This article is about basil pesto, the second most famous Italian pasta sauce, of course after tomato sauce. However, this is not about the traditional way to make “Pesto Genovese” – using a mortar; there are plenty of good resources ... Continue reading
Category: First Courses
Paccheri with Mushrooms, Gorgonzola, and Mascarpone Cream
Paccheri are undoubtedly the most majestic kind of short pasta one can find! With a diameter of 1 ½ inch (4 cm), thick walls, and a rough surface, each guarantees an unbeatable bite, or two! The Paccheri shape originates in the Campania region of ... Continue reading
Baked ‘Ndunderi (Gnocchi di ricotta alla Sorrentina)
I was recently interviewed by Jo Mackay from Bookings For You. In addition to the great questions she had for me, Jo asked me: Do you have a recipe that you’d be happy for us to feature on our blog? My answer was my version of a dish from the Amalfi ... Continue reading
Herb and Ricotta Ravioli with Sage Butter Sauce
Butter and Sage sauce is often what comes to mind when showcasing ricotta-filled ravioli, and especially spinach and ricotta ravioli. In Italy, meatless preparations like this are sometimes called “di magro” (literally, “of ... Continue reading
Mushroom and Cheese Crespelle, the Italian Crepes
Crespelle are the relatively unknown Italian equivalent of the world-famous French crepes. Although very similar to crepes, crespelle are often baked in the oven with other ingredients. Both in crepes and in crespelle, the batter is mainly made of ... Continue reading
Asparagus Risotto with Parmesan Rind
Among the many risotto variations, asparagus risotto (‘risotto agli asparagi’) is one of the most successful, and one of my favorites. There are a few different ways to incorporate asparagus in a risotto. In my recipe, diced asparagus are ... Continue reading
Buckwheat Gnocchi with Mascarpone Tomato Sauce
This recipe was inspired by a dish I had last summer at Farmer’s Apprentice, a great Vancouver restaurant. For my interpretation, I made rustic gnocchi by mixing in some buckwheat flour, and used mascarpone as a base for a creamy tomato sauce. ... Continue reading
Chard and Spinach Gnudi, the Naked Ravioli
This recipe was adapted from Domenica Marchetti’s “Swiss Chard and Spinach Ravioli Nudi”, part of her great cookbook The Glorious Vegetables of Italy, entirely dedicated to the prominent role of vegetables in Italian food. I chose this recipe ... Continue reading
Squash Risotto, a Comfort Dish for Winter
Squash risotto (or risotto con la zucca), is a traditional risotto common in all northern Italy. The squash gives an especially mealy texture, and a sweeter flavor to it, along of course with a beautiful orange color. But what is squash, exactly? Along ... Continue reading
