an italian cook around the world
The Ribollita is one of the most popular Italian bread soups. This historical recipe prepared in Tuscany since the Middle Ages, and came from the necessity to reuse the stale bead mixing it with the herbs and vegetables available in the garden: the result is simply delicious! To prepare an authentic Ribollita, Tuscan bread, Lacinato kale and beans are essential ingredients: a traditionally vegan delight!
The Ragù alla Bolognese is one of the most important recipes of my own city, perhaps the most famous Italian dish in the world. Unfortunately, it is also the most mangling Italian recipe! For the Bologna’s people, ragù is a very serious matter, more than can be expected! The preparation of this great recipe is very easy but needs time, right ingredients and a very good thick-bottomed heavy pot. So, take your time and be prepared to taste something different than the ordinary international “Bolognese sauce”.
Today I propose you another recipe from my childhood: the pasta with Italian prosciutto and green peas. Oh men! This pasta brings me right to my birthplace in Bologna, when my mom wanted to cuddle us, but had not much time. The best prosciutto for this recipe is the final part, the sweeter and softer. Just because the ham is cooked, increasing its sapidity, I do not recommend you to add salt into the sauce. Try on this dish with Penne, Garganelli or, if you have more time, with fantastic homemade tagliatelle!
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In Italy, meatballs (that we call “polpette”) are a classic Monday dish. In fact, originally the meatballs were made with the leftovers of the meat used for Sunday’s broth. Nowadays, meatballs are no longer made just to avoid throwing out leftover food, and we prepare them in many ways: with vegetables (eggplant is an excellent choice), meat (veal, beef or pork) or fish (especially cod and shrimp). Usually the balled mixture is fried and then simmered, although at times they area perfect street food, just fried and eaten on the go. Today we are going to prepare sausage meatballs, topped with a sauce made of tomatoes and fresh basil, without frying them so they are lighter. Given that the meat is very savory, I don’t add salt to either the sauce or the meatballs, and they are still very tasty. Your only regret will be not having prepared a few more!