Sugo finto (“Fake” Sauce)

Frankpasta, primi piatti, sauces, Toscana48 Comments

Sugo finto

Another of the many Italian dishes in the cucina povera tradition, sugo finto is “fake” because it is basically a meat sauce (sugo di carne) without the meat that was so unaffordable for most people not too far in the past. (It is also called sugo scappato, or ‘escaped’ sauce, for … Read More

Confettura di ciliegie (Cherry Preserves)

Frankdessert, sauces16 Comments

Cherry Preserves

Cherry preserves are so easy to make at home it’s a wonder more folks don’t do it. Not only are you saving money, you know exactly what’s going into the product. The Italian take on fruit preserves begins like so many other fruit preparations, by coating the fruit with sugar and lemon. … Read More

Zabaione (Zabaglione)

Frankdessert, drink, Piemonte, sauces, snack33 Comments

Zabaglione

Zabaione, spelled Zabaglione by some Italians and all English speakers, is  a classic sweet that you don’t encounter much any more on restaurant menus, let alone on home tables. That’s a shame, because it’s truly delicious and supremely versatile, equally suited to serve on its own as a sweet ending to an … Read More

Homemade Mayonnaise, the Italian Way

Frankreference, sauces13 Comments

Homemade Mayonnaise, the Italian Way

Mayonnaise may have been invented by the Spanish and popularized by the French, but Italians make maionese, too. The Italian method for homemade mayonnaise is not very different from elsewhere, but, not surprisingly, you make it either partially or entirely with olive oil (like the original Spanish version). And it’s very basic, … Read More

Chimichurri (Argentinian Steak Sauce)

Franksauces22 Comments

Chimichurri

Chimichurri, a delicious if curiously named garlic and parsley based sauce from Argentina, is a wonderful way to dress up steaks. It reminds me a lot of the salsa verde used in Italian cooking for boiled meats, and given the large Italian diaspora in Argentina (upwards of 60% of Argentinians … Read More

Sugo di carne (Meat Sauce)

Franksauces20 Comments

Sugo di carne (Meat Sauce)

When you mention Italian meat sauce, most people will immediately think of those monuments of Italian cooking, the ragù alla napoletana and the ragù alla bolognese. Those sauces that require hours of cooking and fairly elaborate preparation. These time-consuming ragù are, quite rightly, reserved for special occasions. Ragù alla napoletana is often … Read More

Pico de gallo

Frankantipasti, sauces, summer8 Comments

Pico de gallo

I guess it’s Mexico week here at Memorie di Angelina and why not? If you think of it, some of the foods that most typify Italian cooking—tomato, zucchini, peppers, pepperoncino, corn for polenta, just to take a few examples—all come from the New World and more specifically from Mexico. (Potatoes, … Read More