Archive for the ‘1st Courses’ Category

Trofie al pesto
(Pesto noodles)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion 480 Ingredients (Serves 4) 8 tbsp. of Pesto (Basil sauce) 4 Potatoes (medium size) 200 g (7 oz.) String beans Fresh Basil Description This is a traditional recipe from Liguria. Obviously, we could go to the local store and buy a jar of Pesto, but since this is a blog [...]

Flan di spinaci
(Spinaches Flan)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion 180/240 (depending on size) Ingredients (Serves 6 to 8) 400 g (14 oz.) Spinaches (raw and dry weight) 30 g (1 oz.) Butter 50 g (bit less than 2 oz.) Flour ¼ lt. (bit more than 1 cup) Milk 2 Eggs + 1 Yolk 50 g (bit less than 2 [...]

Gnocchetti verdi al Gorgonzola
(Green dumplings with blue cheese)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion 670 Ingredients (Serves 4) 500 g (27 oz.) Potatoes 250 g Spinaches or Beet tops (whichever is seasonal) 250 g (9 oz.) Flour 1 egg (medium size) 1 pinch of Salt 130 g (4 oz.) of Gorgonzola (blue cheese) 2 tbsp. of Fresh Cream or 1 tbsp. of Mascarpone cheese [...]

Gnocchi di patate al pomodoro fresco
(Potato dumplings with fresh tomato sauce)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion 500 Ingredients (Serves 4) 750 g (27 oz.) Potatoes 250 g (9 oz.) Flour 1 egg (medium size) 1 pinch of Salt 6 round Tomatoes (not fully ripe) 1 oz. of Butter 2 oz. grated Parmesan cheese Fresh Basil Description Although dumplings and ragù (same meat sauce described in the tagliatelle recipe) is [...]

Penne alla Puttanesca

Difficulty •• Calories per portion 450 Ingredients (Serves 4) 400 g (14 oz.) Penne 2 lbs. ripe Plum Tomatoes (they make 12 to 14 oz. of Filetto di Pomodoro) 2 Anchovies (4 salt cured filets) 2 tablespoon Capers (salt cured) ½ cup Black olives (pitted) Fresh or dried Chili pepper 1 clove of Garlic 2 [...]

Linguine ai crostacei
(Linguine with crustaceous)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion 460 Ingredients (Serves 4) 1 pint of Coulis (for use with pasta, use a little flour in it) 1 tablespoon of Aromatic Oil 400 g (14oz.) Linguine (spaghetti is fine also) 400 g (14 oz.) whole Crustaceous (with head and shell) 4 round Tomatoes Fresh Basil Chili pepper or ground [...]

Spaghetti alle vongole veraci
(Spaghetti and clams in white sauce)

Difficulty •• Calories per portion 440 Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 tablespoon of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 1 clove of Garlic Chili pepper (as liked) Parsley stems and few leaves 400 g (14 oz.) of Clams 400 g (14 oz.) of Spaghetti or Thin Spaghetti Description This is one of the easiest and tastiest dishes of Northern [...]

Tagliatelle al ragù
(Tagliatelle with meat and tomato sauce)

Difficulty •••• Calories per portion 580 Ingredients (Serves 4) Tagliatelle 400 g Flour (14 oz.) 4 eggs Ragù 1 carrot ½ Celery rib 1/2 Onion (medium size) 1 Bay leaf 300 g ground Beef (bit less than 11 oz.) 150 g unseasoned Tomato purée (5.5 oz.) ½ glass of Red Wine 2 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive [...]

Spaghetti pomodoro e basilico
(Spaghetti with tomato and basil)

Difficulty •• Calories per portion 430 Ingredients (Serves 4) 400 g (14 oz.) Spaghetti 3 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 2 cloves of Garlic 2 lbs ripe plum tomatoes (to make filetto di pomodoro) Fresh Basil Salt Description Out of all Italian 1st courses, if we should pick which pasta dish may represent the whole Country, [...]

Risotto ai gamberi (Risotto with shrimps)

Difficulty •••• Calories per portion 500 Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 tablespoon of Aromatic Oil made with garlic 2 cups of Carnaroli rice (Arborio would be the best choice if available) ½ glass of white wine 1 pound of fresh Shrimps (or frozen shrimps)   ¼ gallon of Coulis Fresh thyme, basil or chopped parsley (optional) [...]

Risotto agli asparagi (Risotto with asparagus)

Difficulty •••• Calories per portion 480   Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 2 cups of Carnaroli rice (Vialone Nano would be the best choice if available) ½ glass of white wine ¼ gallon of cold water A bunch of fresh asparagus Fresh thyme or basil (optional) ½ to [...]

Risotto con verdure
(Risotto and vegetables)

Difficulty •••• Calories per portion 500 Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 tablespoon of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 2 Potatoes (medium-large) 2 Carrots (thick) 2 zucchini 1 Celery rib1 small Onion (optional) 400 g (14 oz.) Carnaroli rice (Vialone Nano would be the best choice) ½ glass of White Wine 40 g (about 4 tablespoon) grated Parmesan cheese [...]

Risotto al limone (Risotto with lemon)

Difficulty ••• Calories per portion  450 Ingredients (Serves 4) 2 tablespoon of Aromatic Oil made with 1 small onion 2 cups of Carnaroli rice (Vialone Nano would be the best choice if available) ½ glass of white wine ¼ gallon of Vegetable Broth 1 lemon skin (medium to big size untreated lemon) Fresh thyme or basil [...]