Cook Like a Local: An Italian New Year Fest!

[Flavours Holidays]

In Italy New Years Eve is traditionally celebrated with a huge feast. To give you a little taster, we have put together 3 dishes from our New Year cooking holiday celebratory dinner; a starter, main and dessert. Lentils considered lucky and to eat them on New Year's Eve is thought to bring wealth and money in the coming year; and so almost always feature on the menu! So, if you are looking for inspiration this New Years Eve why not try our Italian feast recipes – or go for the real deal.

1. Year Menu - Primi Piatti

Tagliatelle con Gamberi e Zucchine (Tagliatelle with Shrimps and Courgette) - Serves 5

400g egg tagliatelle
500g prawns
4 courgettes
50g parmesan
20g pine nuts
3 cloves of garlic
Basil
Salt
Olive oil

Method 

1. Drop the courgettes in boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Then remove from water, slice in half lengthways and scoop out the white seedy part and discard.
2. Add the courgette to the parmesan, 1 clove of garlic, basil and pine nuts and blend into a puree.
3. Add the tagliatelle to boiling, well salted water.
4. Finely chop the remaining garlic and fry in a little olive oil. Add the peeled prawns.
5. When the pasta is ready drain, add the courgette sauce to the pan, stir and add the pasta. Serve.

2. New Year Menu - Secondi Piatti

Lenticchie Stufate di Capodanno (New Year Lentils with Sausages) - Serves 5

3 - 4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion (finely chopped)
A pinch of salt
500g puy lentils
1 big garlic clove finely chopped
8 Italian sausages
100ml red wine
50ml water
A handful of flatleaf parsley

Method

1. Boil the lentils in water until cooked, then drain and add to a bowl.
2. Fry the finely chopped onion in a little olive oil until soft and add the bruised garlic.
3. Cook for a few minutes and then add the sausages. Fry until browned all over and then add the wine and water.
4. Cover the pan and leave to cook for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the sausages from the sauce, season to taste and add a little extra water if needed, and add the lentils.
6. Stir well and then serve the sausages on a bed of the lentils and sprinkle with parsley.

3. New Year Menu - Dessert

Panettone farcito (Stuffed Panettone) - Serves 5

1kg good quality ricotta
140g caster sugar
70g candied fruit, finely chopped
40g flaked almonds
50g plain chocolate shavings/chips
1 tbsp cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
600g panettone
175ml Vin Santo or other sweet dessert wine

Method

1. Cut a round disc of pannettone and slice the remaining pannettone into long slices that are roughly 1inch thick.
2. In a deep bowl, line with cling film and then line with the pannetone. Using a pastry brush, brush the pannetone with ¾ of the vin santo.
3. In a separate bowl mix the ricotta and sugar together until well combined. Stir in the fruit, almonds, chocolate and cocoa powder.
4. Spoon in the ricotta mixture into the bowl with the pannetone and place the pannettone dish on top. Drizzle with the remaining vin santo.
5. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge with a weight on top (a bag of sugar for example) and leave to chill for 6 hours.
6. To serve, remove the cling film from the top and invert the bowl onto a plate. Carefully remove the bowl and peel off the cling film. Dust with cocoa powder.

Buon Appetito & Buon Anno Nuovo!

To try our Italian New Years menu in an authentic environment, join us in Tuscany, Venice or Sicily to welcome in the New Year.  We are here to make your celebrations an unforgettable memory. That’s why our experienced team will take care of everything for you. That way you can enjoy every second of your holiday – no stress, no hassle. If you do have any questions – simply contact us. We are more than happy to help you and provide you with all the information you need.

 

seelensturm via photopin cc