Italian food and Italian cuisine have become so popular in the last few decades that people all over the globe cannot imagine their lives and diet without it. Modern young culture and lives cannot be imagined without some type of Italian food. The same situation was in Britain that is now overwhelmed with Italian restaurants and fast food places. However, there are some cooks and chefs that want to keep the standards of Italian food and not to reduce it on fast food pizzas. Antonio Carluccio is one of them.
Personal Life
Antonio Carluccio was born in the North of Italy where he made his first content with ingredients and types of food usually consumed in this part of Italy and Italy in general. This chef moved to the UK in the 1970s and has been trying to make perfect and delicious Italian food since then. Here are some dishes that he is famous for and that are more than delicious and tasty.
Wild mushroom soup – zuppa di funghi misti
Serves 4
300g wild and cultivated mushrooms, cleaned weight
10g dried ceps (funghi porcini), soaked in hot water for 20-30 minutes (save the water)
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
½ tbsp. cornflour (cornstarch)
1.5 litres chicken or vegetable stock
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley
50g Parmesan, freshly grate
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
It needs to be pointed out that is one of the best starters since it is very light and tasteful. It can be made either of wild or cultivated mushrooms. If you would like it creamier, just blend it.
Pennoni giardiniera – giant quills with courgette sauce and spinach balls
Serves 4
300g dried giant penne pasta, known as pennoni
salt and pepper, to taste
40g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Spinach balls
600g young spinach leaves
2 medium eggs, beaten
1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
tip of a knife of freshly grated nutmeg
50g fresh breadcrumbs
20g Parmesan, freshly grated
olive oil for shallow-frying
Sauce
4 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
1 little fresh red chilli, not too hot, finely chopped
300g grated courgette
Alternative – paccheri or rigatoni can be used instead of the pennoni
This dish is well-known among the vegetarians and has been prepared for that purpose only.
Risotto con funghi – risotto with mushrooms
This is one of the most famous dishes of Italian origin that is prepared seasonally, i.e. when ingredients are cultivated and picked.
Serves 4
2 litres chicken or vegetable stock
4 tbsp olive oil or 50g unsalted butter
1 onion, peeled and very finely chopped
300g firm button mushrooms, finely sliced
50g dried porcini (ceps), rehydrated (see left) and chopped
350g carnaroli or arborio risotto rice
60g Parmesan, freshly grated
80g unsalted butter
salt and pepper
Conclusion
These are just some of the famous dishes Antonio Carluccio is famous for. He is the master of Italian cuisine, ergo the nickname: Godfather of Italian Food.
