Tag Archives: Regional
I Love Italian Regional Food – Coupling Apulia Cuisine With Merlot
Apulia is the heel of the Italian boot. It is located in the southeast corner of Italy on the Adriatic as well as Ionian Seas. As numerous other areas of Italy, over the centuries Apulia was constantly attacked. The area’s tough background has given it a varied cuisine that must meet your fancy. Apulia is understood as the Italian granary and the vegetable yard of Italy. Believe it or not, several of the regional olive trees are claimed to be one thousand years of ages, and also still create excellent olives. Is it any marvel that many traditional dishes ask for olives or olive oil?
For beginners or as a light main course, try Melanzane Ripiene (Stuffed Eggplant) baked eggplant that has actually been burrowed as well as stuffed with a mixture of its cut pulp, anchovies, breadcrumbs, capers, olives, as well as tomatoes. Enjoy this special with a Monica di Sardegna DOC from Sardinia or a Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG from Sicily.
One more excellent starter or light main dish is Lasagnette con Acciughe (Lasagnette with Anchovies). Lasagnette are level noodles reduced from a pasta sheet. Prepare them with salted anchovies, garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, extra virgin olive oil, smashed chili peppers, scallions, ricotta cheese, aged pecorino cheese, and also a number of various other components. The recommended wine pairing is a neighborhood Primitivo. This is not the place to question whether or not The golden state Zinfandel is a straight offspring of the Apulia Primitivo grape. And also this recipe is not produced Zinfandel.
If you like lamb try Agnello al Cartoccio (Lamb Chops in Foil) which are baked in foil or paper with olives and also lampasciuoli, wild bitter onions from the mountains of Apulia. Unnecessary to say, try to find replacements at the farmer’s market. Enjoy this dish with a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Tuscany, a Barolo DOCG from Piedmont, or a Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG from Umbria.
Involtini di Manzo (Braised Beef Rolls) are made from slim slices of boneless ground round that are pounded, and afterwards rolled around a blend of Italian bacon (pancetta), merlot, olive oil, and a number of various other ingredients. Wine pairing tips include Aglianico del Taburno DOC from the nearby region of Campania, Rosso di Montalcino DOC from Tuscany, or Barbera d’Asti DOC from Piedmont.
I Love Italian Regional Food – Combining Umbria Cuisine With Merlot
Umbria exists slap dab in the middle of Italy. Although it does not surround the sea, the Tiber River as well as Lake Trasimeno offer a great option of fish and eels. Local specializeds include truffles. You will not go starving here.
Lepre alla Cacciatora (Cacciatora Style Hare) is a prominent, traditional recipe. It asks for white wine, healed ham, capers, and also several various other ingredients. Appreciate it with a Chianti Classico DOCG or a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, both from the nearby region of Tuscany.
An additional seeker’s design meal is Pollo alla Cacciatora (Cacciatora Style Hen) whose central active ingredient is much easier to find and prepare. The classic preparation requires salted anchovies as well as capers. Suggested wine pairings consist of Chianti DOC or Chianti Classico DOCG or a Nebbiolo-based wine from Piedmont.
Truffles are truly preferred in this component of the timbers. Take pleasure in a Pasta all Nursina (Pasta Norcia Design) where a neighborhood pasta is gone along with by these tasty fungis are heated up in olive oil with a touch of anchovy and garlic. Barbaresco DOCG from Piedmont is the suggested food pairing.
Don’t think regarding the park when you’re appreciating Piccioni allo Spiedo (Pigeons roasted on the spit) with the remainder of that Barbaresco, a Barbera d’Alba DOC, a Barbera d’Asti DOC additionally from Piedmont, or an Italian Pinot Nero.
Agnello arrosto (Roast Infant Lamb) is commonly baked in the passing away embers that stay after bread is baked in a wood stove. You might have to make amends yet this dish can still be superb. Specifically if you accompany it by a Barolo DOCG from Piedmont or a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Tuscany.
Our last dish Anitra Selvatica con pappardelle (Wild Duck with Broad Pasta) highlights just what is possibly the region’s finest merlot, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG. You might need to substitute a farm-raised duck for the wild duck, various other pasta for the Pappardelle, normal pork for the prosciutto, as well as other wine for this expensive suggestion. It will not coincide.
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I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Campania Cuisine With Red Wine
Campania is the shin of the Italian boot. Its capital is Naples and if you don’t want to “See Naples and Die” you can always visit upscale Sorrento and Pompeii, frozen in time with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius some two thousand years ago. Campania claims to be the home of pasta and pizza. We do some pasta below.
I’m a real fan of Parmigiana di Melanzane (Eggplant Parmigiana) and Campania has some great recipes. In spite of the dish’s name, tradition calls for more Mozzarella than Parmesan cheese. Suggested wine pairings include the local Aglianico del Taburno DOC, Monica di Sardegna DOC from Sardinia, and Rosso Barletta DOC from Apulia. If you can’t get any of these I would suggest trying a Chianti DOCG or Chianti Classico DOCG from Tuscany.
Another eggplant dish is Pasta ‘Ncasciata (Baked Rigatoni with Eggplant) which also includes some veal, chicken livers, and Mozzarella cheese. The full list of ingredients is fairly long as is the preparation. Purists use grated Pecorino cheese instead of grated Parmesan cheese. Wine pairings include Latium’s first DOCG Cesane del Piglio, Chianti DOCG or Chianti Classico DOCG, and Rosso di Montepulciano DOC also from Tuscany.
Braciole di Maile alla Napoletana (Pork Loin with Garlic) is one of those recipes that requires string or toothpicks to roll up the meat and the fixings. I would be tempted to forget the raisins but I’d keep the pine nuts, garlic, and capers. What about the wines? Suggestions include the local Pollino DOC, the Rosso Canosa DOC from Apulia, also known by the ancient Latin name Canusium, and the local Savuto DOC. The latter is probably the easiest one to find.
Time for some beef, such as round steak. Carne alla Pizzaiola (Beef Pizzaiola) includes fresh tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, garlic, and chopped parsley. Some people including me would add chopped olives and anchovies. Recommended wine pairings include Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG from Sicily, Rosso Piceno DOC from The Marches, and Sangiovese di Romagna DOC from Emila-Romagna.
I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Basilicata Cuisine With Red Wine
Basilicata is the instep of the Italian boot. This hilly and mountainous region is located in the southwest corner of Italy. Like so many other parts of Italy this region has known a series of conquerors, each of whom has left a cultural and culinary trace. The region is known for caves that have been occupied for thousands of years and have now become trendy tourist attractions, complete with upscale restaurants.
Start your meal with some delicious vegetables. One great dish is Piatto di Erbe alla Lucana (Dish of Herbs Lucana Style) consisting of eggplants, onions, yellow peppers, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and a few other ingredients. Start by salting the eggplants to remove their bitter juices. Fry and then simmer the veggies and their accompaniments. This isn’t a quick dish, but you’ll enjoy it whether you are a vegetarian or not. The suggested wine pairing is an Italian Syrah.
Lamb is really popular in Basilicata. Make sure to try Cutturiddi o Agnello in Casseruola (Cutturiddi or Lamb Casserole) which is made from a combination of lamb breast and shoulder with pearl onions, chili peppers, ripe tomatoes, and a few other ingredients. The classic wine pairing is the local Aglianico del Vulture DOC named for the extinct Mount Vulture volcano that gives the wine its special taste.
Maybe you like your lamb baked. Try Agnello e Funghi al Forno (Baked Lamb with mushrooms), ideally made with cardoncelli mushrooms that tend to grow under thistle bushes. The other ingredients include chili peppers and olive oil. Suggested wine pairings include Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Nero. I have a sneaking suspicion that Aglianico del Vulture would also work very well.
Nobody will blame us for yet another popular but different local lamb specialty, this time based on leg of lamb. Agnello Venosino (Lamb Venosino style). Other ingredients include asparagus, onions, grated Pecorino cheese, eggs, and olive oil. This delicious dish calls for an Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, or those Piedmont prizes, Barbaresco DOCG and Barolo DOCG.
Let’s not forget chicken. One local dish is Pollo alla Potentina (Chicken Potenza Style), chicken braised in white wine with onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and some other ingredients. Recommended wine pairings include an Italian Pinot Nero and a Barbera from Piedmont.
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I Love Italian Regional Cuisine – Pairing Calabria Cuisine With White Wine
Calabria is the toe of the Italian boot. It is located in the southwest corner of Italy, with 500 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Taranto and Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Its total population is about 2 million. The countryside is mountainous, and prone to earthquakes. Over the centuries the peasants learned how to extract the maximum from the poor soil. The red onions from Tropea are as good as they get. Some people eat them raw. Does anybody out there have a wine pairing for raw onions?
An excellent starter or side vegetable dish is Carciofi Ammollicati (Artichokes with Breadcrumbs) that also includes grated Pecorino cheese, lemons, and olive oil. Some say that artichokes are difficult to pair with wine. They haven’t tried this dish with a Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, a Vermentino di Gallura DOCG from Sardinia, or an Italian Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc.
Another first dish is Bucatini con la Mollica (Bucatini Pasta with Breadcrumbs) that includes salted anchovies, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Use whole-wheat breadcrumbs. This dish is traditionally served without cheese and works best with Bucatini, large hollow spaghetti. Enjoy with an Italian Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
An alternative local pasta dish is Spaghetti al Ragù di Totano (Spaghetti with Squid and Tomato Sauce). Of course the hardest part of preparing this dish is cleaning the squid. Other ingredients include onion, garlic, and basil. If you are up to it, save some of the squid rings for your second course. Wine pairings for the pasta dish (often made with angel hair spaghetti) include Italian Pinot Grigio and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC or Verdicchio di Matelica DOC from The Marches.
Pesce Stocco alla Calabrese (Salted Cod Calabrian style) is made with tomato sauce, black olives, onion, potatoes, and some herbs and spices. The real thing is cooked in a terracotta dish. If you like salt cod, you’ll enjoy this meal with an Italian Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
I’ve saved the best for last; namely Pesce Spada alla Bagnarese (Swordfish Bagnara style). Bagnara is a fishing and now tourist village that is also known for Torrone, a delicious almond-nougat candy. The swordfish is roasted with capers, chopped parsley, lemon, and olive oil. Suggested wine pairings include Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG from Tuscany but you have to get a good one, an Italian Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio.