official Caponata variations are 37, and even more the family recipes! Here the history of Sicilian Caponata and the 4 most popular recipes.
Palermitan Caponata recipe is probably the most worldwide famous Sicilian Caponata. This sweet and sour appetizer had been originally served as side dish, and paired with grilled Mahi Mahi. The Palermitan Caponata recipe is prepared into two different variations: the first one simpler in ingredients, the second enriched with pine nuts, raisin, and roasted almonds. Here the traditional recipe of Palermitan Caponata!
Castagnaccio is a super famous Italian chestnuts flour cake, traditional in several regions with some variations. Thanks to its ingredients, easy to find in the Italian woods, in the past, this recipe was particularly popular among the poor people. Today, I made the Tuscan variation of Castagnaccio with walnuts, pine nuts, and raisin. This cake is very easy to prepare: just 10 minutes for the batter and 40 minutes in the oven. A classic winter recipe from Italy ready for you: vegan, healthy, and tasty!
Basil pesto is a must of Genovese cuisine (click here to read the recipe and history). People from Genoa are very proud of this tasty recipe and admit just a few variation. The most famous recipe with basil pesto is “Pesto Avvantaggiato” also called simply “Pesto Alla Genovese”. The pasta, commonly Linguine or Trofie, is cooked along with green beans and diced potatoes, then tossed with basil pesto. It’s critical do not re-heat basil pesto and add a few tbsp of water to obtain a creamy sauce. Easy and tasty!
Braciole recipe Neapolitan-style is a dish that ran the history of the Southern-Italian cuisine! The ingredients of this delicious rolled meat come from the Ancient Greece, via the discovering of America and the French domination of the territory around Naples. The meat is filled with cured prosciutto, raisins, pine nuts, and cheese, then seared and slow cooked in a tasty tomatoes sauce. To complete the recipe as the tradition requires, toss the pasta with the sauce and serve it as first course. The meat will be a fantastic second course, a complete meal to depict an authentic feast Italian-style!
Rabbit stew with mushroom is a recipe for many but not for all! There are several reasons to love this tasty and healthy meat, very popular in Italy, France, and Spain. Rabbit taste similar to the chicken but more flavorful. The pairing with white wine is a classic. Like all the slow cooked meats, the rabbit stew will be nice just cooked, but it will be even more delicious reheated the day after!
Pesto arugula is a quick and easy recipe, very versatile. Thanks to my friend Erik and his beautiful garden, I can prepare this recipe with fresh organic arugula! I love the bitter taste of this green, balanced with the sweet and sour flavor of Parmigiano Reggiano and pine nuts. Pesto Arugula is perfect to toss pasta, but is great also as seasoning of baked or boiled vegetables and chicken or brisket salad. Try it on simply spread on toasted bread as well, it is delicious!
Pastry cream tart (called in Italy “torta della nonna” = grandmother’s cake) is a classic Italian dessert. A crispy and flavorful pastry dough shell hide a creamy egg and milk custard. A rain of pine nuts and powdered sugar complete this traditional dessert, a sweet remembrance for any Italian kid!
Strudel is a typical Austrian sweet of Byzantine origin. In Italy is typical in the regions neighboring Austria, especially in Trentino South Tyrol. The original strudel ingredients are apples, raisin and pine nuts, wrapped into a thin pastry dusted with powdered sugar. Today I propose you an original version of strudel, stuffed with pears, chocolate, pine nuts and caramel. Even the dough is made of cocoa to obtain an explosion of flavor!
If you were lucky enough to visit Rome and eat in one of its many “trattorie” (Italian informal restaurants, Ed.), you’ll have noticed that the food experience is a visceral, rough and traditional one. The Roman cuisine has very ancient origins, but has been able to evolve at an equal pace with the discovery of new ingredients from other continents, such as cocoa and tomatoes. The queen of entrees is without a doubt the oxtail “alla vaccinara”, one of the most popular among Roman dishes and the pride of every self-respecting cook of the capital. Today I present you with a more traditional and rich recipe: a dish which is complex in flavors, elegant, but also full of history: a real treat!