Side dishes have an important role in Italian cuisine. These, often vegetarian, preparations are meant as an accompaniment to a second course, whether it’s meat or fish, a piatto freddo (literally, cold dish) of cheese and/or cold cuts, or ... Continue reading
Tag: olive oil
Piadina Romagnola
Piadina is a traditional flatbread from the Italian historical region of Romagna. The name piadina (plural: piadine) is a diminutive form of piada (used interchangeably to refer to the same preparation), which originates from the ... Continue reading
Oven-Roasted Vegetables Stripes
Roasted vegetables are nothing new, but this particular arrangement makes for a truly spectacular dish which can be served as a main course, accompanied with fresh and aged cheese, as well as a side dish. When I lived with my parents, this preparation ... Continue reading
Passato di Verdure (Strained Vegetables Soup)
Growing up, I was used to my mother’s soup made from chunky vegetables in clear broth. I can’t say I loved it – certainly not as much as I enjoy it now – but I clearly remember liking its strained variant: the ... Continue reading
Mediterranean Pasta with Capers, Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Mozzarella
This is a summer dish, but if you can find ripe cherry tomatoes, then it can be made every season. And it’s one of those pasta dishes where the sauce is so quick it can be made as the pasta cooks – my favorites when I don’t have time ... Continue reading
Roasted Green Beans
Ah the Maillard reaction! The magic behind roasting and toasting which is responsible for the extra flavor in bread crust, pan fried eggs, seared steaks, and even maple syrup and coffee! Maillard browning is the result of the reaction between sugars ... Continue reading
Poppy Seed Potato Bignès on Braised Leeks and Taleggio
Going through my old recipe book, I stumbled upon this delicious dish – true comfort food, Italian style! An amazing entree where soft and creamy potato bignès, covered in nutty poppy seeds and deep fried are laid to rest on a bed of braised ... Continue reading
Home-Style Pizza Competition
An unusual post for this blog, today. Three friends of mine have just competed in a pizza cook-off, and I had the honor to be the head judge :) The contestants were responsible for bringing their own ingredients, including their pizza dough (which they ... Continue reading
Stewed Brussels Sprouts
Not everybody loves Brussels sprouts. But, unless you are overly sensitive to bitter flavors, you will find this to be a delicious side dish. Brussels sprouts are the buds of a kind of cabbage belonging to the Brassica family (along with broccoli, ... Continue reading
