Mangia Con Elena

  Pasta with Italian Sausage and Fennel/Pasta con Salsiccia e Finocchio IG @ mangia.con.elena Fennel is as Mediterranean  as the sea itself. Eaten raw it has a slightly black licorice flavour and a crunchy texture. When cooked, the flavour becomes  more delicate and the texture is softened. It can be sautéed, baked, braised and added to pastas, soups and stews.  Fennel tea is a great digestive tea when your tummy is feeling upset.  Fennel  is a large part of the Italian Mediterranean diet as it is packed with  plant based nutrients and aids in digestion, bloating and inflammation.  My mother always served fennel as part of the antipasto platter that stayed on the table throughout our meal. We snacked on it between courses and afterwards. Another exceptional pairing with fennel is Italian sausage when cooked with caramelized fennel, toasted tomato paste, spicy peperoncino and a good sprinkle of parmigiano reggiano. I first tried this pasta dish several years back and it quickly became a

  Cabbage, Potato and White Bean Soup IG: @mangia.con.elena I have never really been one to plan meals a week in advance. I know many that do, but it just does not  work for me. Even when the children were little, when I know that it would have alleviated so much stress, I just didn't. I tried, but it never stuck.  I do my meal planning in the grocery store. I start with the fresh produce and if something looks good that week, I will buy it and decide what to make with it while in the store so that I can get the rest of the ingredients if needed.  That is exactly how this delicious soup came to be this week. I saw a gorgeous savoy cabbage and put it in my cart.  knew I needed carrots so as I went to grab them, this soup popped into my head and voila!  This is a simple soup with few ingredients and a unique flavour.  The trick to its success is to saute the cabbage slowly for a lengthy time until it caramelizes. It becomes buttery and melts in your mouth.  Another great trick is to

  Lentil and Sweet Potato Coconut Curry IG: @mangia.con.elena If you are following my blog, then you know that I am a lentil lover. There are many different lentil recipes to choose from. If this is your first time here, then welcome and I am so happy you landed here! Make sure to take a look at some of the other Mediterranean- Italian recipes I have featured here. Lentils are one of the world's oldest health foods first grown in the  Middle East in 8000 BC. Lentils are a definite staple in the Mediterranean diet  and one that I have readily available in my pantry in dried and canned.  There are a variety to choose from and each with their own goodness, flavour and texture profile. If you are looking to add sweetness and creaminess to a dish, then red lentils are the ones you will want. They are perfect for soups and curries where they dissolve adding incredible creaminess and flavour. Brown and green lentils have an earthy flavour and maintain their shape so they are perfect as a

 Mediterranean Couscous Salad  IG:@mangia.con.elena Couscous is a versatile grain that is a staple in North African, Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern cuisine. It is said to have been invented by the Berbers of Algeria (nomads of North Africa) as far back as 238 BC and then introduced to the Mediterranean when Berber dynasties began to expand into Portugal and Spain in the 13th Century. It was the traditional food of the poorest and the nomads because of their ease of preparation with little ingredients.  Couscous is made from semolina. It is already processed and cooked which is why it only takes 5 minutes to absorb hot water and turn into tender grains.  There are three different kinds of couscous. Moroccan couscous is the smallest of the three types and cooks in minutes (it is the one I use for this salad). Israeli couscous is larger and takes a bit longer to cook, whereas Lebanese couscous is the largest and takes the longest.  Couscous has a lovely nuttiness and acts like little sp

  Roasted Kabocha Squash Gnocchi IG: @mangia.con.elena If you are visiting this page then chances are you are a lover of gnocchi like me! Just like every other Italian dish, the way they are made varies from region to region. It is typically made with potatoes and flour but if you ask any Italian it's almost a guarantee that they will share a different recipe than the last. Some are adamant about adding eggs and others say no way. Some use semolina flour only and others use all purpose flour or double zero.  Each flour of course will result in a different consistency.  I prefer my gnocchi with a bit of a chewy consistency. I love the pillowy soft ones and will gladly eat them but I most definitely prefer ones that don't melt in my mouth. Chefs and Italians everywhere will probably disagree with me and say that gnocchi should be pillowy and light and airy. Most definitely, but being Italian, I believe that is entirely a personal choice (and I will gladly defend that!) 🤣   Growi

  Goat Cheese, Parmigiano and Grape Tomato Pasta Mista IG: @mangia.con.elena We like to call this "Italian Mac n' Cheese." This pasta dish is incredibly simple and can be ready and on your table in less than 30 minutes! Definitely a go to dish in my house when I am craving pasta but have little time or energy. In addition, the smell of the garlic and tomatoes simmering definitely perk me up!   Goat cheese and grated parmigiano- reggiano are blended with the flavours of grape tomatoes simmered in garlic and olive oil to release its juices. Add a bit of pasta water to thicken the sauce and you have a creamy, flavourful and delicious bowl of pasta.  When I have as assortment of half full pasta bags in my pantry, it is time to make "pasta mista," which means mixed pasta.  This one is farfalle and tortiligione.  When making this dish, choose a pasta shape with crevices or twists as it is the best vessel for this wonderful sauce. Trust me, you will be glad you did whe

  Pork Braised in Tomato Sauce IG: @mangia.con.elena Are you looking for a delicious and quick one pot dinner? Then look no further than this fork tender, fall off the bone braised pork dish. Pork loin chops seasoned with oregano and flavoured with tomatoes and red wine. Left to slowly simmer in a dutch oven for a minimum of 1 hour, this meal really does make itself. Bone in is preferred as the bones will add a deeper flavour to the sauce.  It can be served with a side of egg noodles, rice or a grain of your choice. There will be lots of delicious rich sauce for you to stir into your grain. Alternatively, you can serve as is and save that sauce for another dish such as risotto, pasta, fish. Rule number one in the Italian kitchen is nothing goes to waste! As with all of my recipes and in keeping with the traditional Italian way of cooking, my measurements are just estimates and my spices are just recommendations. QB or Quanto Basta in my recipes means as much or as little as you would l