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…
Tag: pasta
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…
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…
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.
Trofie all’ Amatriciana
Amatriciana is a simple, easy and delicious pasta sauce that hails from the town Amatrice, near Rome, Italy. Like many traditional Italian sauces, Amatriciana uses only a few simple and economical ingredients. It still manages to taste elegant, rich, and refined. My mother would regularly cook Amatriciana when I was growing up. It is super…
Spaghetti alla Norma (Eggplant Spaghetti)
Spaghetti alla Norma is a delicious vegetarian pasta dish that is simple, uses few ingredients, and is very economical yet still rich in flavour. The dish originates from Sicily, the Italian island that sits just off the toe of Italy’s boot. I was lucky enough to spend 4 weeks in Sicily a few years ago….