If there’s one pasta dish that’s endlessly misunderstood outside Italy, it’s carbonara. Creamy versions with bacon, garlic or onions are everywhere, but in Rome, carbonara is something else entirely — eggs, extra yolks, guanciale, pecorino, black pepper and pasta water. That’s it. This kind of cooking — where flavour comes from restraint rather than extra…
Category: Pasta
Pea and Mint Pasta with Ricotta
If you’re after a dinner that looks as beautiful as it tastes, this Pea and Mint Pasta with Ricotta is it. In just 20 minutes, you’ve got a bowl of pasta coated in the glossiest green sauce — fresh, vibrant, and full of flavour. I made this for our Meat-Free Monday dinner and, to be…
Weeknight Sausage & Broccoli Orecchiette
A few years ago, my family and I travelled to Puglia in Italy — a region with a breathtaking coastline, turquoise waters, and some of the most memorable food I’ve ever eaten. One of the moments that stuck with me most was wandering through the old streets of Bari and turning a corner to find…
Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi with Sage Butter Sauce
Yesterday I stopped by Paesanella Cheese Manufacturers in Marrickville and couldn’t resist their house-made ricotta. Still warm from being cooked, it was soft, creamy, and delicately sweet — the kind of ricotta that makes you want to rush home and cook something special. For me, that meant Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi — little dumplings of…
Beef Short Rib Ragu: A Hearty Italian Classic
There’s something so special about cooking a meal with ingredients that feel like a little surprise. My husband has a butcher near his work that offers weekly specials, and he often picks up whatever meat is on sale that week. Last week, it was lamb cutlets, so I made these Grilled Lamb Cutlets with Herb…
Pasta Puttanesca
This Pasta Puttanesca Recipe is a dish that’s as bold in flavour as it is in history. With a combination of garlic, anchovies, black olives, capers, and tomatoes, this Italian classic is perfect for when you want something quick, easy, and full of attitude. But there’s a little more to this dish than just its…
Prawn Pasta with Prawn Oil, Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
Is there anything more glorious than a plate of fresh prawn pasta and a cold glass of wine on a summer’s day? For me, no. However, in the past when I tried making prawn pasta at home, it always felt like something was missing. The flavour was good—prawns, cherry tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil—but my sauces…
Homemade Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo and Burrata
Homemade Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo and Burrata Why you will love this Homemade Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo and Burrata Recipe? Well if you’ve ever savoured a bowl of fluffy gnocchi topped with a rich tomato sugo and creamy burrata, you know the magic of this Italian classic. Making gnocchi from scratch elevates this dish, bringing…
Boscaiola (Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Pasta)
Boscaiola is a rich, creamy, and indulgent pasta dish, perfect for a cozy winter meal. Its name reflects its rustic origins in Italian woodlands. The sauce features bacon, mushrooms, and optional egg, offering a hearty comfort food. It can be adapted to a vegetarian version and pairs well with Pinot Noir or Barbera wine.
Authentic Italian Tomato Sugo (Tomato Sauce)
Sugo, or Italian Tomato Sauce, is the backbone of countless Italian dishes. Whether slathered over a plate of pasta (Pasta Pomodoro), spooned onto a crusty slice of bread, or used as a base for hearty stews, its versatility knows no bounds. In America, Sugo is known as the famous Marinara Sauce. Sugo is probably the…