Polpette di pollo. Chicken Boulettes

I like meatballs because they give me the chance to combine different ingredients - herbs, spices, bread, egg, vegetables, cheese -, to play with different flavours and the final result is  never too 'meaty'. 

Zuppa castagne e cavolfiore - Chestnut and Cauliflower Soup

Here I propose an hearty soup for these cold days. Chestnut is one of my favourite winter ingredients I add to many recipes.  Nutritious and comforting, the chestnut soup could easily be served as a main course. 

Farinata di ceci - Flat Chickpea Bread with Rosemary

The Ligurian farinata, also know as cecina in Tuscany, is a thin and crispy flat bread, made of chickpea flour, water and oil. You eat it piping hot with chopped rosemary in Liguria and a simple twist of the pepper mill in Tuscany. 

Insalata fregola e ceci - Giant Couscous and Chickpea Salad

Our eating has changed in the last decade. Now grains and pulses combined with a variety of vegetables don't have to be 'sides' to meat or fish, but are regarded as a main course. 

Moreover, the range of uncommon ingredients we eat and we creatively combine - dried fruits, seeds and nuts in savoury dishes; pomegranate seeds and molasses in salads, specific varieties of chillies and spices in soups, risotto and pasta - has grown, making food more interesting and inventive.

Clafoutis pere e mandorle - Pear and Almond Clafoutis

Clafoutis is a French pudding of fruits, traditionally black cherries, mixed with a sweet batter and baked in the oven. So simple and versatile, the clafoutis is the perfect last-minute dessert.

Erbazzone - Swiss chard and Parmesan Pie

Erbazzone is an Italian pie, traditionally made with seasonal greens, flavoured with spring onions and garlic, and bound with eggs and cheese. As simple as that. A true dish from the 'cucina povera', which comes in many variations. 

Pollo marinato allo yogurt – Chicken Casserole in a Yogurt Dressing

I like yogurt, I make my own one at home to have it fresh in the morning, with any fruits, jam or honey. I use it in some cakes but I also like to add it to savoury dishes, such as pulse soups, pesto sauces or to replace mayonnaise in salad dressing. Here, I use it to marinate the chicken, getting closer to middle Eastern cooking rather than Italian.