Britain’s Love Affair with Italian Food and Drink

With the ever-growing core of restaurants in any town or city throughout the UK being Italian, there’s no mistaking the popularity of this cuisine. Britain’s love affair with Italian food and drink goes back for further than the famous Spaghetti Houses of the 1950s. 2,000 years ago the Roman Empire brought us olive oil and exotic vinegars, changing the history of British cooking for ever, and Sir Christopher Wren famously buried his Parmesan cheeses when the Great Fire of London took hold of the city in 1666.

We almost consider the word ‘Italian’ as our comfort food, every week thousands of portions of spaghetti bolognaise are served, we still love it. The great thing about Italy and its food is that it is noted for its regional diversity, with twenty regions of Italy and a range of geographical conditions together with the strength of local traditions gives a wide range of dishes. 

The modern pizza was developed in Naples when tomato was added to freshly baked Focaccia in the late 18^th Century the same city that came up with the lasagne, it only bore a slight resemblance to a lasagne as we in Britain know it today as the original recipe used fermented dough rolled into thin sheets. The traditional lasagne of Naples, Lasagne di Carnevale is layered with local sausage, small meatballs, hard boiled eggs, ricotta and mozzarella cheese with a sauce of Neapolitan ragu. I have to say I love it and its my go to meal when visiting Naples, the version mostly eaten in the country and we grow up with is Lasagne al Forno and is probably the most common Italian dish served outside of Italy.

To run along with our Italian Cuisine Week ( 20-26 November) we have put together a collection of Italian recipes that are big in flavour, exciting and in some ways different to the normality of Lasagne al forno, some simple, some a little more complex but all tasty and remember its more than just pizza and pasta.

Macaroni Cheese – Deep Fried

Ingredients

• 50g Macaroni – cooked
• 25 g Butter
• 30 g Flour
• 1x Eggs
• 1x Sage sprigs
• 25g Onion – diced (raw)
• 25g Gruyere cheese – grated
• 30g Lancs cheese – grated
• 1 pint water
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Boil together the water, onion, sage & butter in a pan, once boiled gradually add the flour, beating all the time & until all the flour is incorporated & the mix leaves the sides of the pan (as for choux pastry), beat the grated cheese into the mix.
2. Remove from the stove and place the mix on whisking machine, allow to cool.
3. When cool, gradually add the eggs 1 at a time until fully incorporated.
4. Gently fold the cooked macaroni through the cheese mix, spread out in a flat and chill in the fridge.
5. When completely cold & firm, cut out into circles with metal ring, pass through seasoned flour & deep fry until crispy & golden

Fusilli Pasta in a chicken and Arrabiata Sauce

Ingredients

• 80gm Fusilli pasta
• 100gm Chicken breast (diced)
• 5ml Olive oil
• 30gm Red onions (diced)
• 20gm Red peppers (diced)
• 100ml Tomato sauce
• .3gm Chilli powder
• .2gm Paprika
• 5gm Parmesan

Method

1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until cooked, drain and hold for service.
2. In a saucepan, heat the oil and add the chicken. Stir well and seal on all sides. Add the onions, peppers, chilli and paprika and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
4. Serve the chicken with the pasta and parmesan

Italian Bean and Pasta Soup

Ingredients

• 10gm Pasta shells
• 15gm Leeks (finely diced)
• 20gm Canneloni beans (drained)
• 20gm Borlotti beans (drained)
• 25gm Carrots (peeled & finely diced)
• 5gm Tomato puree
• 3gm Vegetable bouillon
• .28L Water (hot)
• 5ml Vegetable oil
• .3gm Garlic puree
• .1gm Parsley
• .1gm Salt
• .1gm Cracked black pepper

Method

1. Wash and clean the vegetables
2. In a thick bottom saucepan heat the oil, add the carrot, leek, garlic and sweat for 3-4 minutes
3. Add tomato puree to the vegetables
4. Make up the vegetable stock, whisk the hot water and bouillon together
5. Add the vegetable stock and simmer for 15 minutes, then add the pasta and beans and simmer for a further 10 minutes until the pasta is cooked
6. Add chopped parsley and serve

Italian Beef Ragu and Pasta Soup

Ingredients

• 20gm Pasta bows
• 40gm Minced beef
• 30gm Onions (diced)
• 30gm Tinned tomatoes (chopped)
• 10gm Aubergine (diced)
• 10gm Peppers (deseeded and diced)
• 5gm Tomato puree
• 2ml Vegetable oil
• 4gm Beef bouillon
• .26l Water (hot)
• 2gm Basil puree
• .2gm Garlic puree
• .1gm Cracked black pepper
• .1gm Salt
• 1gm Oregano

Method

1. Dice onions, peppers, and aubergine
2. Heat oil in a suitable thick bottom saucepan, add mince and brown off for 2-3 minutes
3. Add diced onion, peppers and garlic and sweat for 2-3 minutes
4. Add aubergine and sweat for 2-3 minutes
5. Make up beef stock, whisk bouillon into the hot water
6. Add chopped tomatoes and tomato puree to saucepan, stir well, then add stock
7. Add pasta to saucepan. Stir regularly for 10-12 minutes
8. Stir in basil paste, cracked black pepper, salt and oregano
9. Decant into the recommended serving vessel and serve

Penne Served With Sundried Tomato, Artichokes and Red Pesto

Ingredients

• 80gm Penne
• 100ml Tomato and sauce
• 20gm Sundried tomatoes (cut in half)
• 30gm Grilled artichokes (sliced)
• 30gm Baby spinach
• 5gm Red pesto

Method

1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until cooked, drain then hold for service.
2. In a saucepan heat the tomato sauce with the pesto and bring to a simmer.
3. Add the artichokes, spinach and sundried tomatoes and stir well in the sauce.
4. Cook for 3-4 minutes then serve with the pasta.

Works Well With…