Italian Archives - thedancingcucumber.com thedancingcucumber.com Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:49:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 How to Make Traditional Tomato Bruschetta https://thedancingcucumber.com/how-to-make-traditional-tomato-bruschetta/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:39:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9617 If you’re looking for a scrumptious side dish or appetizer that will top off your dinner party, then a traditional tomato bruschetta could be the way to go. Here is how you can cook up a scrumptious classic Tomato Bruschetta that will be sure to tickle your dinner guests’ palettes in a most satisfactory way. […]

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]]> If you’re looking for a scrumptious side dish or appetizer that will top off your dinner party, then a traditional tomato bruschetta could be the way to go. Here is how you can cook up a scrumptious classic Tomato Bruschetta that will be sure to tickle your dinner guests’ palettes in a most satisfactory way.

Ingredients:

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
  • 4 slices Tuscan bread
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Fresh basil leaves

Instructions:

  1. Add the chopped tomatoes to a bowl and drizzle in olive oil. Toss the tomatoes and allow them to marinate for 10 minutes.
  2. On a grill, toast the bread slices until they are golden brown. Take them out when ready and rub the bread slices with the raw garlic cloves.
  3. Spread the tomatoes over each slice of bread. Sprinkle the basil leaves over each Bruschetta and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.

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]]> Make an Aromatic Italian Seasoning at Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/make-an-aromatic-italian-seasoning-at-home/ Sun, 10 Dec 2023 08:31:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9255 While Italian food may be world-renowned, Italian seasoning can enhance the flavor of meals from any cuisine. Offering a balance of spice, savory, and a rich aroma, here is how you can make your own Italian seasoning at home. Know Your Spices Check your spice rack to see what spices you have – you may […]

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]]> While Italian food may be world-renowned, Italian seasoning can enhance the flavor of meals from any cuisine. Offering a balance of spice, savory, and a rich aroma, here is how you can make your own Italian seasoning at home.

Know Your Spices

Check your spice rack to see what spices you have – you may be surprised to learn that you already have many if not all of the ingredients to prepare Italian seasoning. For this recipe, you’ll need oregano, dried oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and dried basil.

Combine Your Ingredients

Find a spacious bowl and pour all of your ingredients inside. Mix all of the ingredients well until combined. Once you’ve done so, place your mixture into a container or even a spice bottle if you have one available. This fresh spice mix can be used for up to a year.

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]]> How You Can Make an Authentic Sicilian Pizza at Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/how-you-can-make-an-authentic-sicilian-pizza-at-home/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 08:29:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9149 While you may think that you need to travel to Italy to indulge in an authentic pizza, with the right ingredients, you can create the perfect Sicilian-style pizza in your own kitchen. Here’s how you can craft a delicious and authentic Sicilian pizza at home. Bake the Base Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or […]

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]]> While you may think that you need to travel to Italy to indulge in an authentic pizza, with the right ingredients, you can create the perfect Sicilian-style pizza in your own kitchen. Here’s how you can craft a delicious and authentic Sicilian pizza at home.

Bake the Base

Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or make your own, you’ll need to ensure that it is well-coated in oil and baked in the oven until it becomes puffy and rises. Make sure to keep checking on your base and ensure that it remains flat and that it doesn’t become too oily. Blot out any areas where there is too much moisture.

Prep the Toppings

Once your base is ready, set it aside to cool for around 20 to 30 minutes. Then, cut some squash into spirals and grate your mozzarella cheese. Cut up some slices of salami and pour one and a quarter cups of pizza sauce into a jug or container so you can pour it later.

Time to Put it All Together

Take a spoon and spread the sauce evenly across the pizza base. Once you have the amount of sauce you want, sprinkle the cheese evenly before adding your slices of squash and salami. Finally, bake the pizza until the bottom is golden brown and enjoy.

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]]> Dishes To Bring The Taste Of Italy To Your Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/dishes-to-bring-the-taste-of-italy-to-your-home/ Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:47:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=8585 If there’s one thing that Italy is world famous for, it’s the food. From pizzas to pasta, veal, and even gelato, Italy has a diverse range of dishes for any occasion. Here are some exquisite Italian meals that you can cook to impress your friends and family and bring the taste of Italy to your […]

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]]> If there’s one thing that Italy is world famous for, it’s the food. From pizzas to pasta, veal, and even gelato, Italy has a diverse range of dishes for any occasion. Here are some exquisite Italian meals that you can cook to impress your friends and family and bring the taste of Italy to your home.

Four Cheese Ravioli

Get your hands on some ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, and provolone cheese, and pack them inside each piece of ravioli. Whip up a garlic, pesto, and cream sauce, and watch as your dinner guests marvel as they bite into their ravioli and discover a cheese explosion.

Ravioli Lasagna

Here, you’ll combine two Italian classics to make a unique-tasting blend. All you need for this dish is frozen ravioli, your pasta sauce of choice, and grated mozzarella. Place the ravioli at the base of the tray and layer the cheese and pasta sauce on top.

Neopolitan Pizza

While New York-style pizza has become mainstream, Neopolitan pizza is the traditional style pioneered in the Italian city of Naples. Start by needing the pizza dough, making sure that the edges are puffy. Add some Napolitana or Pomodoro sauce or any other tomato-based sauce that takes your fancy and spread it finely across the base, avoiding the puffy edges of the dough. Add mozzarella or buffalo cheese, or even a combination, and cut the pieces into large circles as opposed to grating them.

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]]> Know These Obscure Pasta Shapes! https://thedancingcucumber.com/know-your-pasta-shapes/ Tue, 31 May 2022 12:36:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=6601 Sure, we all love Italian food. And we all know the typical pasta shapes like spaghetti and fettuccine. But there are so many more pasta shapes—over 600 to be exact—and it’s really worthwhile to get to know at least some more. Here are a few we think are pretty neat. Orecchiette Orecchiette means “little ears” […]

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]]> Sure, we all love Italian food. And we all know the typical pasta shapes like spaghetti and fettuccine. But there are so many more pasta shapes—over 600 to be exact—and it’s really worthwhile to get to know at least some more. Here are a few we think are pretty neat.

Orecchiette

Orecchiette means “little ears” in Italian, and that’s exactly what this pasta shape looks like. It’s perfectly shaped to hold a thick or robust sauce, which makes for a hearty, flavorful pasta meal.

Gemelli

Like a little two-strand pasta braid, gemelli has all of the same sauce-holding ability of a spiral pasta like rotini or fusilli. It’s a great choice for a pasta dish in which the sauce is the star of the recipe.

Manicotti

Manicotti are basically giant tubes of pasta that are made to be eaten stuffed with a filling—usually ricotta-based. They’re a must-have for baked pasta dishes and a great alternative if you’re bored of lasagna but want to eat something like lasagna.

Anelli

Anelli are little, fluted pasta rings, and they go great in soup dishes. Consider this one for your next chicken noodle soup for a fun change.

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]]> The Keys for a Delicious Pesto https://thedancingcucumber.com/the-keys-for-a-delicious-pesto/ Sun, 19 Sep 2021 10:09:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7249 Pesto is a classic Italian staple that can be used for a wide variety of recipes. From a pasta sauce to a marinade for chicken, this rich, oily, and herb-centric concoction is one of my favorites from Italy. There are some rules that you should follow if you want to ensure a delicious pesto sauce […]

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]]> Pesto is a classic Italian staple that can be used for a wide variety of recipes. From a pasta sauce to a marinade for chicken, this rich, oily, and herb-centric concoction is one of my favorites from Italy. There are some rules that you should follow if you want to ensure a delicious pesto sauce when making your own. Be sure to stick to these!

Choose a Quality Olive Oil

The base of any pesto is the olive oil that you use, and you won’t want to opt for the cheap, low-quality stuff. Choose a lighter, extra virgin olive oil that will let the delicate flavors of this Mediterranean gold shine through instead of making the sauce heavy and unpleasant.

Splurge on Pine Nuts

Some pesto recipes omit pine nuts in favor of other, cheaper ingredients, but real pesto contains chopped pine nuts and tastes all the better for it. The crunch and nutty flavor that this somewhat expensive ingredient adds is worth the money you will spend on it.

Grind and Blend Lightly

It can be all-too-tempting to just throw your pesto ingredients in a blender, wait 30 seconds, and call the job done. Instead, use a mortar and pestle to do an initial grind of the ingredients in your sauce and then place in a blender or food processor on low in order to retain some of the chunkiness of the sauce.

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]]> Discover Italian Cooking with Mimi Thorisson https://thedancingcucumber.com/discover-italian-cooking-with-mimi-thorisson/ Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:24:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=5697 Let’s face it, it might be some time before we can travel internationally and fully enjoy what this world has to offer. But nothing stops us from recreating a miniature traveling experience through our kitchens. This week, we take to Italy—courtesy of French cook and writer Mimi Thorisson. Her recent cookbook, Old World Italian: Recipes and […]

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]]> Let’s face it, it might be some time before we can travel internationally and fully enjoy what this world has to offer. But nothing stops us from recreating a miniature traveling experience through our kitchens. This week, we take to Italy—courtesy of French cook and writer Mimi Thorisson.

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This polenta, olive oil and sage cake has become my family’s favorite treat. I am delighted to team up with @furtunaskin, we will be cooking together and sharing this recipe step by step today at 11am EST / 5pm CET time. One of their star ingredients is olive oil, which is also the star in the recipe, making everything extra delicious, rich and flavorful. It has truly been a joy to discover their organic Sicilian @bonafurtunafarm from Corleone, celebrating all good things like biodiversity and sustainable farming. I have a special love for Sicily, a land so untouched and full of history. @furtunaskin will also be hosting a giveaway with their made-in-italy #FurtunaSkin products & my new cookbook, Old World Italian. I hope you will enjoy this cooking session, so tune in! For the recipe, you will need: A round cake pan 8 or 9-inch/ 20/22 cm Preheat oven 400F/200C 110g plain flour 170g polenta 240ml milk 180ml Bona Furtuna Extra Virgin Olive Oil 70g breadcrumbs 1 tbsp of baking powder 1 tbsp of sugar 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped sage, plus 5 leaves to decorate 4 shallots, finely chopped A pinch of salt and black pepper 120g grated Parmigiano 2 eggs, beaten Olive oil for frying #instalive #cooking #bonafurtunafarm #giveaway #furtunapartner

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Her recent cookbook, Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy, provides the perfect introduction to Italian cooking. Providing 100 recipes for authentic, classic dishes that are mostly easy to prepare, the book is also enriched by Thorisson’s conversations with devoted local food experts. More importantly—it’s a beautifully curated book, making it a pleasure to flip through.

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A quick stop between swimming in two seas. A few beautiful days spent in the Baroque gem that is Modica. Swapping all the flavors of the seas for rustic Sicilian country cooking. Deep rich tomato and meat sauces, raviolis stuffed with the finest ricotta, unique desserts made with the powerful Modican chocolate, made in the most ancient ways inspired by the Aztecs. I loved the pastries at @bonajuto (pictured in the photo). The perfect miniature cassata cake, the Aranciata, a typical local treat. It’s a sort of nougat prepared with Sicilian orange peel cooked in honey, the grand ‘chou’ filled with a pistachio and ricotta cream. Modica reminds me of an antique snow globe, but instead of seeing snowflakes, you see a beautiful Baroque town covered with scintillas of beautiful flowers, cocoa beans, almonds and pistachios. I am continuing to pursue my wonderlust for Sicily in the most flavorful ways. #modica #sicily @palazzo.ilcavaliere

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According to Thorisson, the French and Italian kitchens differ greatly. “I think that is a very big difference because France is all about sauce, and just building up a beautiful sauce and reduction with your meats and whatever you were braising,” she told La Cucina Italiana.

“In Italy, first and foremost, the ceremonial making of pastas is already very unique compared to France. Just the whole art of making pasta for me was very important and very different for me. But you know, French people they fetishize food, but in Italy—it’s all about family. It’s cooking for the family. It’s a celebration.”

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We like to celebrate Easter with some of the same traditional recipes every year. The kids love our Easter must-haves, especially this year as it feels comforting, as if nothing had changed. Tonight we'll have lamb and good wine but lunch was all about as many eggs as possible. Baked eggs in cream with asparagus and piment d’Espelette are a family staple, and the Italian torta Pasqualina is one of the most beautiful and delicious dishes of Easter with a bright golden moon in the middle of every slice. Happy Easter everyone! #easter For the eggs in this photo, start with a few spoons of cream, a few drops of olive oil, break an egg and garnish with halved asparagus tips. Sprinkle with salt and piment d’Espelette, add a few more teaspoons of cream and bake for 5 minutes in a preheated oven 200C/ 400 F.

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From Tuscany and Umbria to Naples and more, let Thorisson guide you to the Italian kitchen. At least until you can go on that well-deserved vacation.

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]]> Learn to Cook a Real Italian Meal with Enrica Rocca https://thedancingcucumber.com/learn-to-cook-a-real-italian-meal-with-enrica-rocca/ Sun, 27 Sep 2020 05:18:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=5212 When it comes to Italian food, it’s best you go to the source. Based in Venice, Enrica Rocca understands the ins and outs of Italian cuisine, and more specifically—Venetian cuisine. So much so, she opened two cookery schools dedicated to it—one in Venice and another in London. According to Rocca, a good meal begins and […]

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]]> When it comes to Italian food, it’s best you go to the source. Based in Venice, Enrica Rocca understands the ins and outs of Italian cuisine, and more specifically—Venetian cuisine. So much so, she opened two cookery schools dedicated to it—one in Venice and another in London.

According to Rocca, a good meal begins and ends with the ingredients you use. “It is all about the quality of the ingredients, which is why it is so important to eat local,” she explained in an interview with Suitcase Magazine. “Good ingredients are expensive in today’s world, so eating well represents a big sacrifice, but it’s well worth it for our health and happiness.”

With an emphasis on quality ingredients, Rocca acknowledges the difficulty of replicating a local cuisine elsewhere in the world. “I also know how difficult it is to replicate any cuisine outside of its original country,” she remarks. “A cuisine is built around the local ingredients, so exporting a culinary culture is really difficult.”

Her school in Venice—housed in the family palazzo—offers the chance to understand the city’s cuisine from the inside out—spending the day as a true Venetian and discovering the freshest local seafood at Rialto Market.

According to Rocca, dishes are usually comprised of just two or three ingredients, chosen well, cooked simply, and brought to the table with gusto.

If there’s one thing better than an Italian dish, it’s eating an Italian dish in Italy. When traveling is again permitted (and safe), we can’t wait to sign up to Rocca’s cooking courses.

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]]> Ziti Bake is Perfect For Pasta Lovers https://thedancingcucumber.com/ziti-bake-is-perfect-for-pasta-lovers/ Fri, 25 Oct 2019 07:45:36 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=2778 Who doesn’t love pasta? It doesn’t matter what type – lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese – you name it, it’s delicious. One of our favorites is ziti bake and this traditional Italian recipe will now make its way to your kitchen thanks to this simple recipe. Ingredients: 3/4 lb ziti 2 minced garlic […]

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]]> Who doesn’t love pasta? It doesn’t matter what type – lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese – you name it, it’s delicious. One of our favorites is ziti bake and this traditional Italian recipe will now make its way to your kitchen thanks to this simple recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 lb ziti
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 chopped medium onion
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 c fresh ricotta
  • 1/2 c grated parmesan
  • 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 c shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

  1. Set the oven to 350 F degrees and prepare a baking dish.
  2. Get a pot and fill it with water, add a little salt. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta.
  3. Cook it al dente, then remove the water.
  4. Heat the oil in a pan, and once hot cook the onion for 5 minutes. When the onion becomes soft, include the red pepper flakes and garlic.
  5. Cook for 1 more minute before adding the meat, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 6 more minutes.
  6. Add the oregano and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
  7. Include the crushed tomatoes, more salt, and pepper to the mix. Wait for the sauce to start simmering, and cook it for 15 to 20 minutes on low heat. When it’s done, add the basil.
  8. In a bowl combine the pasta, sauce, and ricotta. Add one half of the mix in the baking dish, top it off with mozzarella and parmesan. Add the rest of the pasta, then top it off again with mozzarella and parmesan.
  9. Cook the ziti for 20 to 25 minutes.
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A NEW recipe is on my blog elavegan.com for this Vegan Baked Ziti with mushrooms! 😍 . It's hearty, flavorful, comforting, and delicious! 😋 I used gluten-free Penne because I can't buy gluten-free Ziti noodles here, but feel free to use Ziti noodles instead. 😄 . The recipe link is in my highlighted Insta stories (@elavegan) or google "Ziti Elavegan". 😃 . Have an amazing Wednesday! 💛 . https://elavegan.com/vegan-baked-ziti . . . 🇩🇪 Ein NEUES Rezept ist auf meinem Blog elavegan.com/de für diesen veganen Ziti Auflauf mit Champignons! 😍 . Das Gericht ist herzhaft, geschmackvoll und lecker! 😋 Ich habe glutenfreie Penne verwendet weil ich hier keine glutenfreien Ziti Nudeln kaufen kann, aber ihr könnt natürlich Ziti Nudeln nehmen. 😄 . Den Link zum Rezept findet ihr in meinem Profil (@elavegan) und Insta stories. 😃 . Ich wünsche euch noch einen wunderschönen Mittwoch Abend! 💛 . . . . . . . #veganbakedziti #bakedziti #pastabake #vegancasserole #dinner #vegancheese #vegandinner #whatveganseat #veganfood #vegansofig #glutenfreedinner #foodblog #foodblogger #eeeeeats #bestofvegan #LetsCookVegan #veganbowls #veganfortheanimals #feedfeed #veganrecipes #cleaneats #cleaneating #instafood #veganrecipe

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]]> Make Perfect Risotto Every Time With This Recipe https://thedancingcucumber.com/make-perfect-risotto-every-time-with-this-recipe/ Thu, 23 May 2019 07:43:29 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=1738 Risotto is a scrumptious Italian rice dish normally made with arborio rice, but other types of rice that can be used include carnaroli, vialone, nano, and baldo. Rather than simply boiling rice in water, you cook the rice by adding small amounts of liquid at a time to retain the starch in the pan, and […]

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]]> Risotto is a scrumptious Italian rice dish normally made with arborio rice, but other types of rice that can be used include carnaroli, vialone, nano, and baldo.

Rather than simply boiling rice in water, you cook the rice by adding small amounts of liquid at a time to retain the starch in the pan, and the water is not poured down the drain with regular rice. Making risotto is perfect when you have a lot of people coming over since it’s easy, filling, and really beautiful.

Instructions

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqV7ELalRzp/

  1. Start by heating up some stock or broth in a pan on the stove. You need the liquid to remain hot so it doesn’t bring down the temperature of the rice when it’s cooking.
  2. Chop a shallot or a small onion and fry it in a pan with butter or oil.
  3. Add in 2 cups of rice and toast it for about 3 minutes, until it’s aromatic.
  4. Pour in 1/2 cup of dry white wine and scrape off any brown bits from the pan.
  5. After a few minutes, start adding the hot broth 1/2 cup at a time and stirring for about 12-15 minutes, until the risotto is al dente.
  6. At this point, you can also add in a cup of parmesan. If you want to keep it vegan, don’t add the cheese
  7. Enjoy!

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]]> ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Italian Archives - thedancingcucumber.com thedancingcucumber.com Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:49:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 How to Make Traditional Tomato Bruschetta https://thedancingcucumber.com/how-to-make-traditional-tomato-bruschetta/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:39:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9617 If you’re looking for a scrumptious side dish or appetizer that will top off your dinner party, then a traditional tomato bruschetta could be the way to go. Here is how you can cook up a scrumptious classic Tomato Bruschetta that will be sure to tickle your dinner guests’ palettes in a most satisfactory way. […]

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]]> If you’re looking for a scrumptious side dish or appetizer that will top off your dinner party, then a traditional tomato bruschetta could be the way to go. Here is how you can cook up a scrumptious classic Tomato Bruschetta that will be sure to tickle your dinner guests’ palettes in a most satisfactory way.

Ingredients:

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
  • 4 slices Tuscan bread
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Fresh basil leaves

Instructions:

  1. Add the chopped tomatoes to a bowl and drizzle in olive oil. Toss the tomatoes and allow them to marinate for 10 minutes.
  2. On a grill, toast the bread slices until they are golden brown. Take them out when ready and rub the bread slices with the raw garlic cloves.
  3. Spread the tomatoes over each slice of bread. Sprinkle the basil leaves over each Bruschetta and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.

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]]> Make an Aromatic Italian Seasoning at Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/make-an-aromatic-italian-seasoning-at-home/ Sun, 10 Dec 2023 08:31:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9255 While Italian food may be world-renowned, Italian seasoning can enhance the flavor of meals from any cuisine. Offering a balance of spice, savory, and a rich aroma, here is how you can make your own Italian seasoning at home. Know Your Spices Check your spice rack to see what spices you have – you may […]

The post Make an Aromatic Italian Seasoning at Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> While Italian food may be world-renowned, Italian seasoning can enhance the flavor of meals from any cuisine. Offering a balance of spice, savory, and a rich aroma, here is how you can make your own Italian seasoning at home.

Know Your Spices

Check your spice rack to see what spices you have – you may be surprised to learn that you already have many if not all of the ingredients to prepare Italian seasoning. For this recipe, you’ll need oregano, dried oregano, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and dried basil.

Combine Your Ingredients

Find a spacious bowl and pour all of your ingredients inside. Mix all of the ingredients well until combined. Once you’ve done so, place your mixture into a container or even a spice bottle if you have one available. This fresh spice mix can be used for up to a year.

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]]> How You Can Make an Authentic Sicilian Pizza at Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/how-you-can-make-an-authentic-sicilian-pizza-at-home/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 08:29:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=9149 While you may think that you need to travel to Italy to indulge in an authentic pizza, with the right ingredients, you can create the perfect Sicilian-style pizza in your own kitchen. Here’s how you can craft a delicious and authentic Sicilian pizza at home. Bake the Base Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or […]

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]]> While you may think that you need to travel to Italy to indulge in an authentic pizza, with the right ingredients, you can create the perfect Sicilian-style pizza in your own kitchen. Here’s how you can craft a delicious and authentic Sicilian pizza at home.

Bake the Base

Whether you pre-purchase the pizza base or make your own, you’ll need to ensure that it is well-coated in oil and baked in the oven until it becomes puffy and rises. Make sure to keep checking on your base and ensure that it remains flat and that it doesn’t become too oily. Blot out any areas where there is too much moisture.

Prep the Toppings

Once your base is ready, set it aside to cool for around 20 to 30 minutes. Then, cut some squash into spirals and grate your mozzarella cheese. Cut up some slices of salami and pour one and a quarter cups of pizza sauce into a jug or container so you can pour it later.

Time to Put it All Together

Take a spoon and spread the sauce evenly across the pizza base. Once you have the amount of sauce you want, sprinkle the cheese evenly before adding your slices of squash and salami. Finally, bake the pizza until the bottom is golden brown and enjoy.

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]]> Dishes To Bring The Taste Of Italy To Your Home https://thedancingcucumber.com/dishes-to-bring-the-taste-of-italy-to-your-home/ Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:47:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=8585 If there’s one thing that Italy is world famous for, it’s the food. From pizzas to pasta, veal, and even gelato, Italy has a diverse range of dishes for any occasion. Here are some exquisite Italian meals that you can cook to impress your friends and family and bring the taste of Italy to your […]

The post Dishes To Bring The Taste Of Italy To Your Home appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

]]> If there’s one thing that Italy is world famous for, it’s the food. From pizzas to pasta, veal, and even gelato, Italy has a diverse range of dishes for any occasion. Here are some exquisite Italian meals that you can cook to impress your friends and family and bring the taste of Italy to your home.

Four Cheese Ravioli

Get your hands on some ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, and provolone cheese, and pack them inside each piece of ravioli. Whip up a garlic, pesto, and cream sauce, and watch as your dinner guests marvel as they bite into their ravioli and discover a cheese explosion.

Ravioli Lasagna

Here, you’ll combine two Italian classics to make a unique-tasting blend. All you need for this dish is frozen ravioli, your pasta sauce of choice, and grated mozzarella. Place the ravioli at the base of the tray and layer the cheese and pasta sauce on top.

Neopolitan Pizza

While New York-style pizza has become mainstream, Neopolitan pizza is the traditional style pioneered in the Italian city of Naples. Start by needing the pizza dough, making sure that the edges are puffy. Add some Napolitana or Pomodoro sauce or any other tomato-based sauce that takes your fancy and spread it finely across the base, avoiding the puffy edges of the dough. Add mozzarella or buffalo cheese, or even a combination, and cut the pieces into large circles as opposed to grating them.

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]]> Know These Obscure Pasta Shapes! https://thedancingcucumber.com/know-your-pasta-shapes/ Tue, 31 May 2022 12:36:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=6601 Sure, we all love Italian food. And we all know the typical pasta shapes like spaghetti and fettuccine. But there are so many more pasta shapes—over 600 to be exact—and it’s really worthwhile to get to know at least some more. Here are a few we think are pretty neat. Orecchiette Orecchiette means “little ears” […]

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]]> Sure, we all love Italian food. And we all know the typical pasta shapes like spaghetti and fettuccine. But there are so many more pasta shapes—over 600 to be exact—and it’s really worthwhile to get to know at least some more. Here are a few we think are pretty neat.

Orecchiette

Orecchiette means “little ears” in Italian, and that’s exactly what this pasta shape looks like. It’s perfectly shaped to hold a thick or robust sauce, which makes for a hearty, flavorful pasta meal.

Gemelli

Like a little two-strand pasta braid, gemelli has all of the same sauce-holding ability of a spiral pasta like rotini or fusilli. It’s a great choice for a pasta dish in which the sauce is the star of the recipe.

Manicotti

Manicotti are basically giant tubes of pasta that are made to be eaten stuffed with a filling—usually ricotta-based. They’re a must-have for baked pasta dishes and a great alternative if you’re bored of lasagna but want to eat something like lasagna.

Anelli

Anelli are little, fluted pasta rings, and they go great in soup dishes. Consider this one for your next chicken noodle soup for a fun change.

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]]> The Keys for a Delicious Pesto https://thedancingcucumber.com/the-keys-for-a-delicious-pesto/ Sun, 19 Sep 2021 10:09:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=7249 Pesto is a classic Italian staple that can be used for a wide variety of recipes. From a pasta sauce to a marinade for chicken, this rich, oily, and herb-centric concoction is one of my favorites from Italy. There are some rules that you should follow if you want to ensure a delicious pesto sauce […]

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]]> Pesto is a classic Italian staple that can be used for a wide variety of recipes. From a pasta sauce to a marinade for chicken, this rich, oily, and herb-centric concoction is one of my favorites from Italy. There are some rules that you should follow if you want to ensure a delicious pesto sauce when making your own. Be sure to stick to these!

Choose a Quality Olive Oil

The base of any pesto is the olive oil that you use, and you won’t want to opt for the cheap, low-quality stuff. Choose a lighter, extra virgin olive oil that will let the delicate flavors of this Mediterranean gold shine through instead of making the sauce heavy and unpleasant.

Splurge on Pine Nuts

Some pesto recipes omit pine nuts in favor of other, cheaper ingredients, but real pesto contains chopped pine nuts and tastes all the better for it. The crunch and nutty flavor that this somewhat expensive ingredient adds is worth the money you will spend on it.

Grind and Blend Lightly

It can be all-too-tempting to just throw your pesto ingredients in a blender, wait 30 seconds, and call the job done. Instead, use a mortar and pestle to do an initial grind of the ingredients in your sauce and then place in a blender or food processor on low in order to retain some of the chunkiness of the sauce.

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]]> Discover Italian Cooking with Mimi Thorisson https://thedancingcucumber.com/discover-italian-cooking-with-mimi-thorisson/ Thu, 15 Oct 2020 11:24:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=5697 Let’s face it, it might be some time before we can travel internationally and fully enjoy what this world has to offer. But nothing stops us from recreating a miniature traveling experience through our kitchens. This week, we take to Italy—courtesy of French cook and writer Mimi Thorisson. Her recent cookbook, Old World Italian: Recipes and […]

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]]> Let’s face it, it might be some time before we can travel internationally and fully enjoy what this world has to offer. But nothing stops us from recreating a miniature traveling experience through our kitchens. This week, we take to Italy—courtesy of French cook and writer Mimi Thorisson.

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This polenta, olive oil and sage cake has become my family’s favorite treat. I am delighted to team up with @furtunaskin, we will be cooking together and sharing this recipe step by step today at 11am EST / 5pm CET time. One of their star ingredients is olive oil, which is also the star in the recipe, making everything extra delicious, rich and flavorful. It has truly been a joy to discover their organic Sicilian @bonafurtunafarm from Corleone, celebrating all good things like biodiversity and sustainable farming. I have a special love for Sicily, a land so untouched and full of history. @furtunaskin will also be hosting a giveaway with their made-in-italy #FurtunaSkin products & my new cookbook, Old World Italian. I hope you will enjoy this cooking session, so tune in! For the recipe, you will need: A round cake pan 8 or 9-inch/ 20/22 cm Preheat oven 400F/200C 110g plain flour 170g polenta 240ml milk 180ml Bona Furtuna Extra Virgin Olive Oil 70g breadcrumbs 1 tbsp of baking powder 1 tbsp of sugar 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped sage, plus 5 leaves to decorate 4 shallots, finely chopped A pinch of salt and black pepper 120g grated Parmigiano 2 eggs, beaten Olive oil for frying #instalive #cooking #bonafurtunafarm #giveaway #furtunapartner

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Her recent cookbook, Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy, provides the perfect introduction to Italian cooking. Providing 100 recipes for authentic, classic dishes that are mostly easy to prepare, the book is also enriched by Thorisson’s conversations with devoted local food experts. More importantly—it’s a beautifully curated book, making it a pleasure to flip through.

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A quick stop between swimming in two seas. A few beautiful days spent in the Baroque gem that is Modica. Swapping all the flavors of the seas for rustic Sicilian country cooking. Deep rich tomato and meat sauces, raviolis stuffed with the finest ricotta, unique desserts made with the powerful Modican chocolate, made in the most ancient ways inspired by the Aztecs. I loved the pastries at @bonajuto (pictured in the photo). The perfect miniature cassata cake, the Aranciata, a typical local treat. It’s a sort of nougat prepared with Sicilian orange peel cooked in honey, the grand ‘chou’ filled with a pistachio and ricotta cream. Modica reminds me of an antique snow globe, but instead of seeing snowflakes, you see a beautiful Baroque town covered with scintillas of beautiful flowers, cocoa beans, almonds and pistachios. I am continuing to pursue my wonderlust for Sicily in the most flavorful ways. #modica #sicily @palazzo.ilcavaliere

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According to Thorisson, the French and Italian kitchens differ greatly. “I think that is a very big difference because France is all about sauce, and just building up a beautiful sauce and reduction with your meats and whatever you were braising,” she told La Cucina Italiana.

“In Italy, first and foremost, the ceremonial making of pastas is already very unique compared to France. Just the whole art of making pasta for me was very important and very different for me. But you know, French people they fetishize food, but in Italy—it’s all about family. It’s cooking for the family. It’s a celebration.”

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We like to celebrate Easter with some of the same traditional recipes every year. The kids love our Easter must-haves, especially this year as it feels comforting, as if nothing had changed. Tonight we'll have lamb and good wine but lunch was all about as many eggs as possible. Baked eggs in cream with asparagus and piment d’Espelette are a family staple, and the Italian torta Pasqualina is one of the most beautiful and delicious dishes of Easter with a bright golden moon in the middle of every slice. Happy Easter everyone! #easter For the eggs in this photo, start with a few spoons of cream, a few drops of olive oil, break an egg and garnish with halved asparagus tips. Sprinkle with salt and piment d’Espelette, add a few more teaspoons of cream and bake for 5 minutes in a preheated oven 200C/ 400 F.

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From Tuscany and Umbria to Naples and more, let Thorisson guide you to the Italian kitchen. At least until you can go on that well-deserved vacation.

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]]> Learn to Cook a Real Italian Meal with Enrica Rocca https://thedancingcucumber.com/learn-to-cook-a-real-italian-meal-with-enrica-rocca/ Sun, 27 Sep 2020 05:18:00 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=5212 When it comes to Italian food, it’s best you go to the source. Based in Venice, Enrica Rocca understands the ins and outs of Italian cuisine, and more specifically—Venetian cuisine. So much so, she opened two cookery schools dedicated to it—one in Venice and another in London. According to Rocca, a good meal begins and […]

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]]> When it comes to Italian food, it’s best you go to the source. Based in Venice, Enrica Rocca understands the ins and outs of Italian cuisine, and more specifically—Venetian cuisine. So much so, she opened two cookery schools dedicated to it—one in Venice and another in London.

According to Rocca, a good meal begins and ends with the ingredients you use. “It is all about the quality of the ingredients, which is why it is so important to eat local,” she explained in an interview with Suitcase Magazine. “Good ingredients are expensive in today’s world, so eating well represents a big sacrifice, but it’s well worth it for our health and happiness.”

With an emphasis on quality ingredients, Rocca acknowledges the difficulty of replicating a local cuisine elsewhere in the world. “I also know how difficult it is to replicate any cuisine outside of its original country,” she remarks. “A cuisine is built around the local ingredients, so exporting a culinary culture is really difficult.”

Her school in Venice—housed in the family palazzo—offers the chance to understand the city’s cuisine from the inside out—spending the day as a true Venetian and discovering the freshest local seafood at Rialto Market.

According to Rocca, dishes are usually comprised of just two or three ingredients, chosen well, cooked simply, and brought to the table with gusto.

If there’s one thing better than an Italian dish, it’s eating an Italian dish in Italy. When traveling is again permitted (and safe), we can’t wait to sign up to Rocca’s cooking courses.

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]]> Ziti Bake is Perfect For Pasta Lovers https://thedancingcucumber.com/ziti-bake-is-perfect-for-pasta-lovers/ Fri, 25 Oct 2019 07:45:36 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=2778 Who doesn’t love pasta? It doesn’t matter what type – lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese – you name it, it’s delicious. One of our favorites is ziti bake and this traditional Italian recipe will now make its way to your kitchen thanks to this simple recipe. Ingredients: 3/4 lb ziti 2 minced garlic […]

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]]> Who doesn’t love pasta? It doesn’t matter what type – lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese – you name it, it’s delicious. One of our favorites is ziti bake and this traditional Italian recipe will now make its way to your kitchen thanks to this simple recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 lb ziti
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 chopped medium onion
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 c fresh ricotta
  • 1/2 c grated parmesan
  • 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 c shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

  1. Set the oven to 350 F degrees and prepare a baking dish.
  2. Get a pot and fill it with water, add a little salt. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta.
  3. Cook it al dente, then remove the water.
  4. Heat the oil in a pan, and once hot cook the onion for 5 minutes. When the onion becomes soft, include the red pepper flakes and garlic.
  5. Cook for 1 more minute before adding the meat, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for 6 more minutes.
  6. Add the oregano and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
  7. Include the crushed tomatoes, more salt, and pepper to the mix. Wait for the sauce to start simmering, and cook it for 15 to 20 minutes on low heat. When it’s done, add the basil.
  8. In a bowl combine the pasta, sauce, and ricotta. Add one half of the mix in the baking dish, top it off with mozzarella and parmesan. Add the rest of the pasta, then top it off again with mozzarella and parmesan.
  9. Cook the ziti for 20 to 25 minutes.
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A NEW recipe is on my blog elavegan.com for this Vegan Baked Ziti with mushrooms! 😍 . It's hearty, flavorful, comforting, and delicious! 😋 I used gluten-free Penne because I can't buy gluten-free Ziti noodles here, but feel free to use Ziti noodles instead. 😄 . The recipe link is in my highlighted Insta stories (@elavegan) or google "Ziti Elavegan". 😃 . Have an amazing Wednesday! 💛 . https://elavegan.com/vegan-baked-ziti . . . 🇩🇪 Ein NEUES Rezept ist auf meinem Blog elavegan.com/de für diesen veganen Ziti Auflauf mit Champignons! 😍 . Das Gericht ist herzhaft, geschmackvoll und lecker! 😋 Ich habe glutenfreie Penne verwendet weil ich hier keine glutenfreien Ziti Nudeln kaufen kann, aber ihr könnt natürlich Ziti Nudeln nehmen. 😄 . Den Link zum Rezept findet ihr in meinem Profil (@elavegan) und Insta stories. 😃 . Ich wünsche euch noch einen wunderschönen Mittwoch Abend! 💛 . . . . . . . #veganbakedziti #bakedziti #pastabake #vegancasserole #dinner #vegancheese #vegandinner #whatveganseat #veganfood #vegansofig #glutenfreedinner #foodblog #foodblogger #eeeeeats #bestofvegan #LetsCookVegan #veganbowls #veganfortheanimals #feedfeed #veganrecipes #cleaneats #cleaneating #instafood #veganrecipe

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]]> Make Perfect Risotto Every Time With This Recipe https://thedancingcucumber.com/make-perfect-risotto-every-time-with-this-recipe/ Thu, 23 May 2019 07:43:29 +0000 https://thedancingcucumber.com/?p=1738 Risotto is a scrumptious Italian rice dish normally made with arborio rice, but other types of rice that can be used include carnaroli, vialone, nano, and baldo. Rather than simply boiling rice in water, you cook the rice by adding small amounts of liquid at a time to retain the starch in the pan, and […]

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]]> Risotto is a scrumptious Italian rice dish normally made with arborio rice, but other types of rice that can be used include carnaroli, vialone, nano, and baldo.

Rather than simply boiling rice in water, you cook the rice by adding small amounts of liquid at a time to retain the starch in the pan, and the water is not poured down the drain with regular rice. Making risotto is perfect when you have a lot of people coming over since it’s easy, filling, and really beautiful.

Instructions

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqV7ELalRzp/

  1. Start by heating up some stock or broth in a pan on the stove. You need the liquid to remain hot so it doesn’t bring down the temperature of the rice when it’s cooking.
  2. Chop a shallot or a small onion and fry it in a pan with butter or oil.
  3. Add in 2 cups of rice and toast it for about 3 minutes, until it’s aromatic.
  4. Pour in 1/2 cup of dry white wine and scrape off any brown bits from the pan.
  5. After a few minutes, start adding the hot broth 1/2 cup at a time and stirring for about 12-15 minutes, until the risotto is al dente.
  6. At this point, you can also add in a cup of parmesan. If you want to keep it vegan, don’t add the cheese
  7. Enjoy!

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