pesto alla trapanese

This Sicilian pesto is really quick to make in the blender, while your pasta cooks, you can whizz it up and it’s done. It’s got the delicious fresh flavours of tomatoes, basil and garlic with the nutty almonds and it makes change from spaghetti al pesto (which I love too) it takes minutes to make and tastes divine. 

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italian breakfast cake

Italians love a small sweet biscuit or a small piece of cake with their coffee in the morning. This cake is light and lemony and is made with olive oil and lots of eggs. You could eat it anytime of day and it would be delicious with berries and a dollop of crème fraîche too. I reduced the sugar a bit as I don’t like my cakes too sweet but you can add more if you prefer. I think it’s sweet enough.

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pasta with zucchini and prawns

This Italian recipe is so delicious and packed with all the summery flavours. I use frozen raw jumbo king prawns (shell on) from the supermarket (Sainsbury’s) that I thaw first, fresh ones are great if you prefer. I could eat this every day as I really love it…

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ferrero rocher biscuits (dairy and gluten free)

For the Ferrero Rocher lovers who don’t eat gluten and or dairy, but still fancy those flavours, they are really easy to make too. They are chewy, chocolatey, nutty and are perfect served with an espresso. They really don’t taste dairy and gluten free.

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pistachio pesto

This is a typical Sicilian recipe for pistachio pesto, there are quite a few versions involving ricotta, lemon, cream and mint, but my favourite is this one. It’s delicious on pasta with a big grating of parmesan on top, or for dipping bread into. 

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italian vanilla breakfast biscuits

These crunchy vanilla biscuits are eaten with a coffee at breakfast time and are very vanillary and crunchy and delicious dipped in the coffee. They are not too sweet and great to make with kids. You can also add the zest of a lemon if you fancy.

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pasta con le sarde

A traditional Sicilian recipe for pasta with the amazing flavours of fennel, anchovies, saffron, wine, pine nuts and lemon with crunchy bread crumbs on top. I searched high and low for fresh sardines but my fishmonger said they were out of season, so I used good quality tinned ones in olive oil and they are absolutely fine. I make mine with spaghetti Nero but any long pasta works.

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caldeirada

This Portuguese smokey seafood stew is cooked all in one pot, so after you have prepped the ingredients, it’s only a matter of adding them in stages to the pot. It’s got potatoes and a delicious tomato and wine broth with saffron. I use defrosted frozen seafood for my recipe, except the mussels, which can be left out, but fresh seafood is great, obv,  and you can add any mixture of seafood you fancy. Traditionally it’s served with roasted garlic bread, or rice.

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dark chocolate pannacotta

This self saucing recipe is a dairy free take on Black Forest gateau which is a favourite pudding of mine. It’s really silky smooth, rich and chocolatey and is great on its own or with whipped cream if you are not dairy free or with dairy free vanilla ice cream. The decorations are optional, or you can customise it with whatever you fancy like fresh berries.

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vanilla pannacotta

This dairy free recipe for pannacotta is really silky and creamy and it has the delicious flavours of lemon zest and bourbon vanilla. It’s easier to make than you think and you can make it the day before and store it in the fridge till you want to serve it. Perfect as a refreshing light pudding at the end of a heavy meal. You can serve it on its own with my cranberry sauce or with fresh berries or whatever you fancy.

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