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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Tomato and butter spaghetti

This recipe was cooked for us by our good friend Marino Benedetti who owns a hotel in Malcesine, Lake Garda. It is a great quick lunch or tea dish. Tip the tomatoes into a small saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer quite rapidly until well reduced – it should almost become a thick, tomato […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Tortellini with potato and mint

Make the pasta: Sieve the flour into a food processor and add the eggs, egg yolks, salt and oil. Pulse the mixture until it looks like fine breadcrumbs then mix on a higher speed until it starts to come together. If it looks too dry, add another egg yolk. Dust a clean worksurface with flour […]

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Italian Main course Pasta

pasta with tomato, butter beans and ricotta

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water until al dente. Heat 1-2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and add the pancetta. Fry over a medium heat, stirring until crispy. Add the garlic and chilli and fry gently for a few minutes. Next, add the butter beans and fry, stirring […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Pasta pantesca

Put the tomatoes under a hot grill until they become soft but not brown.  Skin them if desired then set aside. Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 2 mins, peel off skins and chop coarsely.  Chop the grilled tomatoes and put in a bowl with garlic, chilli, almonds, parsley, salt and olive oil.  Mix […]

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Fish Italian Main course Pasta

Pasta with tuna, peas and parsley

This is a really simple recipe and very healthy. Boil the pasta, we use De Cecco pasta shells but any good quality pasta will do. Meanwhile add the garlic to a frying pan with olive oil. Fry gently until softened and then add the tuna, capers and tomato. Mix well and gently warm through, when […]

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Chicken Italian Main course Pasta Starters

Tortellini in Brodo

Make pasta: Sift flour and salt into food processor, slowly pour in the egg and yolks , followed by the olive oil. As soon as the mixture comes together into a dough, switch off the machine. Put the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 10-15 mins, until smooth. Wrap in cling […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes

Take the tomatoes off the vine, wash and dry them, and put them in a bowl.  Add the olives, chilli, garlic, half the oregano and the oil to the tomatoes. Leave to marinade for an hour or so. Preheat oven to 180C. Tip contents of bowl into shallow ovenproof dish, season and cook in oven […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Vegetarian

Butter and cheese spaghetti

Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente.  Grate the cheeses while the pasta is boiling. Drain the pasta, reserve 4 tbsp of the cooking water. Put the reserved water and the butter back into the hot pan and simmer gently over a low heat. Stir until the butter melts. Remove from the […]

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Italian Main course Pasta

Pasta with roasted squash and creamy mushrooms

Heat the oven to 200C. Put the squash in a small roasting tray and add about 2 tbsp of the olive oil, salt and pepper and the thyme or sage. Mix well with your hands and roast for 20-25 minutes until soft and slightly charred around the edges. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in […]

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Italian Main course Pasta Ravioli fillings Starters Vegetarian

Butternut squash ravioli with sage butter

Place the squash in a roasting tray, skin side down. Drizzle over the olive oil and sprinkle on the fennel, chilli, oregano, salt and pepper. Rub this mixture into the squash. Roast in a hot oven (abot 200C) for 20-30 minutes or until the squash is cooked (see Cook’s tip). Once cooked, scrape the flesh […]