Recipes from Tuscany for all the family

Feeding the Family

Recipes

Published on Thursday, 02 May 2019 11:04

Last Updated on 01 May 2019

Monica Costa

0 Comments

London Mums’ globetrotter reporter Rita Kobrak has sent me fantastic recipes from Tuscany for all the family which you can also find in the print magazine – already sold out in supermarkets but available to download online from here. 

Rita sent us this short letter along with her recipes:

“We moved to Tuscany two years ago from London and one of the things we love, along with the great climate and laid-back lifestyle, is of course the food. Tuscan food is simple to prepare, the key is good quality ingredients that are fresh and in season. Kids love helping and it is a great way to get them to eat more vegetables when they can take part in preparing the dishes.“

Here are a few of Rita’s favourite recipes.

 

Panzanella 

This is a great salad if you have old, slightly stale bread at home.

Soak the bread in oil, a little balsamic vinegar and water. Squeeze it dry and add to chopped cucumber, onion, tomatoes and lots of basil. Drizzle some oil and add a little salt and you have a simple tasty salad. 

 

Pappa al pomodoro 

This is again a bread-based dish but this time a soup. 

Dice onions and fry in olive oil. 

Take out seeds and press the tomatoes through a strainer. Cut the tomatoes and add to olive oil and onions. Add a little chilly and salt, cook for around 30 minutes. Stir in basil and slightly stale crushed bread.

Serve in bowels with a drizzle of good quality olive oil. 

 

Baked asparagus 

Place asparagus, tomatoes, pine nuts and a little garlic. In a baking tray and sprinkle with salt, pepper and lots of good quality Tuscan olive oil. 

Bake 29 minutes in the oven at gas mark 4.

 

Tirami su’ (literally it means pick me up)

As farmers used to have it in the morning, the coffee plus the raw eggs and sugar gave them the strength to go out and do a hard days’ work. Note the Tuscan version doesn’t have any alcohol!) 

For six people 

2 tubs of Mascarpone 

5tbsp sugar 

5 organic eggs 

Espresso coffee Pavesini or Savoiardi biscuits 

Grated chocolate 

 

Method

Separate the egg yolks from the whites 

Mix the sugar and egg yolks for about five minutes with an electric whisk. Add the Mascarpone.

In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until stiff and add to the Mascarpone mix.

 

Dip the biscuits in the coffee (you could add some Marsala liqueur to the coffee if you like) and layer them in glass dish. Spoon the Mascarpone mixture on the top. Do another layer and grate Chocolate on the top.

Keep in fridge for at least two hours before serving. 

 

 

Zuppa di farro (spelt soup) 

2 tbsp spelt per person 

1 onion 

2 carrots 

Celery stick

1 courgette 

4  chopped Tomatoes 

A little vegetable stock 

2 sausages (optional) 

 

Cook farro for 20 minutes with a little salt.

In another pan add onion with oil until softened. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. 

Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and lots of Parmesan.

 

VILLA RADICATA

At Villa Radicata we hold yoga and cooking holidays for all the family. Mums can relax with massages and yoga while children from 3 months to 12 years old are entertained and looked after. Fun pasta, pizza making and cooking lessons for all the family in a beautifully restored villa with pool in the stunning Tuscan hills. 

Contact Rita ritakobrak1@aol.com or phone 0039 349 5018679

WhatsApp 0044 7983821282

Www.holiday-villa-in-tuscany.com

Weekly self-catering holidays also available at Villa Radicata 

Www.holiday-villa-in-tuscany.com  

Related features and other recipes from Tuscany: 

My week at Villa Radicata in Tuscany