Tag Archives: italian

Strawberry Panna Cotta Dessert Recipe

Strawberry panna cotta dessert
Strawberry Panna Cotta Dessert

Panna Cotta is a dessert made with cream (usually heavy cream), gelatin, sugar and flavorings.

My Panna Cotta is a bit different, as I am using 10 % cream, strawberry-flavored milk, and just a little corn starch for the thickening, aside from gelatin. I think that my way of cooking the Panna Cotta is much more healthy for you and for your digestion.

Ingredients:

1000 ml. of 10% cream

1 cup of strawberry-flavored milk

8 Tablespoons of sugar

2 teaspoons of corn starch

1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract

15 grams of plain unflavored gelatin, or as much as needed to set 1000 ml of liquid, according to the package instructions

1 pinch salt

Recipe:

  1. Add the cream, sugar and salt to a heavy saucepan with a thick bottom and bring gently to a boil while stirring occasionally with a whisk. When the cream start simmering remove it from the heat.
  2. In the meantime while the cream is getting heated, devide the 1 cup of strawberry-flavored milk in two bowls.
  3. In the first bowl, drizzle the gelatine over the milk and let it soak up.
  4. In the second bowl, add the 2 teaspoons of corn starch to the milk and mix it with the whisk.
  5. After you remove the cream from the heat, pour the milk with the starch to the cream while mixing all the time with the whisk. Add the vanilla extract, too, and return to the heat again to bring the mixture to simmer again.
  6. After the Panna Cotta mixture comes to simmer again, remove it from the heat and add it slowly to the bowl with the soaked gelatin while whisking.
  7. Let the Panna Cotta mixture cool down a little bit, then portion it in remikens or whatever containers you like.
  8. Put the individual containers with panna cotta in the fridge for at least 3 hours to cool down and set properly.
  9. After the panna cotta desserts are set, dip each container you are planning to use in a bowl of hot water breafly, just to make it unstuck, then place it upside-down on a plate and remove the remiken.
  10. Decorate with fresh berries, strawberry syrup, or maple syrup.

Baked Calzone Recipe

Baked calzone
Baked Calzone

Ingredients:

8 oz pizza dough for each panzerotti,
1 oz. sliced pepperoni,
pinch of dried herbs – Italian mix,
3 ounces mozzarella,
1 slice of prosciutto,
6-7 Italian meatballs,
2 tablespoons pizza sauce,
salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe:

  1. Pull the dough with your hands to about 8 inches in diameter and over one half of it put the filling and close it with the other half. Tuck it in or use a fork to close the calzone properly.
  2. Brush the calzone top with little tomato sauce flavored with a few drops of garlic infused oil. Sprinkle some semolina on a pizza pan, put the panzerotti over it and bake it in a preheated oven at 400 F.
  3. Bake the panzerotti until it is golden brown and when you insert a toothpick in it comes out clean.
  4. Cooking Tip: You can make a vegetarian panzerotti if you stuff it with grilled vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, onions, etc. and then cook it the same way.

Penne Pomodoro Pasta Recipe

Penne pomodoro pasta
Penne Pomodoro Pasta

Ingredients:

1 can (500 gr.) peeled Roma tomatoes in tomato juice,
4 tablespoons olive oil,
1 tablespoon chopped basil,
1 small onion, chopped,
1 tablespoon minced garlic,
2 teaspoons sugar,
1 teaspoon salt,
2 bay leaves,
1 teaspoon dry oregano,
1 tablespoon butter,
1 teaspoon white pepper.

Recipe

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the chopped onion and garlic until slightly golden.

2. Blend briefly the tomatoes with a stick blender and pour them in the saucepan. Add the salt, white pepper, oregano and bay leaves.

3. Simmer the tomato sauce over low temperature for about 30 min. (or until the desired consistencyis achieved), stirring occasionally.

3. Add the sugar, chopped basil and butter 10 minutes before the sauce is ready. 

Cooking tip: Make sure you are using real butter, not margarine, in this recipe. Use this Italian tomato sauce for pastas or on top of veal or chicken parmesan.

Rigatoni Melanzane Eggplant Pasta Recipe

Rigatoni melanzane eggplant pasta
Rigatoni Melanzane Pasta (with eggplant)

This recipe serves three or four dinner servings. Rigatoni Melanzane is a very simple and tasty recipe, one of the best ways to enjoy the great taste of the eggplant.

Ingredients:

1 lb. rigatoni pasta,
2 cups tomato pasta sauce,
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
2 cups diced eggplant,
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil,
2 garlic cloves, chopped,
1/4 small yellow onion, chopped,
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese,
1/2 teaspoon dry oregano, salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet and saute the eggplant, onion and garlic until the eggplant cubes are soft and nicely browned.
  2. Add the tomato sauce, basil and oregano and reduce the sauce slightly by simmering it at low heat for about 5-10 minutes.
  3. Boil the rigatoni pasta according to the package instruction, usually about 12 minutes. Strain the boiled rigatoni and toss them with the melanzane pasta sauce.
  4. Serve the Rigatoni Melanzana with some grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top.

Gnocchi Arrabbiata Pasta Recipe

Gnocchi arrabbiata pasta image
Gnocchi Arrabbiata

Ingredients:

1 pounds of gnocchi (dry or frozen),
1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes,
3 tablespoons olive oil,
1 teaspoon chili flakes,
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil,
2 garlic cloves, chopped,
1 teaspoon butter,
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Recipe:

1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a frying pan and saute the garlic until golden.

2.Add the chili flakes 1 minute before the garlic is ready, followed by the crushed tomatoes and basil. (Optional: You can add 1/4 cup of chicken stock to the sauce).

3. Season the Arrabbiata sauce with salt and pepper and cook it for several minutes over meduim heat until the desired consistency.

4. Boil the gnocchi according the package instructions, strain it and toss it with the Arrabbiata sauce. I boil my gnocchi by dropping them in a large pot with boiling water and little salt, then after they have been floating on the surface of the boiling water for 2-3 minutes, I take them out with a collander and mix them with the sauce right away.

This Gnocchi Arrabbiata recipe is for 5 servings of pasta. I served the gnocchi with some freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top.

Gnocchi with Pancetta and Snap Peas in Blush Sauce

Gnocchi pasta with blush sauce
Gnocchi with Pancetta and Snap Peas in Blush Sauce

Ingredients for 4:

2 pounds of potato gnocchi,
4 oz sliced and chopped pancetta,
2 garlic cloves, chopped,
1 shallot, chopped,
1 cup snap peas,
2 tablespoons olive oil,
1 cup pasta sauce,
1/2 cup 18% cream,
1 heaping tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese,
salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe:

1. Saute the garlic and shallot with the olive oil in a large heavy pan for 2 minutes.

2. Add the pancetta and snap peas and saute for 5 minutes more.

3. Add the pasta sauce and the cream and cook at medium heat for 5 minutes or until the desired consistency is achieved.

4. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

5. In the meantime, boil the gnocchi according the package instructions in a large saucepan with at least 4 liters of water. I usually boil them for about 3-4 minutes, or 1 minute after they all swim up to the surface of the water.

6. Strain the gnocchi with a colander and immediately toss them in the sauce. Serve and enjoy.

Cooking tip: I like my snap peas to have a little crunch, but if you like them softer you can blanch them before adding them to the frying pan.

Italian Escargot Recipe

Escargot in mushroom caps
Italian Escargot

Ingredients for 4 appetizers:

20 large escargots from a can,
20 small mushrooms, stems removed,
3 tablespoons butter,
3 garlic cloves, chopped,
1 oz. white wine,
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley,
1/4 cup grated mozzarella,
chopped chives or lemongrass (optional),
salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe:

This escargot recipe is similar to the Escargots à la Bourguignonne recipe with the major difference of using mushroom cups for serving it instead of the snail shells.

1. Melt the butter in a large heavy pan and saute the garlic for 1 or 2 minutes.

2. Add the mushrooms and the escargot and cook until the mushrooms are soft.

3. Deglaze with the white wine and add the parsley and season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve the escargots in the mushroom cups, top each one with a little grated mozzarella cheese and drizzle the butter-garlic sauce from the pan over the escargots.

5. Broil each bowl under the broiler briefly until the cheese is fully melted and serve with garlic bread.

Did you know that some people consider the escargot as seafood, therefore suitable for vegetarians?

Cannelloni Recipe

Cannelloni

Ingredients:

12 cannelloni shells,
1 lb. lean ground beef,
3 tablespoons olive oil,
1 yellow onion, chopped,
2 garlic cloves, chopped,
1 carrot, grated,
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese,
1 tablespoon chopped parsley,
1 pinch chili flakes,
1 tablespoon fresh basil,
1 whole egg,
salt and pepper to taste
2 cup tomato sauce

Recipe: In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion, garlic and grated carrot for 5 minutes. Add the lean ground beef and broun it. Add the parsley and chili flakes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the egg, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Boil the cannelloni shells according to the package instructions. Season the filling and stuff the cannelloni shells. Pour some tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish and arrange the cannelloni in it. Pour some more tomato sauce over them. Bake the cannelloni until the filling gets cooked, about 20 minutes. The canneloni can be served as an appetizer or a main course. Cheers.

Spaghetti Puttanesca Pasta Recipe

Spaghetti Puttanesca pasta
Pasta Puttanesca

Despite the notorious name and the story of how this name came about, spaghetti puttanesca is a great Italian pasta dish that is easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 lb. package of spaghetti (or linguine),
3 tbsp. EV olive oil,
1/4 cup sliced red onion,
3 garlic cloves, chopped,
5 anchovy fillets,
4 ripe plum tomatoes,
1 sprig of fresh basil,
1 teaspoon sweet paprika,
1 tbsp. capers from a jar,
1/4 cup Kalamata olives,
chili flakes to taste,
freshly grated Parmesan cheese to taste,
salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe: Boil the spaghetti in a large pot of water and a teaspoon of salt until ‘al dente’. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pan and saute the onions and garlic for 3 minutes. Add the anchovies, chili flakes, diced tomatoes, paprika, chopped basil and capers. Stir well, then reduce heat to medium and cook for about 5 minutes more. Add the olives, and cook just until heated. Season the putanesca sauce to taste. Strain the boiled spaghetti and toss them in the pan with the sauce. Serve the Spaghetti Puttanesca and sprinkle with some chopped basil and Parmesan cheese. This recipe yields 3 dinner entrees.

Arancini – Italian Rice Balls Recipe

Arancini Italian rice balls

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked risotto rice,
1 roasted red pepper, chopped,
1/3 cup chopped Kalamata olives,
1 tbsp. “Italian Herbs” mix,
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella,
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder,
1 tbsp. chopped onion,
3 large eggs,
1/2 cup all-purpose flour,
2 tbsp. softened cream cheese,
1 cup each, Italian and panko breadcrumbs,
salt and white pepper to taste.

Recipe: Mix all the ingredients, except the eggs, breadcrumbs and flour, in a mixing bowl and season to taste. Use the mixture to make balls the size of a small lime. Beat the eggs lightly in another bowl. Pour the flour and the breadcrumbs in two separate mixing bowls. Bread all arancini balls by dipping them in the following order: flour-egg-breadcrumbs. Deep-fry the arancini until golden and crispy on the outside. I served the Arancini di Riso with roasted red pepper and garlic mayo for dipping. Enjoy.

The arancini are a great choice for a party appetizer and can be passed around on trays as finger-food.