15 delicious, easy recipes for authentic Italian cooking
When it comes to delicious meals, fantastic drinks and a good time, nobody does it better than Italians. Here are some gorgeous and authentic Italian recipes to try.
With the friendlier weather and a real revival for entertaining in the air, there’s no better time to whip out some classic Italian recipes that were pretty much designed for hosting. Think ice-cold negronis, heaving antipasto platters and rich tomato bases that instantly transport you to another place.
Here are 15 Italian-inspired recipes from delicious.com.au that prove the perfecto meal can be almost as good as a week in Portofino, made possible by Italy’s number one tomato brand; Mutti. Because when you know, you know.
Start your dolce vita, Italian culinary adventure with these super easy pancake cones filled with ricotta and candied citron, drizzled in lemon syrup and sprinkled with pistachio sugar.
Pork belly, guanciale and porcini polpette
Quality ingredients are essential when making Jessica Brook’s very special Italian meatball recipe, from the Mutti crushed tomatoes to rindless guanciale and butcher-fresh pork belly.
Or for something a little more savoury, this umami-forward version can be made with vodka, gin or tequila and 400g of Mutti Polpa Finely Chopped Tomatoes and a truckload of different garnishes.
Toothsome, easy to make, delicious and ready in minutes. Try to serve this salad immediately after tossing the final ingredients for perfect texture and temperature.
Spaghetti with prawns and cime di rapa
For the essential, warm weather pasta dish we’re going with this classic, and superbly balanced recipe. Perfect marriage of fresh Aussie seafood and rich Italian flavours.
Italian fare doesn’t automatically exclude our vegan friends. This yummy salad can be made with pasta that is egg-free and pesto made without parmesan, without losing any flavour.
Italian sausage and white bean braise
This Italian sausage, Mutti Polpa canned tomatoes and white bean braise is a super-easy variation on meatballs, and needs only to be served with some crusty bread to make a complete meal.
To kick-off aperitivo hour try this twist on a classic Negroni. Robust, bitter and floral, you’ll also be making full use of the Australian blood orange season (August through til October).
Strozzapreti with zucchini flowers and pangrattato
This is Mitch Orr’s modern take on the much-loved classic, and is especially wonderful as you don’t have to be skilled at stuffing a zucchini flower.
Mortadella fritta cacio e pepe
Okay, it’s kind of just a sexy name for ‘fried ham’ but the Italian technique makes for the perfect, feather light deck-dinner. Serve with pickled peppers as the acidity cuts through the fattiness of the dish.
Roast chicken is the perfect centrepiece, especially when done simply, in the Italian style of salt, pepper, lemon and good olive oil.
“Lasagne is without doubt the heavyweight champion of Italian food,” says Matt Preston. This beauty needs a four hour head start of prep time but is an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Zabaglioni affogato and crostoli
No Italian meal is truly finished without an affogato of some description and this one takes the, well, crostoli. Remember to let the Zabaglioni cool completely before the pour. Finisci di mangiare!
Italian salad with panettone croutons
The perfect side to those heavier Italian mains, the fennel in this gorgeous salad is also sworn to help with digestion by many Nonnas world-wide.
The perfect Italian summer pudding
When you’re finally ready to move on to dessert, this easy-peasy pudding can be made and chilled well ahead of time and tastes best served up with those beautiful, in-season raspberries in your fridge.
For more food, lifestyle or travel news, go to delicious.com.au
Originally published as 15 delicious, easy recipes for authentic Italian cooking
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