easy Archives - Dinner in Venice

Cous Cous salad with red Radicchio and Pomegranate

September 25, 2013 By dinnerinvenice 15 Comments

Warning: preg_match(): Compilation failed: invalid range in character class at offset 4 in /home/customer/www/dinnerinvenice.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/hover-pin-it/lib/simple_html_dom.php on line 1110

Warning: preg_match_all(): Compilation failed: invalid range in character class at offset 4 in /home/customer/www/dinnerinvenice.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/hover-pin-it/lib/simple_html_dom.php on line 618

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/customer/www/dinnerinvenice.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/hover-pin-it/lib/simple_html_dom.php on line 625

Warning: preg_match_all(): Compilation failed: invalid range in character class at offset 4 in /home/customer/www/dinnerinvenice.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/hover-pin-it/lib/simple_html_dom.php on line 618

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/customer/www/dinnerinvenice.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/hover-pin-it/lib/simple_html_dom.php on line 625

Cous cous is probably not the first dish that most of you will associate with Italy. However, if you look at a map, you’ll notice that Southern Sicily is not that far from North Africa, and the locals have been enjoying this type of semolina preparation since Roman times. Much farther North, on the coast of Tuscany, in the sea port of Livorno, “Cuscussu’ ” is also a favorite: first introduced by the Jewish merchants, who had ties in North Africa, it slowly spread to the rest of the population. Not to mention the Sardinian version, Fregola: tiny 2-mm balls of semolina dough that have been toasted in the oven before being boiled like pasta. Let’s toast to “fusion” with this easy salad, which surprisingly pairs cous cous with a staple of my region, Veneto: red radicchio!

Cous Cous salad with Red Radicchio and Pomegranate

8 servings

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups "instant" cous cous
2 oranges
2 heads red radicchio
1 pomegranate
1 cup black olives
1 sprig fresh sage
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions

No need to cook the cous cous! Just place it a bowl with about 1/2 cup lukewarm water, 8 tbsp olive oil, and the juice of an orange, salt and pepper. Toss and fluff with a fork, add salt and pepper. let it stand for about 1 hour covered, adding about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water every 10-15 minutes and re-fluffing each time with a fork. In less than an hour, the moisture should be absorbed and the cous cous should be tender, fluffy and light.

In the meantime, cut the radicchio into thin strips and peel the second orange. divide it into slices and also peel the individual slices (or at least eliminate the white membranes!) and cut them into pieces. Combine the radicchio, orange, olives and pomegranate seeds with the cous cous; Adjust salt and pepper,and distribute into 8 individual cups or bowls. Decorate with a few sage leaves fried in hot olive oil.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2013/09/25/cous-cous-salad-with-red-radicchio-and-pomegranate/

Filed Under: Appetizer, First course Tagged With: cous cous, easy, fusion, Italian food, Jewish Italy, Livorno, radicchio, salad, Sicily

Panna Cotta alla Melagrana – Pomegranate Cream Custard

December 5, 2012 By dinnerinvenice 19 Comments

Panna cotta (cooked cream in Italian) is a traditional dessert from Northern Italy, prepared by simmering milk, sugar and cream and mixing them with gelatin. It literally takes minutes to make, but never fails to “wow” the guests. For a holiday version, I spiced it up with ponegranate seeds – a symbol of prosperity and good luck in many different traditions, not to mention a perfect contrast of color and flavor with the cream. Serve it for Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year, or a romantic anniversary dinner!

1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup whole milk,
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 vanilla bean, cut into 2
1 package powdered gelatin
2 cups pomegranate juice
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

Soften about 2/3 of the gelatin in a few spoonfuls the cold milk. Heat the rest of the milk with the sugar and the cut vanilla bean. Once it’s hot, stir in the gelatin mixture and mix until smooth. Allow to cool, discard the vanilla bean, and stir in the heavy cream. Pour about 3/4″ of this mixture into 4 glass cups and transfer into the freezer for a few minutes until the mixture thickens.

Soften the remaining gelatin in about 2 or 3 tbsp of the pomegranate juice. Heat the rest of the pomegranate juice, stir in the softened gelatin, mix well and allow to cool. Once the first layer of cream mixture has thickened, pour in a layer of pomegranate mixture, mixed with a few pomegranate seeds, and put the cups back into the freezer. Repeat with one more layer of cream and one of gelatin and pomegranate seeds. Top with a few more pomegranate seeds right before serving.

Filed Under: Comfort food, Dairy, Desserts, Gluten Free Tagged With: authentic Italian, Christmas, custard, dairy, easy, holiday recipes, holidays, Italian dessert, new year, northern italy, panna cotta, pomegranate, romantic recipe, Shavuot

Minestrone – Italian Vegetable Soup

July 11, 2012 By dinnerinvenice 9 Comments

The word minestrone derives from the Latin verb ministrare, which means ‘to administer’.
Maybe because, as any Italian mother can witness, it is the most efficient way to administer lots of healthy vegetables to picky children, with few complaints!

In many households, minestrone is made at least weekly and (thanks to the fact that it tastes even better when reheated), served several times as a primo piatto (first course) with both dairy and meat meals. I usually serve it plain on the first day; on the second day, I reheat it with some leftover cooked rice, pasta or even spelt. If it’s cold outside, or I’m simply too busy for multiple courses, I just throw in some beans to transform this light soup into an earthy meal. At the end of the week I add a boiled potato and turn the leftovers into a creamy passato (blended soup) with my hand blender.

Just keep in mind, if you plan on stretching your soup over the course of a week, that you should skip tomatoes or it will spoil too quickly. In Italy we have countless regional and seasonal variations for this soup, depending on the local produce! Just to give you a few examples, the Genoese minestrone is flavored with pesto; my Tuscan grandmother liked to add rosemary, and the Lombard one preferred Arborio rice in it.

The only key rules are that all the ingredients should be very fresh and the oil high quality; the soup should be cooked very slowly, on low heat; and finally, the vegetables should be chopped very small, Israeli salad-style…. other than that, have some fun!

Ingredients (serves 8-10 as an appetizer, 6-8 as a main course)

vegetable stock, 1 1/2 quarts
2 whole cloves garlic (optional)
1 onion
2 carrots
6 leaves of kale or Swiss Chards, chopped
1 large slice of butternut squash or pumpkin
1/2 a small cabbage (1/4 if large)
2 celery stalks
2 small (or 1 large) zucchini
1 cup peas
OR asparagus tips, or green beans
1 small or medium potato (optional)
1 medium tomato, seeded (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
extra-virgin olive oil (I use a low-acidic, mild Ligurian or Tuscan)
fresh rosemary or parsley, if liked
(tip: if you rarely make it to the green market…. it does work even with frozen vegetables!)

Peel the carrots and potatoes with a vegetable peeler and wash and clean all the vegetables, discarding any outer leaves and inedible parts. On a chopping board, cut all the vegetables into regular dice max 1/2″ (except for the peas, obviously). In a large pot with a heavy base, heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Add the minced onion and the whole garlic cloves and cook until the onion is translucent. Discard the garlic (if using – I usually don’t), add the vegetables and little salt, and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes on medium/low heat, making sure they don’t burn or change color. Cover the vegetables with the vegetable stock and cook, in a partially covered pot and on low heat, for about an hour or until the vegetables are soft and the liquid has absorbed all their flavor. If using asparagus tips, add them later, about 15 minutes from the end. If you are pressed for time, you can also cook minestrone in a pressure cooker (it should take less than 15 minutes). When ready, pour into individual bowls, drizzle with some more extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with a touch of freshly ground black pepper. It also tastes great with some freshly grated parmigiano on top, if you are in the mood for cheese!.

Filed Under: Comfort food, First course, Light and Healthy, Non-Dairy, Quick/Easy, Soup, Traditional, Vegetarian Tagged With: cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, food, healthy, Italian, Italian recipes, Jewish, light, parve, quick, soup, Vegetarian

Shabbat Meals: Red Mullet Livornese-Style

June 20, 2012 By dinnerinvenice 5 Comments

… and the Cosmopolitan Cooking of the Jews of Livorno.

This article and recipe appeared in The Jewish Forward.

Click here to view it.

Filed Under: Appetizer, Fish, Gluten Free, Jewish Italian Cuisine, Main Dish, Quick/Easy, Shabbat, Yom Kippur Tagged With: appetizer, cooking, cuisine, easy, fish, food, Italian, Jewish, jews, kosher, Livornese, Livorno, parve, quick, red mullet, tomato

Delicate Salad

May 6, 2012 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Delicate Salad

Ingredients

1 yellow or red pepper
1 carrot
1 zucchini
1 cup cooked fava beans
pink and green peppercorns, coarsely ground (or you can use black pepper)
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Serves 4

Cut the lettuce into thin stripes.

Seed the pepper, remove the white membranes and cut it into strips.

Slice the carrot and the zucchini length-wise, into very thin slices (you can use a mandoline, or a potato peeler).

Gather all the ingredients in a large bowl, add the fava beans, and dress with the olive oil mixed with the lemon, the salt and the pepper (if using pre-washed packaged salad and it’s a little dry, add a tablespoon of water).

Toss gently and serve.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2012/05/06/delicate-salad/

Filed Under: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Light/Diet, Non-Dairy, salad, Side Dish, Special Diet Tagged With: appetizer, cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, gluten free, healthy, Italian, kosher Italian, light, salad, vegetables

Ezekiel’s Olive Chicken

March 28, 2012 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Ezekiel’s Olive Chicken

What’s with chicken and prophets? Several Jewish Italian recipes for poultry have Biblical names. Here is one of the most popular examples, which appears in different variations in most cooking books on the topic, from Vitali Norsa, to Servi-Machlin to Joyce Goldstein. It’s not a surprise, because chicken cooked with this technique stays moist and juicy and keeps well for Shabbat! It’s a variation on the basic “pollo in umido”, which Americans call “chicken cacciatore”. The classic recipe is made with a cut-up whole chicken, but if you are in a rush or if you prefer boneless meat, boneless thighs also work well. When I cook boneless meat, I always add the bones to the pot (wrapped in a cloth) and discard them at the end. The bones add tremendous depth to the flavor. You can also add a couple of (koshered) chicken livers.

Ezekiel’s Olive Chicken

Ingredients

(4 servings)
one chicken, cut into serving pieces 3 or 4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, slightly pressed or minced (depending on your tolerance 😉
1/3 cup green or/and black olives, pitted
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons mix of freshly chopped herbs (sage, rosemary and basil or mint or parsley)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 or 4 tablespoons olive oil
2 or 3 peeled tomatoes (I use the canned type),
1/3 cup dry wine, red or white

Directions

Rinse the chicken and pat dry.

Heat the olive oil , add the chicken and saute until golden.

Add the salt, pepper, olives, garlic, and herbs, and the chopped (and drained) tomatoes.

Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, then lower the flame and cook covered until tender (about 30 minutes), stirring occasionally.

Now uncover, add the wine, and allow it to evaporate it on high heat.. It's delicious with a side of steamed potatoes or polenta.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2012/03/28/ezekiels-olive-chicken/

Filed Under: Jewish Italian Cuisine, Main Dish, Meat, Quick/Easy, Shabbat Tagged With: chicken, cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, Italian recipe, Jewish Italian Cuisine1, kosher Italian, main dish, Meat, olive, poultry, quick/easy

Malachi’s Chicken

March 12, 2012 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Malachi’s Chicken

Ingredients

4 pounds of chicken cut in pieces
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 white onion, finely chopped
a few sprigs of rosemary
2 tablespoons of flour
1 cup of chicken stock
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup white wine

Directions

Place the chicken in a large skillet or pot in 2 tablespoons of hot olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste and the wine, and cook for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally..

In a different pan cook the chopped onion and the chopped rosemary in 2 tablespoons of hot olive oil.

When the onion is turning translucent, add a mixture of the flour and chicken stock (be careful to avoid lumps) and cook stirring for 5 more minutes..

Pour the mixture of onion and rosemary cooked in oil with the broth and flour mixture on the chicken, and add the tomato paste.

Cook on medium heat for about 20 more minutes (or till cooked), stirring occasionally.

Decorate with a few leaves of fresh oregano.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2012/03/12/malachis-chicken/

Filed Under: Jewish Italian Cuisine, Main Dish, Meat, Quick/Easy, Shabbat Tagged With: chicken, cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, Italian, Jewish Italian Cuisine1, kosher Italian, main dish, Meat, quick/easy

Montini and Palline Purim Bon-Bons

March 4, 2012 By dinnerinvenice 7 Comments

According to the detailed descriptions in many Italian Purim songs from the 16th and 17th centuries, Purim at the time was quite a production! In particular, the wealthier Jews hosted over-the-top banquets, which included up to 30 courses, alternating savory and sweet dishes. But the highlight was always the desserts! Among the prettiest Purim sweets, perfect for gifting, are these almond paste-based confections popular in several cities, including Venice and Trieste. Almond paste was introduced to Northern and Central Italy by the Sephardic Jews fleeing from Spain, Portugal and Sicily, where they had a long tradition of making elaborate confections with it.

These scrumptious sweets are easy to make as they don’t require cooking, and can be served in mini paper cups or wrapped individually like candy, which makes them great gifts. On Purim we are required to give charity to the poor, and food gifts (משלוח מנות‎, pronounced Mishloach Manot”) to friends and relatives, consisting of two different types of food, and who wouldn’t like these? They are even gluten-free!

Almond Paste Bon-Bons (Parve)

Ingredients

MONTINI (Bicolor Cone-shaped confections)
1/2 pound granulated sugar
1/2 pound blanched almonds (this is the traditional version, but they also taste amazing made with pistachio)
4 tablespoons packaged egg whites, or more as needed (you could also just use fresh egg whites, which is what we do in Italy, where we like living dangerously…. But the packaged stuff is pasteurized, which makes it safer since we are not cooking it)
3.5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (1/2 cup chocolate chips)
1/3 cup candied orange or etrog peel
CHOCOLATE BON-BONS
1/2 pound granulated sugar
1/2 pound blanched almonds (this is the traditional version, but they also taste amazing made with pistachio)
4 tablespoons packaged (pasteurized) egg whites (or more as needed)
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate (1 cup chocolate chips)
GIANDUJA BON_BONS
½ pound blanched/peeled hazelnuts
½ pound sugar
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (¾ cup chocolate chips)
3 tablespoons packaged (pasteurized) egg whites, or more as needed
4 tablespoon sweet liqueur (hazelnut, cherry, or rum)

Directions

MONTINI (Bicolor Cone-shaped confections)

Make the almond paste base: place the blanched almonds and the sugar in your food processor with a blade attachment, and process until the almonds are ground and combined with the sugar. Add the egg whites and process more.

Remove from the food processor and knead with your hands until it feels like a smooth dough. If even after kneadingthe paste is still too crumbly, add a little more egg white, but only 1 tablespoon at a time, because you don’t want the paste to get too sticky either.

Now melt the chocolate (you are supposed to do it in a bain-marie but I cheat and use the microwave).

Divide the marzipan into two portions: one should be slightly larger than the other – roll this larger portion into cylinders about 1/3” or max ½” in diameter.

Combine the slightly smaller portion to the melted chocolate, kneading until smooth. Use the chocolate portion to make more cylinders, of the same diameter as the white cylinders.

Attach the cylinders length-wise in couples, one white one dark, and cut into 1” long bicolor pieces.

Shape them into cones with a flattened top, arrange on a platter, and decorate with pieces of candied fruit on top.

*You can also make plain almond Montini without the chocolate, and decorate them with multicolored sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE BON-BONS

Remove from the food processor and knead with your hands until it feels like a smooth dough. If even after kneading the paste is still too crumbly, add a little more egg white, but only 1 tablespoon at a time, because you don’t want the paste to get too sticky either.

Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie or microwave. Using your hands, frorm small balls (1” diameter) with the almond paste.

Dip the bon-bons in the melted chocolate using a fork. Arrange on a parchment-lined platter and allow to dry.

GIANDUJA BON_BONS

Grate the chocolate or grind it in a food processor with a metal blade.

Grind the hazelnuts. Add sugar, egg white and liqueur to the hazelnuts and chocolate. If even after kneading the paste is still too crumbly, add a little more egg white, but only 1 tablespoon at a time, because you don’t want the paste to get too sticky either.

Shape into small balls (1” diameter). Roll in the granulated sugar (or you could go with colorful sprinkles!).

Et voila!

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2012/03/04/almond-paste-bon-bons-parve/

Filed Under: Desserts, Gluten Free, Holiday Food, Jewish Italian Cuisine, Non-Dairy, Purim, Traditional Tagged With: candy, chocolates, cucina ebraica, dessert, easy, Jewish holiday, Jewish Italian Cuisine1, kosher Italian, mishloach manot, montini di Purim, Non-Dairy, parve, truffles, Venice Trieste, משלוח מנות

Kamut Soup with Pumpkin and Saffron

January 22, 2012 By dinnerinvenice 1 Comment

Kamut Soup with Pumpkin and Saffron (Parve)

Have you ever tried KAMUT? It’s a long grain with a brown cover – it looks similar to brown rice, but it’s related to wheat and has a velvety, nutty flavor. It’s richer in protein than wheat, and contains several vitamins and minerals. Perfect for a winter soup!

The other main ingredient of this “minestra” is saffron, the star ingredient in Italy’s favorite risotto Milanese, and in many festive Sephardic dishes. Saffron, one of the most highly prized spices since antiquity, and a native of the Southern Mediterranean, is now cultivated in many countries. However, some the best in the world is said to be produced in the Abruzzi region of Italy, a couple of hours east of Rome – a legend says that it was first smuggled here by a dominican monk in the 13th century, and the production has been thriving ever since. In order to maintain the intense aroma of their saffron, the locals uproot the bulbs yearly, and select them for size. The perfect soil and climate conditions do the rest, and every fall the flowers are harvested.

About 80,000 crocus flowers are needed to produce a meager pound of saffron – in case you wondered what makes it the most expensive spice in the world! To justify the extravagant expense, remember that saffron has been used as a medicinal botanical on many continents throughout history, and some recent research has demonstrated that one of its components shows promise as an anti-cancer agent.

Kamut Soup with Pumpkin and Saffron (Parve)

Ingredients

½ pound kamut, soaked overnight (or at least for 3 hours) and rinsed
1 quart vegetable stock
15 to 25 saffron stigms
1 small carrot
1 celery stick
1 cup cubed pumpkin or butternut squash
½ a medium onion
1 quart vegetable stock
Extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions

Brew the saffron in a few spoonfuls of hot water.

Chop the onion, celery and carrot finely (we call this mix “soffritto”).

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook this vegetable mix in the oil for 5 to 10 minutes.

Add the cubed pumpkin, a little salt, and cook for 3 or 4 more minutes, Add the kamut, cover with the vegetable stock, and bring to a boil;

Cover and allow to simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.

Add the saffron and allow to cook for about 10-15 more minutes, or until the kamut is cooked “al dente”.

Drizzle with a little more olive oil, add a dash of pepper and some minced parsley, and serve.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2012/01/22/kamut-soup-with-pumpkin-and-saffron-parve/

Filed Under: First course, Light/Diet, Non-Dairy, Soup, Special Diet, Vegetarian Tagged With: anti-oxidant food, cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, healthy, Italian recipe, kosher Italian, light, Non-Dairy, soup, vegan

Fragrant Stew with Wine and Herbs

December 29, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Fragrant Stew with Wine and Herbs

My husband and I are almost vegetarian, meaning that we tend to forget about meat and to serve it only when we have guests who expect it. But a few of you have been asking for a winter-appropriate meat dish, and here you go! You are going to love this slow-cooked recipe, because it’s very simple and yet elegant. Perfect for a date! As always with Italian cuisine, don’t skimp on the ingredients. Use a wine that you would actually enjoy drinking – it will cost more, but it’s totally worth it! Just think of this as a special occasion dish. Wines that work well are dry and with a lot of body: Barolo, Chianti, Super-Tuscans, Bordeaux, etc. The meat should be cut into approx. 1″ cubes.

Fragrant Stew with Wine and Herbs

Ingredients

(serves 4-6)
2 pounds beef for stew
2 large onions
1 bottle dry red wine
2 tablespoons potato starch
6 cloves garlic, each cut into 4 lenghth-wise
1 carrot
a small rosemary sprig
a few sage leaves
4-5 juniper berries
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions

With a sharp knife, make a small cut in each cube of meat and insert a piece of garlic in each cut. Marinade the meat for 24 hours with the wine, vinegar, garlic, juniper berries and herbs.

Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a heavy pot, add the sliced onion and cook for 2-3 minute.

Drain and dry the meat, dip it in potato starch, and brown it on all sides.

Remove the meat and set aside; cook the onion on medium/low heat for 10-15 more minutes or until soft, adding a couple of tablespoons of water if necessary to prevent it from burning.

Return the meat to the pot (you can also use a slow-cooker) with at least ½ of the marinade liquid, add salt and pepper, and simmer for at least 3 hours or even longer on low heat. It can take closer to 4 hours, depending on the cut of meat: when it's ready, it will fall apart easily if you test it with a fork.

Enjoy with potatoes or polenta, or some crunchy Italian bread.

Some people prefer to remove most of the rosemary and sage leaves before serving.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/12/29/fragrant-stew-with-wine-and-herbs/

Filed Under: Comfort food, Jewish Italian Cuisine, Main Dish, Meat, Quick/Easy, Shabbat, Thanksgiving Tagged With: cucina ebraica, easy, herbs, Italian food, Jewish Italian Cuisine1, kosher, main dish, Meat, olive oil, quick/easy, rosemary, stew, wine

Meatballs, Jewish-Italian Style

December 12, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Meatballs, Jewish-Italian Style

We have many versions of meatballs. You can use leftover cooked meat instead of raw meat for an even tastier version! Leftover roast beef or brisket are great! You can add 4 tablespoons of very finely chopped olives for a different flavor. You can add leftover cooked spinach, drained well and chopped (in this case decrease the amount of the bread/broth mixture). You can add plumped currants and pine nuts, and end the cooking with some lemon juice, for a sweet-and-sour Sephardic touch. Also try substituting mashed potatoes for the bread/broth mixture.
Try them all!

Meatballs, Jewish-Italian Style

Ingredients

2 bread rolls or slices, crusts removed (they can be a couple of days old)
2/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth
3 salami slices, finely chopped
1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and veal)
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons fresh flat parsley, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, very finely chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup plain bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
1/2 cup white wine

Directions

Soak the bread in the broth forabout 5-10 minutes).

In a bowl, put 3 tablespoons of this mixture.

Combine with the garlic, parsley, salami, beef, salt and pepper.

Stir in the egg and using wet hands shape the mixture into about 10 or 12 meatballs.

Spread the breadcrumbs into a dish and roll the meatballs in them till they are evenly coated.

Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the meatballs over high heat till golden on both sides.

Add 1/2 cup of dry white wine and let it evaporate on high heat.

Then add either 1 cup hot broth or 1 cup of salted diced tomatoes in their water, and cook covered over medium heat for 30 minutes, adding liquid if necessary.

Serve with a side of vegetables.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/12/12/meatballs-jewish-italian-style/

Filed Under: Jewish Italian Cuisine, Main Dish, Meat, Quick/Easy, Special Diet, Sustainable Tagged With: cucina ebraica, easy, Italian food, Jewish Italian Cuisine1, kosher Italian, main dish, Meat, meatballs, quick/easy

Baked Apple with Hazelnuts, Honey and Yogurt

October 31, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Baked Apple with Hazelnuts, Honey and Yogurt (Dairy)

Before the advent of industrial baking products, many of the treats that our grandmothers served during the week included fruit. Compotes and baked fruit are a delicious way to indulge our sweet tooth without overdoing the sugar and the calories, and actually adding nutrients to our diet. Baked fruit, in particular, is easy to make and very comforting in the frosty fall and winter days.

Baked Apple with Hazelnuts, Honey and Yogurt (Dairy)

Ingredients

4 apples, all more or less the same size
1 heaped tablespoon brown sugar
10 ounces (about 1 and 1/4 cup) plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup coarsely ground hazelnuts
2 tablespoons honey
juice of 1/2 a lemon

Directions

Cut off the tops from the apples and set them aside, sprinkling the inside with lemon juice.

Core the apples from the top down, using an apple corer or melon baller, taking care not to pierce the bottom (leave about 1/2? pulp on the bottom and sides).

Place the apples in a baking pan just large enough to hold them.

Dice the pulp you extracted from the apples (discarding the hard cores and seeds), and place it in a bowl with little lemon juice, the hazelnuts, the honey and the yogurt, combining well.

Sprinkle the inside of the cored apples with brown sugar, and stuff them with the yogurt/apple/hazelnut mix.

Cover them with the tops that you had set aside, and bake at 375 F for 30 minutes (more if you like very soft apples).

Serve warm.

For a more fragrant recipe, you can stick a couple of cloves into the peel of each apple before baking.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/10/31/baked-apple-with-hazelnuts-honey-and-yogurt-dairy/

Filed Under: Dairy, Desserts, Gluten Free, Light/Diet, Special Diet Tagged With: cucina ebraica, cuisine, dairy, dessert, easy, gluten free, healthy, Italian recipe, kosher Italian, light

Dolce di Pane e Mele (Bread and Apple Cake)

October 24, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Dolce di Pane e Mele (Bread and Apple Cake) (Dairy)

Today, October 24, is Food Day! Americans from all walks of life push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. One of the huge problems we are dealing with is that Americans waste more than 40 percent of the food we produce for consumption, while the number of people without enough to eat continues to rise. A very important Jewish concept, especially relevant today, is Bal Tashchit (do not destroy or waste). Originally, Bal Tashchit refers to the biblical prohibition against the destruction of fruit trees during wartime (Deuteronomy 12:19), but the rabbis of the Talmud extended the concept to the prohibition of destroying and wasting anything needlessly.

Really! Nowadays we should apply this idea to all kinds of waste (do we really need to drive, when we can walk or take the bus?). And of course, let’s start with food. Don’t leave your bread in plastic bags: chances are, it will be covered in green mold before you are done with it. If you keep it in a paper bag or a bread box, on the other hand, it will just dry out and you’ll still be able to use it, soaked in broth, to make delicious meatballs (with leftover cooked chicken), or for this delicious cake!

Dolce di Pane e Mele (Bread and Apple Cake) (Dairy)

Ingredients

1/2 cup raisins, plumped in warm brandy (or warm water)
2 eggs
1 (scant) cup sugar
1 untreated lemon
a pinch of salt
1 cup milk
3 large or 4 small apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin, drizzled with lemon juice to prevent oxidation
about 1/3 pound day-old sliced bread (crust removed)
butter to grease the pan
Another version of the Bread Cake
Ingredients:
1/3 pound day-old sliced bread (crust removed)
milk or rice milk for soaking
2 pounds apples or pears
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 or 3 tablespoons rhum
1 package baking powder (optional)

Directions

Serves 4

In a food processor (or with your hand mixer) process the eggs with the sugar till frothy, then slowly add the milk.

Add the lemon zest and a pinch of salt. .

Grease a spring-form pan and cover the bottom with sliced bread, then cover with some of the egg/sugar mix, followed by a layer of apple slices and raisins,

Continue layering all he ingredients, topping with apples and raisins; brush the top with little melted butter and bake for 30 to 40 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 350 F.

Other version of bread cake:

Break or cut the bread into small pieces and soak it in milk or soy milk until very soft.

Drain it and process it with your mixer till creamy.

Add the egg yolks, plumped raisins, rhum, sugar, and the apples (peeled, cored, and diced).

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and carefully incorporate them with a spatula (alternatively, you can avoid separating the eggs in the first place and add a package of baking powder to the mix when you add the sugar).

Pour into a greased spring-form pan and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/10/24/dolce-di-pane-e-mele-bread-and-apple-cake-dairy/

Filed Under: Comfort food, Dairy, Desserts, Jewish Italian Cuisine, Special Diet, Sustainable Tagged With: cake, cucina ebraica, cuisine, dairy, dessert, easy, Italian recipe, kosher Italian, scialut

Oven-Baked Turkey Meatballs

September 1, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Oven-Baked Turkey Meatballs

Meatballs and meatloaves are a staple in Jewish Italian kitchens: I would go as far as to say that every family has a different version (and every son swears that his mother’s is the best!).

For many centuries most Jews in Italy were poor, and had only sporadic access to meat: one of the ways they found to make use of cheaper cuts was grinding the meat and stretching it with different ingredients – bread, eggs, and countless vegetables. The result included not only delicious meatloaves and meatballs, but also a variety of stuffed vegetables and pasta. These dishes are great for Shabbat and the holidays when food needs to be prepared in advance and reheated, because they don’t harden and actually taste better the day after.
If you choose one of the versions that incorporate cooked, chopped vegetables (spinach, leeks, zucchini, eggplant… the options are endless!) you might also be able to sneak some greens into the diets of the most irreducible picky eaters.

Oven-Baked Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey (if you are on a low-fat diet, ask for white meat only)
1 scallion, very finely minced
1 slice of bread, crust removed
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup of white unseasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 cup warm chicken or vegetable stock, or water (you can also use parve, unsweetened soy milk)
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs or as needed
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/3 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

(prep time: 20 minutes; total time: 1 hr and 15 minutes)

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet and cook the scallion or onion in it until translucent, adding a little salt and water if needed to prevent it from sticking or turning brown.

Drain the onion from the oil and let it cool down.

In the meantime, soak the bread slices in warm broth or water till soft, then remove them, squeezing the liquid out, and set aside.

In a bowl, mix the ground turkey with the cooked scallion, the salt and pepper, parsley, bread (drained of the excess liquid), nutmeg, egg; mix everything together, working well with your hands until all the ingredients have combined. (if you are not on a low-sodium or low-fat diet you can also add two slices of a natural salami, very finely minced).

Let rest for two minutes so that the bread will absorb some liquid making the mixture easier to shape.

Shape into ping-pong size meatballs. If the mixture is so soft that you are having a hard time forming meatballs, you can add a teaspoon of bread crumbs, but don’t overdo it – your meatballs should not have the texture of real ping-pong balls

Roll the meatballs into a dish filled with the plain breadcrumbs.

Line a baking tray with a sheet of parchment paper.

Brush or spray the parchment lightly with a small amount of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil (do not use baking sprays! Just transfer a good olive oil into a spray bottle).

Arrange the meatballs on the parchment in one layer and lightly spray or brush the top with a little more olive oil.

Bake until golden (about 30 minutes) in a preheated oven at 425 F. Enjoy!

*** ALTERNATIVES: If you prefer, you can cook the meatballs in a light tomato sauce. Start a tomato sauce by cooking 1/2 an onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil till translucent; add a can of peeled Italian tomatoes (just break them down with your hands), add salt and pepper and a small pinch of sugar; cook for about 10 minutes then add the meatballs, and cook on medium/low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring slowly and often. You can also use the same mixture to prepare one meatloaf: in this case the baking time will need to be increased by at least one third.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/09/01/oven-baked-turkey-meatballs/

Filed Under: Appetizer, Comfort food, Jewish Italian Cuisine, Light/Diet, Main Dish, Meat, Special Diet, Sustainable Tagged With: cucina ebraica, cuisine, easy, healthy, Italian recipe, kosher Italian, main dish, Meat, meatballs

Macedonia (Italian Fruit Salad)

July 6, 2011 By dinnerinvenice 7 Comments

Macedonia (Italian Fruit Salad)

I’m going to let you in on an Italian secret: while gelato is delicious, most of us don’t eat it every night! Our sweet treat after dinner is usually just fresh fruit, especially if the main courses are rich.
When we have guests we often serve Macedonia, a simple salad made with a variety of fruit cut into small pieces, so that when you put a spoonful into your mouth you can taste a combination of different flavors. Macedonia is dressed very simply with fresh sugar and lemon juice – or Prosecco if no children are present! This is just a sample recipe, but the possibilities are endless – just pick your favorite fruit! Make sure you sprinkle with fresh lemon juice right after slicing, or bananas and pears will oxidize quickly.

I prefer not to use apples, because their texture is much crunchier than most other fruit.

Macedonia (Italian Fruit Salad)

Ingredients

1 1/2 bananas
1 yellow peach
1 pear
1 or 2 slices pineapple
1/2 basket raspberries
1/2 basket strawberries
1 kiwi
1 orange (peel and cut each slice)
1 Tbsp. golden raisins, plumped up in warm water (optional)
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, or to taste
2 Tbsp. sugar, or to taste (you can use a low-calorie sweetener if you need to follow a strict diet)

Directions

Serves 4-6

Cut all the fruit into small pieces (the smaller, the better!) and mix well with the lemon (and raisins, if liked).

Add the sugar and mix in. Refrigerate before serving.

* This is just an example, you can use any fruit you like!

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/07/06/macedonia-italian-fruit-salad/

Filed Under: Desserts, Gluten Free, Light and Healthy, Light/Diet, Non-Dairy, salad, Special Diet Tagged With: authentic Italian cuisine, cuisine, dessert, easy, fruit, fruit dessert, gluten free, healthy, Italian, Italian light dessert, Italian recipe, light, Non-Dairy

Stuffed and Fried Zucchini Flowers

March 30, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Stuffed Fried Zucchini Flowers (Dairy)

Stuffed and Fried Zucchini Flowers (Dairy)

Ingredients

12 zucchini flowers
1/2 cup of COLD dry white wine (120ml)
1 large Italian mozzarella ball, cut into strips
3 tablespoons parmigiano cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup pastry flour (best) or all-purpose flour
extra virgin olive oil for frying
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Check inside the flowers for bugs and shake them out.

Wash the flowers very carefully or they will break.

Dry well with paper towel without rubbing. leave for a few minutes on paper towel so the inside will dry out as well.

Stuff each flower with a strip of mozzarella. If you eat fish with dairy (**many Jews of Sephardic and Italian origins do not) add an anchovy fillet.

If you don't, salt the mozzarella and add a touch of parmigiano cheese and maybe nutmeg.

For the batter, mix eggs, all purpose flour and wine together until smooth and even (a whisk works best).

Heat up the extra virgin olive oil in a deep pot, at least 3" deep, until hot; test it by throwing a small piece of bread in it - lots of small bubbles should form around it, but it should not burn.

Gently coat the stuffed flowers with batter.

Fry until golden brown. Place on several layers of paper towel to absorb the excess oil and immediately season with salt.

The flowers can also be fried in the same batter without stuffing, sprinkled with sugar and served as a dessert (a delightful idea for Purim and Hanukkah!)

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/03/30/stuffed-and-fried-zucchini-flowers-dairy/

Filed Under: Appetizer, Comfort food, Dairy, Side Dish, Vegetarian Tagged With: appetizer, cucina ebraica, cuisine, dairy, easy, First course, Fried, kosher Italian, mozzarella, quick, quick & easy Italian, stuffed, zucchini

Eggplant Roulades with Tuna

March 29, 2011 By dinnerinvenice Leave a Comment

Eggplant Roulades with Tuna

Ingredients

(serves 4)
2 medium/large eggplants
4 ounces anchovies (salt- or oil-packed)
1/2 cup capers (salt- or oil-packed)
1/2 cup green olives, pitted
1 can of tuna
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
10 mint leaves
salt
pepper

Directions

After washing the eggplants, cut them lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices , arrange them in a colander in your sink or on a platter, and cover them with kosher salt on both sides.

Allow them to rest and 'weep" the bitter juice out for one hour.

Keeping the eggplants in the colander, rinse them well under cold running water to eliminate all traces of bitterness and salt.

Blot dry with paper towels.

Arrange the eggplants on a wide tray and cover them with a mix of oil, vinegar and salt, and freshly chopped mint leaves.

Allow to marinate for 30 minutes.

In the meantime, combine the tuna (drained), olives, capers (drained and rinsed), and anchovies (rinsed) in a food processor until they form a smooth, creamy paste.

Grill the eggplants on a heavyweight grill pan, turning them and brushing them with the marinade, until cooked through.

Allow to cool for a few minutes, then spread the tuna mixture on one side of each eggplant slice, roll up and secure with a toothpick.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: Eggplant in Italy was apparently abhorred by non-Jews until the end of the 1800s. Its Italian name, Melanzana, is said to derive from the Latin "Mela Insana" (Bad Apple) because it was believed to be poisonous and cause fevers that would make people lose their minds. But in the 20th century the purple fruit took the country by storm, and is now the star ingredient in some of the most popular and world-famous Italian dishes.

https://dinnerinvenice.com/2011/03/29/eggplant-roulades-with-tuna/