The Weekly Menu:
Piatti Liguri
While it's fun to put together a
meal based on what's in the fridge, it's also nice to find a few pointers; the
"standard" festive Italian meal will begin with antipasti, followed by a first
course (soup, pasta, or risotto), which is in turn followed by a main course
(usually fish or meat based) accompanied by one or more contorni, or side
dishes. This is all accompanied by wines chosen to accompany the dishes and
water (sparkling or still), and followed by dessert, coffee, and perhaps a
cordial. A regular daily meal will be a bit simpler; it will begin with a first
course, followed by a second course, with a salad or vegetable, and close with
fresh fruit, or perhaps a slice of cheese.
Liguria is one of the wildest
sections of Italy, with steep valleys that plunge into the sea; there's little
arable land and in the past people used to travel by boat. It comes as no
surprise that Ligurian cuisine is largely vegetarian and fish based.
An Antipasto
La Focaccia Ligure
The
perfect bread for a rustic meal or a quick snack, and an excellent antipasto
too.
Primi
Panissa
Classic Ligurian frugal
peasant food, a polenta made from chickpea flour that will make a satisfying,
simple meal.
Trenette col Pesto
Similar to
spaghetti al pesto, but with the addition of string beans and potatoes to the
pasta. Very nice, and healthy too.
Ravioli
The traditional
genovese specialty can be either in a pasta shell or without one.
Secondi & Contorni
Buridda
A Ligurian fish stew
that goes perfectly with the wines from the Cinque Terre.
Pan Pesce
Frugal Ligurian fare, a baked fish loaf made from gilt head breem.
Filetti di Orata Alla Ligure
Sea bass filets on a bed of potatoes, with olives, capers and pine
nuts.
Vitello all'Uccelletto
Ligurian veal
scallops, quickly cooked with wine and sage and (often) served with mushrooms.
Tocco di Carne
Rich Ligurian
stewed meat in tomato sauce, which goes over the pasta.
Il Dessert
Amaretti Teneri
Extraordinarily tender, chewy almond cookies from Novi Ligure (it's in Piemonte
now, but the name speaks volumes).
Never Cooked Italian?
The
organization of a meal and what you'll need.
Back to The Recipe Index
Ingredient and Technique links on the Net
