Tag: italian
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PK’s No Recipe Pizza Warmers
Winter is trying to get back at Perth at the moment and although the sun is out, we are getting cold winds and rain. This makes for chilly evenings, so my family fought back with these really easy pizzas. Steps: Make or buy your pizza bases (I did the latter). Make or buy pizza sauce…
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PK’s Making Sausages The Italian Way
Today I was invited to join an Italian family’s yearly sausage making day. Making sausages the old fashion way means lots of hard work, lots of family banter and lots of laughter. I felt like part of the family and I promised to come back next year, if only for the great lunch they fed…
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Pasta: Orecchiette
Italian for ‘little ears’, the pasta shape called Orecchiette does indeed look like little ears. They are a heartier pasta shape being smaller and thicker than some others. Their shape and rough inner side make them perfect for grabbing sauce and small bits of meat and vegetable. Capers for example fit perfectly. I like to…
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Simple Chicken And Rosemary Casserole
It is the classic Italian pairing of rosemary and chicken that makes this simple casserole a winner. I tend to make it later in the week and take advantage of what ever vegetables are lurking at the back of the fridge. I always aim to the use Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s ‘trinity’ of carrot, onion and celery…
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Pasta: Conchigliette, Conchiglie and Conchiglioni
I find conchigliette (aka small shell pasta) perfect for thin sauces/emulsions, soups and salads. This includes light meat sauces such as the slow cooked lamb shank and vegetable broth I show below. Their ridges and shell shape grip and hold the sauce for that perfect mouthful. The next size up is called conchiglie and is…
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Pasta: Penne
Penne, Italian for pens, is a relatively new pasta shape but is popular world-wide. They are tubular in shape and hold sauce like no other. It is primarily sold dried (pasta secca) and available everywhere. Here I am making Penne al Baffo. It is a saucy delight of cream and tomato paste. Enjoy and sorry…
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Montasio Cheese
Montasio is an ancient firm Italian cheese. It instantly became one of my favourites. Here is why. Milk Cow Origin Italy Aged Yes, up to a year but often 3 months. Aroma Milky and grassy and nutty. Taste Fruity, nutty and grassy. Not particularly salty. Texture Young it is elastic and creamy. Aged to a…
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Pancetta
Pancetta is a cured meat product made from the pork belly cut. It is produced in two forms, rolled or flat. Bacon can also be made from this cut so what is the difference between pancetta and bacon? Bacon is salt cured (by brining) and then smoked to preserve it. Pancetta is cured using salt,…
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Cotechino
Cotechino is a traditional Italian sausage found through the northern areas and the central mountain regions. It is made from pork meat, rind and fat with spice blends that feature fennel but differ from one region to the next. Cotechino is slowly simmered in broth infused with herbs and spices over several hours. It makes…
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Cheese: Sottocenere al Tartufo (truffle)
Sottocenere al Tartufo is a semi-firm, smooth vaccino (cow milk cheese) that hails from northern Italy. As you can see it is studded with black truffle shavings and is coated in an inedible ash rind infused with herbs so as to flavour the cheese pate. This cheese is full of flavour with a creamy umami…
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Cheese: Rosso Di Pienza
Tuscany rosso (red) di Pienza is a firm sheep milk cheese that hails from central Italy. Famous for its red rind, the cheese has a short ageing process where the rind was traditionally rubbed with tomato paste. Milk Sheep Origin Italy Aged Yes, 30 days Aroma Pungent and slightly sweet. Taste Sharp yet slight sheep…
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Pasta: Mezzi Tubetti Lisci (short smooth tubes)
These smooth short pasta tubes are perfect for soups, salads and pasta bakes. I often use them in place of risoni (called orzo in the USA). It is primarily sold dried (pasta secca) and is available everywhere. Here I used it in my minestrone soup: It also makes for a great vegetarian one pot pasta…
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Basil And How To Store It
This ‘king of herbs’ is an amazingly aromatic cooking annual. It grows to about 15cm tall and although it does better in summer sun it will provide all year. It dries well but I would avoid freezing it as it doesn’t hold up well. I use it in salads, pasta, pizzas, pesto, soups and stocks.…
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Pasta: Cavatelli
Cavatelli are beautiful little curled pasta shapes that look like little hot dog buns. The shape is perfect for holding a light sauce. Here I have folded cavatelli through a garlic infused olive oil and cheese sauce, replete with small pieces of steamed broccoli: Enjoy, PK Here are some more pasta shape and pasta recipe…
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Pasta: Agnolotti
Agnolotti is a semi-cirlce shaped type of ravioli, often although it can be square or irregularly shaped. Either way it is stuffed with different mixtures of meat, vegetables and cheese. They are fun to make Roll out some fresh pasta dough and use a cookie cutter to make circles. Add into each disc a…
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Make Your Own Herb And Garlic Butter
A really simple chives and parsley flavoured garlic butter that goes well with anything. You can even add some dill to make it the perfect partner with seafood. Bring together your desired amount of butter or margarine or butter blend and add some: parsley chives dill (optional and great for seafood use) thyme minced garlic…
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Marjoram
Marjoram is a member of the same genus as Oregano and has a similar flavour but is milder. Like oregano it is easy to grow. It is an ingredient in ‘Italian Herbs’ and ‘Herbes de Provence’, both popular spice mixes. I use it primarily in pasta sauces and sprinkled over pizzas. If you are starting…
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Pasta: Wagon Wheels
In Australia we have a pasta shape called ‘Wagon Wheels’. Designed for kids (big and small) they really hold light sauces well and have a springy texture. Check out my little tasting bowls: Enjoy, PK Here are some more pasta shape and pasta recipe posts:
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Pasta: Casareccia
Hailing from Sicily, these rolled noodle shapes are a treat for the eye. Not a shape for heavy sauces, they are perfect for light cheese sauces, pestos and salads. They are also a great soup pasta. Cheesy goodness: Enjoy, PK Here are some more pasta shape and pasta recipe posts:
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