Vorrei: Delicious Italian Food

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Zia Connie’s Corner – Neapolitan Potato Croquettes

24 May 2016 || Recipes, Side dishes

Welcome to our new column of recipes and ideas (starting with delicious Neapolitan Potato Croquettes) from Zia Connie, a modern Italian Auntie with a passion for cooking! Check our blog posts to find her latest favourite recipes and top cooking tips. But first…meet Aunt Connie! Connie Amato is the 2.0 version of the classic Neapolitan […]

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Farfalle with Salmon and Asiago Cheese

12 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes

This recipe made with aged asiago cheese is perfect for a summer lunch or dinner and it is really easy to prepare. We have used farfalle pasta but you can choose any pasta shapes that you have in the cupboard. Ingredients for four people 400g. Farfalle pasta (butterfly shaped) 200g Smoked Norwegian Salmon 50g Aged […]

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Gnocchi with Castelmagno Cheese

7 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Recipes

Castelmagno cheese is one of Piemonte’s most unique and esteemed cheeses. This DOP cheese (Protected Designation of Origin) can only be produced in three municipalities in the province of Cuneo. Strong, but pleasant and aromatic, this cheese is a popular table cheese and is also used in many Piemonte dishes. Gnocchi with Castelmagno is probably the […]

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Pecorino and Parmesan Cheese Biscuits

3 May 2016 || Antipasti, Cheese, Recipes

These savoury biscuits made with both authentic Pecorino and Parmesan cheese are a tasty treat for picnic, parties or just to snack on at home! They are really easy to make, but good quality cheese is essential for the best flavour. We added Pecorino as well as Parmesan to give a sharper, stronger taste to the […]

Italian Street Food Tales: Florence

29 April 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Italian life

Following our last post on Street Food in Sicily, here is the second in our occasional series about Italian Street Food, and this time we are in Tuscany! Italian Street Food Delicacies from Beautiful Florence Tuscany is home to some of the most famous dishes in Italy and perhaps not one of the places you might think of […]

Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Beware of Imitations

13 April 2016 || Food and well being

With the growing popularity of the Mediterranean Diet, Italian extra virgin olive oil has become the must-have ingredient for a balanced, healthy diet. Everybody wants their own little stock in their pantry and many people around the world are substituting the heavy, saturated fats used for cooking with the lighter choice of extra virgin olive […]

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Nonna Giulia’s Gnocchi Recipe

18 March 2016 || Cooking tips, Recipes, Vegetarian

A classic Italian gnocchi recipe We were always a little scared about making our own potato gnocchi (pronounced ‘nyockee’) so we asked Nonna Giulia for her trusted gnocchi recipe and to show us the process step by step – and it’s actually easier than we thought! Gnocchi make a great alternative to pasta or risotto, […]

Dried Figs: Five Easy Dessert Ideas

17 March 2016 || Desserts, Recipes

Dried figs are not only deliciously chewy and decadently sweet; they are also an extremely healthy type of food. The fresh fruit is generally available from May through to September, with a slight variation in size (the larger ones are usually available in May whilst between July and August you can find the smaller, sweeter ones), […]

Salina Capers – A Taste Of The Wilderness

11 March 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian

Italy is an amazing peninsula full of incredible locations, still untouched, in full, natural bloom. One of these enchanting places is the archipelago of the ‘Isole Eolie’, located to the north of Sicily. The Eolian Islands This group of volcanic islands is set in the enchanting frame of Tyrrhenian Sea and is made up of […]

An Italian Easter Cake To Amaze Your Taste Buds: The Colomba

1 March 2016 || Desserts, Italian life, Vegetarian

Easter time in Italy, as in countries across the world is a time spent with friends and family. Naturally, every Italian celebration has its special foods that are to be traditionally prepared and eaten during these days and Easter is no exception. The Easter Dove One of these lip-smacking treats is the Easter Colomba, a […]

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Italian Street Food Tales – Sicily

23 February 2016 || Eat your way around Italy

Welcome to our first post of a new series dedicated to the marvellous world of Italian Street Food! First of all, let’s clarify what Street Food is all about and where the trend started. Street Food is basically an informal type of meal you can buy from a street vendor or at a market. Usually you […]

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Reach The Lost Pleasures with the Aphrodisiac Diet

11 February 2016 || Food and well being

Needing a little help in the passion department? Don’t worry! We are here to offer you some natural aphrodisiac remedies. The right combination will help you to prepare an alternative “spicy dinner” for you and your partner that will ensure a very happy ending in the bedroom. So, let’s begin! Put aside the traditional oysters for […]

Chilli Jam: The Ultimate Treat for Lovers of Heat!

5 February 2016 || Antipasti, Cooking tips

If you are that type of person that can’t go without a dash of chilli or a sprinkle of hot sauce over every single dish they eat, then keep an eye out for this unbelievable product: chilli jam! Chilli fans would most definitely add that spark of hotness to basically any kind of food, from […]

Valentines Day – 10 facts you need to know about the Saint of lovers!

31 January 2016 || Italian life

We celebrate Valentines Day every year, but who exactly was the Saint of Lovers? 1) St. Valentine isn’t just the Patron Saint of courting & engaged couples, lovers, love and happy marriages; his remit also includes epilepsy, fainting, greetings, plague, travellers, young people and … bee keepers (he is said to ensure the sweetness of […]

Prosecco Ginger Fizz

25 January 2016 || Drinks, Vegan, Wine and Prosecco

We love to find out new ways of serving our favourite sparkling wine and were smitten by this Prosecco and ginger aperitivo when we tasted it in Rome at Christmas time. Of course ginger is a powerful aphrodisiac, warming up the body and increasing your heart rate just like chilli! Valentines drinks anyone?! Ingredients For […]

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Liquorice Crème Brûlée

24 October 2015 || Desserts, Vegetarian

If you are a liquorice lover you’ll love this fabulously decadent dessert! Making Crème Brûlée is easier than you think and the addition of our organic Calabrian liquorice powder gives these gorgeous little pots a wonderful subtle flavour. Ingredients for 10 people 1 litre Double cream 45g Organic liquorice powder 1 Liquorice root 240g Egg yolks […]

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Liquorice, Saffron & Pistachio Risotto

23 October 2015 || Recipes, Risotto, Vegetarian

We love this unusual risotto recipe packed with interesting flavours, it’s pretty quick and easy to make and it’s tasty and healthy too. We have used organic liquorice powder from Calabria, the home of some of the best liquorice in the world. Just a spoonful of this spice ground from the liquorice root gives a wonderful […]

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The Top 5 Italian Pasta Recipes Every Fresher Needs to Know!

19 September 2015 || Pasta, Recipes

When it comes to cooking easy, filling and tasty food on a budget you can’t beat pasta! Perfect for Freshers fending for themselves for the first time, a bag of pasta plus a few key quality ingredients can be quickly transformed into a range of satisfying meals that are sure to impress! Once you get your hands on […]

Our Top 5 Uses For Caper Powder

10 September 2015 || Cooking tips

Capers (flower buds from the caper plant) are a popular ingredient in Italian cooking and give a distinctive aromatic flavour to many recipes. Caper powder is a finely blended seasoning made from sun dried Sicilian capers. Vorrei’s capers grow in the Mediterranean sunshine on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria and are the only ones with […]

The Slow Food Movement: Embracing Good, Clean and Fair Food

25 August 2015 || Food and well being, Italian life

The pasta protest on the Spanish Steps The movement began on the Spanish Steps in Rome in 1986. McDonalds wanted to open a franchise there and many Italians, who generally have a lukewarm relationship with fast food, were not happy about it. One man was particularly dismayed. Carlo Petrini, the founder of the movement descended upon […]

Roasted Pear Salad with Pomegranate and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

31 July 2015 || Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian

Did you know that pears can be an excellent source of dietary fibres? And using them in a salad makes them even more exotic! Pears can be perfect in a salad as their sweetness will balance out the salt and pepper and other ingredients. We will also be using hazelnut vinaigrette, made with authentic balsamic […]

Parmesan Ice Cream: Have you ever tried?

4 June 2015 || Antipasti, Desserts, Recipes

An easy recipe with the most loved Italian cheese: Parmesan Savoury artisanal ice creams are becoming more and more popular in Italy where in the best, innovative Italian ‘gelaterie’ you can find basil, lavender and camomile, sunflower seed or even Gorgonzola gelato alongside stracciatella and pistachio. Salty parmesan cheese and double cream is definitely an interesting […]

12 Ways with Italian Coffee at Home

24 April 2015 || Drinks, Italian life

Savour a rich Italian coffee at home with our 12 serving suggestions! Do you know your caffe macchiato from your ristretto? Your shakerato from your marocchino? We all know that it’s hard to find a bad cup of Italian coffee but did you know how many different ways there are in Italy of drinking this […]

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Risotto with Gorgonzola & Pear Mustard

3 April 2015 || Recipes, Risotto

Recipe for Risotto with Gorgonzola and Pear Mustard This week’s easy, super-tasty recipe was given to us by the ladies at Casa Forcello near Mantova in Northern Italy. Casa Forcello is an all-female artisan company which produces our fruit mustards and wine jellies in small batches with fresh fruit from local growers. A fruit mustard […]

Aperitivo Time!

16 March 2015 || Drinks, Italian life, Wine and Prosecco

Apart from the sunshine, the people and the pizza, it’s the ritual of ‘Aperitivo time’ that we miss most since moving back to the UK from Rome. The Aperitif hour signals the end of the working day, a moment to relax (usually in the sunshine), drink a glass of something refreshing (generally just the one), with […]

Spaghetti with Anchovies, Breadcrumbs and Walnuts

14 March 2015 || Fish and seafood, Pasta, Recipes

An easy, healthy, cheap (the approximate cost for each person is just £1.30) and quick to make spaghetti recipe. The secret to creating a great dish with such simple ingredients is to use only best quality, authentic Italian ones, such as extra virgin olive oil (even better if it’s organic), spaghetti from Gragnano and anchovy fillets from Cetara: […]

Paccheri with Cherry Tomatoes and Anchovies

11 March 2015 || Pasta, Recipes

An authentic Neapolitan recipe made with ‘Paccheri’ pasta Paccheri are large pasta tubes originally from Naples which pair perfectly with fish and other chunky sauces. The size and shape of this traditional pasta allow them to be stuffed with ricotta or other ingredients. The name “paccheri”comes from the ancient Greek meaning ‘slap’ – the noise that they supposedly make […]

Clementine Marmalade Tart (Crostata)

2 March 2015 || Desserts, Eat your way around Italy, Recipes, Vegetarian

This is an easy recipe for a tangy clementine marmalade tart (a very popular dessert in Italy and known as a ‘Crostata’) that looks tempting and costs very little to make. Of course it’s even easier and just as good if you use ready made pastry. Ingredients for the Clementine Marmalade Tart (6 portions) 1 […]

Bergamot: The Cool Calabrian Citrus Fruit

28 February 2015 || Eat your way around Italy, Food and well being

Discover the Bergamot! Bergamot are a citrus fruit, greeny yellow in colour, spherical in shape with an unusual and striking bitter taste. They are a type of cross between a lemon and a bitter orange and native to Southern Asia. Commercial growth of this fruit is virtually confined to the region of Calabria in southern Italy – specifically the province of […]

5 Reasons to Eat Calabrian Chilli Peppers

23 February 2015 || Eat your way around Italy, Food and well being

Calabrian chilli peppers are arguably the most important ingredient in Southern Italian cuisine. They are found in recipes across Calabria and beyond and grown in every garden and on every balcony! The habitat is ideal and the peperoncini are super hot! Not only do they add fire and colour to any meal, according to recent research […]

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Cavatelli with Sundried Tomatoes, Sausage and Porcini

16 February 2015 || Pasta, Recipes

Cavatelli is a traditional southern Italian pasta shape which pairs well with thick, chunky sauces like this one. This is a filling, tasty and quick recipe using several southern staples. Ingredients for 4 people 1 clove of garlic 50g porcini mushrooms Extra virgin olive oil 360g Cavatelli pasta 4/5 sun dried tomatoes Salt 300g Pork […]

Tomato Sauce with Dried Porcini Mushrooms

16 February 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

A handful of dried Porcini mushrooms transform this tomato sauce into something hearty and full of flavour. Ingredients for 4 people 25g dried porcini mushrooms 2 small tins of San Marzano tomatoes or a jar of tomato passata Clove of garlic Extra virgin olive oil Chilli pepper – fresh, in oil or powdered Salt Pinch […]

Risotto with Dried Porcini Mushrooms

12 February 2015 || Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe for Risotto with Dried Porcini Mushrooms The risotto with porcini mushrooms is a classic Italian Autumnal main course with a tasty and aromatic flavour coming from the King of mushrooms: the Porcino. In this recipe we use dried porcini mushrooms which are easy to find all year round but you can of course also […]

Valentines Italian Chocolate Pudding

9 February 2015 || Desserts, Recipes

Recipe for Valentines Italian Chocolate Pudding Our Valentines Chocolate Pudding (Budino in Italian) is a delicious sweet made with dark chocolate and accompanied by a refreshing raspberry coulis. A budino is a popular dessert in Italy, always nice and light and not too sweet with the consistency of a set custard. Here it is served with cream […]

San Marzano Tomato Pasta Sauce

6 February 2015 || Cooking tips, Pasta, Recipes

Recipe for San Marzano Tomato Pasta Sauce. This easy recipe for San Marzano tomato pasta sauce will transform a simple tin of these very special tomatoes into a tasty sugar free, healthy sauce which goes well with all types of pasta: Ingredients for 4 people 400g tin of Vorrei’s Agrigenus San Marzano tomatoes Half an onion 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive […]

Lagane Pasta with Ricotta

20 January 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian

Lagane ccu Ricotta (Lagane Pasta with Ricotta Cheese) This is a super easy (and healthy) Calabrian recipe made with Lagane and just other two ingredients! Lagane is the name for a type of pasta very popular in Southern Italy made just with durum wheat and water. You can now find authentic artisan Lagane pasta in the Pasta and […]

Natural, Biodynamic & Organic Wine – Our Guide

20 January 2015 || Food and well being, Wine and Prosecco

A Quick Guide to Natural, Biodynamic and Organic Wine Want to complement the organic food on your table with some fine organic wine? Not sure about what to look for or what organic wine really means? Here’s a short introduction to the world of naturally produced wines… Not all wines are created equally and the […]

Vialone nano rice pudding

17 October 2014 || Desserts, Recipes

This thick, plump rice from the Veneto region has a high starch content which gives a super velvety rice pudding! Ingredients for 6 people: Quarter of a teaspoon of salt 1 cup Riso Margherita Vialone Nano rice 5 cups of milk 3 cups of sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus extra […]

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Calabrian chilli pasta in spicy tomato sauce

2 October 2014 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes

You can of course make this tasty dish with normal pasta but we recommend you try our chilli flavoured ‘Fileja’ pasta. If you haven’t heard of it before Fileja is a traditional Calabrian pasta, rolled by hand around a knitting needle or skewer. Ingredients for 4 people 350g Calabrian chilli pasta 500g of ripe […]

A Gourmet Tour of Testaccio, Birthplace of King Claudio Ranieri!

13 May 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Roman recipes

Over the last couple of weeks the spotlight has been on one particular Italian gentleman: Claudio Ranieri, ex Italian football player turned jubilant Leicester City Manager. The newly crowned King of Leicester was born and raised in one of the oldest but less well known neighbourhoods of Rome – Testaccio, home to some of the best […]

Our Visit To The Real Wine Fair: The Best Natural Wines Under One Roof!

10 May 2016 || Wine and Prosecco

On the 17th and 18th of April, at the Tobacco Dock in East London, the Real Wine Fair took place. A two-day full-immersion wine tasting event where the best artisanal Italian wine makers were presenting their delicious, natural wine. Natural wines: The New Frontier in Winemaking At Vorrei we take great pride in finding the best […]

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Gorgonzola Dolce and Walnut Crêpes

3 May 2016 || Cheese, Main courses, Recipes

This is a deliciously indulgent recipe – combining creamy Gorgonzola dolce, Mascarpone and chopped walnuts with a cheeky drop or two of Cognac to give your crêpes an extra kick! The crêpes are made with whole grain flour though so you won’t have to feel too guilty about their filling! Crêpes can be prepared in advance and filled […]

Pick and Pair the Best Italian Cheese: Our Top Ten List

29 April 2016 || Cheese, Eat your way around Italy

After a week of truly bizarre April weather we are really looking forward to some warmer sunny weekends and picnics in the park. All we’ll need is a bottle of Prosecco, some crusty bread, a jar of olives, some sun dried tomatoes and a selection of Italian cheese all paired with delicious jams, jellies or […]

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Aubergine Parmigiana Recipe

19 April 2016 || Eat your way around Italy, Main courses, Vegetarian

Aubergine Parmigiana is an Italian must-try! This classic baked, veggie dish combines the rich, earthy taste of aubergines with the juicy, sunny tang of tomato and basil sauce. Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese complete this dish and give it that extra, rounded flavour, typical of Italian cuisine. A name that could mislead you The name itself […]

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Dried Italian Herbs – A Quick Guide

30 March 2016 || Cooking tips

Italian herbs are extremely helpful when cooking and they also have many health benefits when you eat them on a regular basis. A single herb can totally transform a simple dish of pasta and tomato sauce giving it that extra flavour and authentic Italian taste. Here’s a short list of the dried Italian herbs most of which […]

Easter Bread with Coloured Eggs

18 March 2016 || Bread, Italian life

Italian Easter Bread Recipe This simple, colourful Italian Easter Bread is a real favourite and is prepared by families across Italy in the days leading up to Holy Week. Children have great fun dying the eggs and decorating this braided loaf. This a soft bread with a light lemon flavour. It goes with everything, from cheese […]

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Make a Healthy Dinner for Under £5 Per Person

16 March 2016 || Pasta, Recipes, Risotto

7 Delicious Italian Healthy Dinners for Under £5 Per Person Would you like to prepare a delicious Italian healthy dinner for the family but without completely draining your pockets? Well, we have some great solutions directly from our website! Be inspired by our meal plans for under £5 per person feeding a flock of four. Here […]

‘Nduja, The Super-Spicy Spreadable Italian Salami

9 March 2016 || Calabrian recipes, Eat your way around Italy, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes

A Chilli Explosion ‘Nduja is a very special, spreadable Italian salami typically produced in the region of Calabria (specifically in the tiny town of Spilinga near Tropea) that has a very exceptional taste and texture. It is made up of soft pork meat seasoned with pork fat, chilli and red pepper, which are all packed […]

Organic Wine – The Facts

23 February 2016 || Drinks, Wine and Prosecco

In everyday modern life organic is gradually taking over, and it’s not just about sustainable farming or free-range, non-GMO chickens: Nowadays, end consumers are way more informed and conscious about what they are eating and won’t tolerate the addition of shady chemicals or harmful pesticides to their desired products. For this simple reason, organic foods […]

Staying Healthy and Fit with the Mediterranean Diet

17 February 2016 || Food and well being

The Mediterranean Diet, according to medical and wellness studies, is the best nutritional regime one could possibly follow. Such a diet follows the eating habits of mainly the Italian, Greek and Spanish cultures that tend to consume foods rich in fibres, loads of fresh fruits and vegetables, and prefer using olive oil rather than butter […]

Gluten Free Maccheroncini alla Casanova

5 February 2016 || Pasta, Recipes

Giacomo Casanova, the greatest lover of all time, it is said, loved food, almost as much as he loved women! He allegedly feasted on 50 oysters for breakfast every day claiming that they were ‘a spur to the spirit and to love’ and perfected the art of seduction by assuring his many companions that he had […]

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Organic coffee – why you should be drinking it

2 February 2016 || Drinks

Coffee has gradually made its way towards the Olympus of healthy and energy-boosting drinks. Over the last few years, many scientific studies have been conducted into the benefits of coffee in contraposition to the undoubtedly negative side effects of its excessive consumption. The positive properties of this incredibly ancient drink are plenty and varied, but […]

Spicy Chocolate Aphrodisiac Fondue

27 January 2016 || Chocolate, Desserts, Recipes, Vegetarian

At Vorrei we are big fans of super hot Italian chilli pepper and we love this Valentine’s recipe for a spicy chocolate fondue with a kick! Surprise your loved one with a fun Valentines Day gift to share! This is a really easy dessert which can be made very quickly just before you are ready […]

Prosecco Risotto – perfect for Valentine’s Day!

18 January 2016 || Recipes, Risotto, Vegetarian

Open a couple of bottles of your favourite Prosecco (one to sip whilst taking turns stirring and one to cook with) and have fun in the kitchen on Valentine’s Day with this delicious, warming Italian risotto recipe. Good quality Italian ingredients are the key for this recipe – we recommend Carnaroli or Arborio Italian risotto […]

Vesuvius Fusilli

24 October 2015 || Eat your way around Italy, Pasta, Vegetarian

This is a traditional Neapolitan pasta dish, simple to make and suitable for a quick lunch but without sacrificing taste! It’s packed full of tasty Southern Italian flavours and typical local ingredients such as mozzarella and tomatoes. This Fusilli pasta recipe can be followed exactly as it is or used as a base – feel […]

Colatura di Alici: the Ancient Roman’s Sauce

1 October 2015 || Fish and seafood, Pasta, Recipes, Salads

Colatura di Alici Sauce: the fishy Italian sauce known in ancient Roman times as ‘Garum’ is a magical amber essence extracted from fresh anchovies, which have been preserved with salt inside a chestnut barrel with a heavy weight on top of them! The name Colatura comes from the verb ‘colare’ which means to drip or […]

Paccheri alla Parmigiana: A Traditional Recipe from the South of Italy

14 September 2015 || Calabrian recipes, Main courses, Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian

Paccheri alla Parmigiana Parmigiana is a traditional dish made from aubergines. It originally comes from Sicily, but is found in slightly different variations all over the South of Italy. There are many different methods and recipes for making Parmigiana. We have chosen an old Calabrian one (adapted by regional Chef Valentina Olivieri). Valentina’s recipe makes a very soft and delicate […]

3 Easy Ways to Use Up Your Leftover Pasta

10 September 2015 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes, Salads, Side dishes, Vegetarian

Do you often make way too much pasta and end up with a pan full after your meal? The fight against food waste can start in the kitchen with these 3 tasty recipes which will help you recycle your leftover pasta! We recommend using Vorrei’s bronze die cut pasta in all of your pasta dishes. It retains its […]

What You Need to Know about the Mediterranean Diet

25 August 2015 || Food and well being, Italian life

The Mediterranean Diet Did you know that the Italians live on average 18 months longer than the Brits? A comparison of health outcomes in 19 countries over 20 years published in the Lancet put Britain at number 14 in the life expectancy table, down two places since 1990. Italy fared much better rising from 5th to […]

Courgette Salad: A Healthy Recipe

30 July 2015 || Recipes, Salads, Side dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

This easy and healthy courgette salad with a vinegar and herb dressing is a very popular dish in the hot summers of southern Italy and would be great as a side dish for your barbeque or a refreshing and quick summer lunch (if and when summer arrives in the UK!) Ingredients for 4 people […]

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One Pot Pasta with Broccoli

1 May 2015 || Calabrian recipes, Pasta, Recipes

Easy to prepare pasta & broccoli, Calabrian style This recipe originated in Southern Italy and has to be one of the easiest ever pasta dishes to prepare. You need just two or three ingredients and the pasta and broccoli are cooked in the same pan! The garlic oil (with or without anchovies) added at the […]

Fettuccine with Porcini Mushrooms

17 April 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

A simple but really tasty and satisfying meal with just a few ingredients. Dried Porcini mushrooms can be kept in the cupboard and are just as good as the fresh ones! Ingredients for 2 people: 20g dried Vorrei dried Porcini mushrooms 1 shallot or small onion 1 tablespoon Cenzino organic extra virgin olive oil 100ml dry […]

Our Top 3 Aperitivi to Make at Home

19 March 2015 || Drinks, Italian life, Wine and Prosecco

3 Easy Italian Aperitivi Recipes Fancy having friends over but don’t have the time to plan and cook a full dinner? Why not invite them for early evening aperitivi? The setting is informal and relaxed and the food is quick, easy to prepare and looks stunning – a platter of delicious mediterranean olives, sun dried tomatoes and aubergines, a selection […]

Vegan and Vegetarian Wines: A Brief Guide

14 March 2015 || Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine and Prosecco

Red, white or cruelty free? If you are vegan or vegetarian, chances are you will know that most wines are not animal friendly. Those not so familiar with a meat and fish free diet may wonder why non-carnivores worry about drinking fermented grape juice! The problem lies with the fining agents used to filter and clarify the wine. What are fining agents? The fining process is […]

Orecchiette with Colatura di Alici, Clams & Broccoli

13 March 2015 || Fish and seafood, Pasta, Recipes

An authentic Italian pasta recipe with Colatura di Alici (Traditional Anchovy Sauce) Bring the taste of the Amalfi Coast to your table with this delicious recipe using our traditional anchovy sauce (colatura di alici) from Cetara (pictured below). The main ingredient of this dish is colatura di alici (anchovy sauce), an unusual and rare ingredient made exclusively […]

Fake Italian Food – The Top Six

6 March 2015 || Food and well being

Fake Italian Food – A €60 Billion Industry Italy is of course famous across the globe for its cuisine and fabulous local specialities that everyone loves. But did you know that according to recent research, Italian food is the most imitated and faked in the world? From China to the United States, hundreds of Italian […]

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Apple Pie with Bergamot Marmalade

2 March 2015 || Cooking tips, Desserts, Recipes

An easy and delicious recipe that combines one of the most famous traditional puddings with a unique Southern Italian flavour – Apple pie with bergamot marmalade. This marmalade with an intense flavour, sweet and tangy at the same time, is a perfect ingredient to add some Mediterranean flavour at your apple pie! Ingredients for the Apple Pie […]

Diamante’s Chilli Pepper Festival

28 February 2015 || Eat your way around Italy, Italian life

Calabrians love peperoncino (chilli pepper), they put it in everything from pasta and risotto to cocktails and ice cream. They believe that chillies bring good luck and scare away the ‘malocchio’ or evil eye and naturally they produce the best and spiciest chillies in Southern Europe. So if a region is qualified to hold an […]

Dried Porcini Mushrooms: a Versatile Ingredient

16 February 2015 || Cooking tips

Fresh Porcini mushrooms are a little hard to come by in the UK, they are also rather pricey and don’t keep for more than a few days. Luckily, dried Porcini are a fantastic alternative. With an intense, concentrated flavour and substantial meaty texture, Porcini are wonderful in everything from risotto to antipasti and sauces. A […]

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Dried Porcini Mushrooms with Potatoes

16 February 2015 || Recipes, Side dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Dried Porcini mushrooms and potatoes go perfectly together in this dish! This typically Calabrian combination can be served alongside a burger (meat or veggie) or a frittata as a hearty side dish. Ingredients for 2 people 50g dried porcini mushrooms 400g potatoes 1 clove of garlic 4 tbsps extra virgin olive oil Salt Pepper Sprig of […]

Spaghetti with Asparagus Pesto

12 February 2015 || Pasta, Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe for Spaghetti with Asparagus Pesto This spaghetti with pesto recipe is an alternative to the classic basil one. It’s full of flavour, easy to make and healthy and has a main ingredient (asparagus) which is said to be an effective aphrodisiac! You can combine this pesto sauce with spaghetti or any kind of pasta shape that you prefer. […]

Chocolate Chilli Mousse

11 February 2015 || Desserts

Recipe for Chocolate Chilli Mousse The spicy chilli in this simple but luxurious chocolate chilli mousse complements the dark Sicilian chocolate perfectly creating a memorable flavour and the perfect aphrodisiac Valentines dessert! Ingredients for 2-4 servings 100g chilli chocolate such as Modican chilli pepper chocolate 10g butter 2 eggs 50ml cream (single is fine) Method Cut the […]

Valentines Chocolate Fondue

8 February 2015 || Desserts, Recipes

Recipe for Valentines Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries This Valentines Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries is a quick and easy way to create a fabulous finale to a romantic dinner for two. The melted Sicilian dark almond chocolate, a renowned aphrodisiac for centuries, goes perfectly with the freshness and flavour of the strawberries. Our recipe is sure to awaken your senses, as well […]

Italian Food Superstitions – Ten of the best!

6 February 2015 || Italian life

Italian Food Superstitions. Italians are generally very superstitious people (especially the further south you go). They may deny this but even the most logical, sensible Italians seem unable to resist following the many age-old rituals that are such a big part of every day life. Anyone ever placed garlic placed on the television to help their […]

San Marzano Tomatoes – Simply the best!

20 January 2015 || Cooking tips, Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

What makes San Marzano Tomatoes so great? At the moment it seems that every celebrity chef is talking about them and every Italian recipe requires them. But what do we know about San Marzano Tomatoes and why are they so special? Here’s our top 6 San Marzano facts and our favourite simple sauce recipe using this much revered fruit. […]

Meet Giovanni Marvulli, our organic extra virgin olive oil supplier.

29 October 2014 || Eat your way around Italy, Food and well being, Italian life

We recently visited Matera and stopped by to chat to Giovanni Marvulli our ‘Cenzino’ olive oil supplier. We wanted to see his vast olive grove and learn more about his award winning organic extra virgin olive oil. Giovanni, tell us about your passion for quality organic extra virgin olive oil… Ever since I was […]

Pasta and Potatoes (Past’e patate)

2 October 2014 || Main courses, Pasta, Recipes

This is a healty, southern Italian recipe combining pasta and potatoes is typical of the Campania region. It’s simple to make, very cheap (especially without the bacon) and very satisfying! Ingredients for 4 people 400g Pastai Gragnanese mista corta pasta 70g bacon (optional) 70g extra virgin oliver oil 1 carrot 2 sticks celery 1 sprig parsley […]

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