Our ‘cucina povera’ (or ‘poor cuisine’) here in the South of Italy offers many great ideas for simple, easy to make dishes and this is a unique recipe that has long been cooked in my family. In the past, many people couldn’t afford to buy meat too often and so they created amazing things like […]

This recipe really captures the people and culture in which I grew up and it’s becoming a world famous dish. Fava bean puree with wild chicory (or ‘fave e cicoria’) is the very definition of comfort food here in Southern Italy but you don’t have to be here to enjoy it for yourself! It makes […]

‘Orecchiette’ pasta is one of the most famous pasta shapes to come out of the south and it’s loved in households and restaurants alike across the southern regions. These ‘little ears’ may look a bit tricky to make at first but after a bit of practice you’ll be making them better than a machine! I’ve […]

This slow-cooked beef ragu recipe is a family favourite across the whole of Southern Italy. Go to anyone’s house on a Sunday here and you’ll be sure to smell that incredible, homemade tomato and beef aroma. Throw in some fresh homemade ‘cavatelli’ pasta and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying one of the most authentic Italian […]

This ‘panzerotti’ recipe shows one of the most traditional foods to come out of Southern Italy. Fried dough filled with mozzarella and tomato salsa makes for a favourite amongst all the locals here. In fact, you can often find bars and little places that specialise in only making these! Luckily for you though, if you […]

This sourdough focaccia recipe finds itself to the lunch or dinner table of many a Southern Italian family. With an incredible smell and even better taste, this easy recipe – using homemade sourdough – may take some time to prepare but it is sure to impress your family or guests. When you can’t get to […]

In this special ‘Italian Food Traditions’ episode, I’m at my family ‘agriturismo’ (Agriturismo L’assiolo), just outside of Matera, to bring you a video in which my Dad makes a traditional recipe that we call ‘La Pignata’. It’s a very old recipe from this part of Italy that is made with mutton, vegetables and many other […]