A TASTE OF SICILY

Sicilian & Mediterranean culture, cuisine and travel.

Brought to you by Isabella Akshay.

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Carciofi Ripieni (Stuffed Artichokes)

If you want to buy me flowers, buy me these. Fried, stewed, in a risotto, in pasta... artichokes are the base of many Italian dishes and...

Caponata Autunnale (Sicilian Autumn Caponata)

Caponata is one of Sicily's most iconic dishes, and vegetarian too. As with many of our local dishes, numerous...maybe countless local...

Chiacchiere (Italian Carnival Fried Pastries)

Today’s the last day of Carnevale, what we call Fat Tuesday - the end of an eating tour-de-force before the beginning of Quaresima (a...

Heart-Shaped Ricotta Ravioli with Slow-Roasted Confit Cherry Tomatoes & Crispy Sage

Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Carnival! Happy Lunar New Year! Wherever you are, there’s probably something to celebrate today! In Italy,...

Pasta Bake: Gnocchi Sardi (Malloreddus) with Squash, Sage, Hazelnuts & Miso Brown Butter

Make this lush oven-baked pasta for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner…because fancy food shouldn’t be just on special days! Creamy squash, tasty...

Risotto with Zucchini, Mint & Pink Peppercorn

Creamy, delicate and just delicious, the combination of zucchini, mint and pink peppercorn in this risotto is a match made in heaven....

Timballo di Riso Vegetariano

Vegetarian Oven-Baked Rice Timbale Rice Timbale is a very beloved dish from my childhood. I remember coming home from school and I could...

Classic Potato Gnocchi (no eggs)

In a classic tomato sauce Gnocchi can be a little tricky the first times you try - I see a lot of recipes that use way too much flour....

Whole Grain Focaccia with Roasted Gooseberries, Shallots & Rosemary

Plain focaccia is delicious as it is, but this time I went for a slightly unusual topping combo - gooseberries (in season during summer...

One-Pot Smoked Chickpeas and Zucchini Pasta

I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather in the last 2 days and the only thing that makes me feel better is…carbs! This plate of...

Minestra di Lenticchie

Italian Creamy Vegan Brown Lentil & Veggie Soup My All Time Favourite Lentil Soup (adapted from my mum's recipe). Brown lentils always...

Broccoli alle Olive (Sicilian Sautéed Broccoli & Black Olives)

This quick, easy and delicious stir-fry is perfect for a healthy start of the week. Works great as a side dish but can be a good main...

Buckwheat & Olive Oil Piadina

Vegan & Gluten-Free Piadina is a kind of flatbread originally from the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy. The classic version is made...

Fregola ai Funghi

Sardinian Fregula with Mushrooms Fregula (often Italianised as fregola) is a peppercorn-shaped pasta typical of the Italian island of...

Farfalle with Sicilian Almond & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

This summery pasta is a celebration of every Sicilian’s favourite things - olive oil, almonds, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs. There are...

Bergamot Risotto with Long Pepper & Red Onion

Bergamot is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange that is believed to be a hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. It’s cultivated...

Orange, Carrot & Kohlrabi Soup

This Orange, Carrot & Kohlrabi Soup is one I keep making again and again. Tangy, vegan and citrusy - I fell in love with it a couple of...

Zucchini in a Garlic Yogurt Soup

This mildly spiced, quick and delicious dish is perfect for all seasons. Just a handful of spices - turmeric, cumin, aniseed, black...

Aglio & Olio "Sapore di Mare"

with Nori-Flavoured Pangrattato Just a few ingredients can impart such a strong flavour of sea to your food - samphire, nori & kombu...

Quinoa & Chestnut Warm Salad

This unassuming winter salad is actually one of the tricks I keep up my sleeve. I have made this for friends, whether for a picnic in the...