Patrick Oconnell
Italy is known for its contribution to arts, literature, music, architecture, and food. Food is an integral part of Italian holidays, with each region offering its unique traditions and dishes. When it comes to serving holiday cheese in Italy, there are many options to choose from. One classic option is to serve an antipasto spread with dry-cured meats, salumi, fine Italian cheeses, briny olives, artichokes, and more. Another option is to create a cheese board with a variety of Italian cheeses such as mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, and mascarpone. For a festive touch, pair the cheeses with charcuterie, such as ham and cornichon, or serve them with figs, strawberries, or other fresh produce. For a heartier option, baked pasta dishes such as lasagna or ravioli are often served during the holidays and can be made with ricotta or other melted cheeses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Type | Mascarpone, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Ricotta, Cheddar |
| Cheese Texture | Soft, Semi-soft, Hard |
| Cheese Flavour | Mild, Creamy, Sweet, Nutty, Sour |
| Cheese Accompaniments | Honey, Sugar, Berries, Wine, Bread, Salad, Meat, Pasta |
| Serving Style | Finger food, Topless, Dip, Spread |
| Occasion | Christmas, Easter, Republic Day, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, National Holidays, Patronal Festivals |
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What You'll Learn
Christmas Eve: Blue cheese on figs
Christmas Eve is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends and delight in great food. La Vigilia, as Christmas Eve dinner is known in Italy, is a lavish affair, with seafood taking centre stage. While Christmas Day lunch is typically meat-based, Christmas Eve is the perfect opportunity to indulge in delicious seafood dishes and meat-free options.
Blue cheese on figs is an elegant and mouthwatering choice for a Christmas Eve appetiser. Soft blue cheese, such as Cambozola, pairs beautifully with sweet fig jam. To elevate this flavour combination, consider adding candied pecans for a crunchy texture and a touch of sweetness. The preparation is simple yet impressive. Start by allowing the blue cheese to come to room temperature to ensure optimal flavour. Meanwhile, prepare the fig jam by cooking dried figs with fresh oranges to achieve a lightly sweet and vibrant flavour profile. Blend the jam using an immersion blender or a food processor to achieve a smooth and spreadable consistency.
For presentation, arrange the soft blue cheese on a platter alongside the homemade fig jam and candied pecans. Provide crackers or toasts as accompaniments, allowing your guests to create their own perfect bite. This appetiser is a delightful way to begin your Christmas Eve feast, offering a combination of sweet, salty, and tangy flavours that will leave your guests wanting more.
To make this dish ahead of time, properly store the ingredients to extend their shelf life. The blue cheese can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated, remaining edible for three to four weeks. Similarly, the fig jam can be prepared in advance and kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or frozen for two to three months. When ready to serve, simply bring the cheese to room temperature and enjoy this delightful holiday treat with your loved ones.
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Christmas Day: Baked pasta with cheese
Christmas is a time of celebration and indulgence, and what better way to do that than with a comforting, delicious, baked pasta dish? Baked pasta is a traditional Italian Christmas dish, especially in Southern and Central Italy. It is a dish that is perfect for using up leftover Christmas cheese and meats, and it is a great way to bring the family together.
Ingredients
The beauty of a baked pasta dish is that you can use almost any ingredients you like. For a vegetarian option, you could use leftover vegetables such as roasted cauliflower, mushrooms, Brussel sprouts, and vegetarian sausages. For meat-eaters, you could add leftover turkey or beef, or even experiment with seafood.
Cheese is a must for a baked pasta dish, and you can use almost any cheese you like. For a truly indulgent dish, the more cheese, the better! Leftover Christmas cheese is perfect for this, and you can use a variety of cheeses to add interest and depth of flavour. Why not try blue cheese, Camembert, mozzarella, or even experiment with American cheeses such as cheddar or Monterey Jack?
Method
Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions, but be careful not to overcook it. You want it to be al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven. Drain the pasta and set aside.
For a simple pasta bake, make a cheese sauce by melting butter in a saucepan and stirring in flour to make a paste. Gradually add milk, stirring continuously, until you have a smooth, thick sauce. Add grated cheese and stir until melted. You can add other ingredients such as fried onions, garlic, and herbs to make a more complex sauce.
Combine your cooked pasta with the sauce and any other ingredients you are using, such as vegetables or meat. Transfer to an ovenproof dish and top with extra cheese. Bake in the oven at 200°C/180°C fan (400°F/350°F) for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
Tips
- If you want to save time on washing up, try an orzo pasta bake, where you won't need to boil the pasta beforehand.
- Grilling your pasta bake is the fastest way to get the cheese to bubble and turn golden.
- If you have any leftovers, they can be reheated in the oven or the microwave.
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Republic Day: Risotto with seafood
Republic Day in Italy is a time to indulge in mouthwatering dishes, and what better way to kick off the festivities than with a delicious risotto infused with rich seafood flavours? Here is a recipe for a Republic Day celebration filled with tasty flavours from the coast.
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Finely chopped shallots or leeks
- Arborio rice
- Dry white wine (Prosecco can also be used to add a touch of sweetness)
- Seafood stock
- Parmesan cheese
- Lemon zest
- Heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Seafood of your choice (shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, scallops, or whatever is locally available and in season)
- Chopped parsley and lemon wedges, for garnish
Method:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add the finely chopped shallots or leeks and cook until soft.
- Stir in the Arborio rice and cook for a few more minutes.
- Pour in your chosen wine and stir until most of the wine is absorbed into the rice grains.
- Gradually add the seafood stock, about 1/2 to 1 cup at a time, stirring often. Allow each addition of stock to absorb before adding more.
- Continue adding stock until it is all used and the rice is almost tender (al dente). The total cooking time should be around 25 minutes.
- While the risotto is cooking, prepare your chosen seafood. Aim for about 1 pound of seafood in total. You can pan-cook, roast, or steam your seafood, marinating it beforehand with wine and leek to enhance the flavour and reduce any fishy smell.
- Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and heavy cream, if using.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the risotto in a large bowl or individual bowls. Top with your cooked seafood and garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.
- For a complete meal, serve with side dishes such as roasted asparagus, broccolini, braised greens, or a crisp green salad.
Enjoy your Republic Day celebration with this delicious seafood risotto, bringing a taste of Italy's coastal flavours to your table!
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Easter: Homemade ravioli with ricotta
Homemade ravioli with ricotta is a perfect dish to serve during Easter in Italy. It is a staple in Italian households to have ricotta on the Easter menu, and making your own ravioli is a fun and rewarding experience. Here is a detailed guide to help you prepare this delicious dish:
Ingredients
For the dough, you will need all-purpose flour, salt, eggs, water, and olive oil. For the filling, you will require ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella and provolone cheeses, an egg, and dried parsley. For added flavour, you can include mascarpone and chopped basil leaves. Finally, for the sauce, you will need olive oil, garlic, basil pesto sauce, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce.
Method
Start by making the dough. Combine the flour, salt, eggs, water, and olive oil, and knead it into a ball. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. Mix the ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, egg, parsley, salt, and pepper. You can also add mascarpone and basil to this mixture.
Next, roll out the dough into thin sheets. Use a pasta machine or a rolling pin to achieve the desired thickness (about 1/32-inch). Cut the sheets into sections, and place the filling (about 1 tablespoon) onto the dough. Cover the filling with another sheet of dough, and use a ravioli stamp or cutter to shape the ravioli.
Cooking and Serving
To cook the ravioli, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Gently place the ravioli into the water and cook for about 3-6 minutes, depending on the thickness. Carefully transfer the cooked ravioli to a serving dish. For the sauce, heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic, and cook. Stir in the pesto, heavy cream, and Parmesan, and simmer until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve the sauce over the ravioli, and enjoy!
Tips and Variations
It is important to drain the ricotta overnight before preparing the filling to ensure a firm and creamy texture. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of nutmeg to the ricotta mixture for added flavour. Feel free to experiment with different shapes and sizes of ravioli, and try out various sauces, such as a simple pomodoro or marinara sauce.
Making homemade ravioli is a delightful way to celebrate Easter in Italy, bringing family and friends together for a memorable feast.
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Holiday party: Grated Parmesan on salad
Food is an integral part of Italian culture, and the holidays are a great time to celebrate with delicious traditional dishes. A holiday party salad with grated Parmesan cheese is a simple yet tasty dish to serve.
To make a delicious Parmesan salad, you can start with a base of romaine, tomatoes, and croutons. You can then whisk together lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper, slowly whisking in olive oil to make a dressing. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
The key to taking this salad to the next level is adding a generous amount of finely grated Parmesan cheese. The umami flavor and saltiness of the cheese elevate the flavor of the dressing, and the dry texture helps the cheese and dressing adhere to the lettuce and toppings. You can use a microplane grater or the finest setting on a regular cheese grater to get a nice, fine grate.
Toss the salad again to ensure every leaf and topping is fully coated in the dressing and cheese. This will ensure a well-dressed, flavorful salad. You can also add some red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
So, for your holiday party, impress your guests with this simple yet delicious Parmesan salad. It's a great way to bring a taste of Italy to your table and celebrate the festive season.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to include Italian cheese in your Christmas menu. You could start with an antipasto spread featuring fine Italian cheeses, cured meats, briny olives, and artichokes. For the main course, you could serve a baked pasta dish such as lasagna or ravioli, made with ricotta cheese and ground meat. If you're serving turkey, you could add some cheddar cheese as a latticework on the plate. Finally, for dessert, you could serve tiramisu or Italian cheesecake, both made with mascarpone cheese.
Parmesan and Pecorino are two of Italy's most famous hard cheeses, perfect for grating over pasta or adding to a salad. Mozzarella is another popular Italian cheese that can be used as a pizza topping or eaten cold in a salad. For something stronger, you could try a blue cheese like Gorgonzola.
The Cheese Twins, Charlie and Michael Kalish, recommend serving small quantities of luxurious cheeses. You could try smearing blue cheese on a fig or pairing ham with Italian blue cheese and a pickle. If you're serving a meal, you could cut the tops off small brie or camembert cheeses and use them as a dip for chips.
Republic Day is a great opportunity to serve a variety of Italian cheeses. You could start with a risotto, which can be infused with seafood flavors or mushrooms, depending on the region. Another option is Pasta al Forno, a baked pasta dish that often includes layers of meat, tomatoes, and cheese. For dessert, you could try Sfogliatelle, a flaky pastry filled with ricotta or almond paste.
In Italy, there are 13 public holidays, including Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Liberation Day, International Workers' Day, Republic Day, Ferragosto, All Saints' Day, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There are also various patronal festivals, such as the Festival of Saint Agatha in Catania and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, which may involve serving Italian cheeses as part of a traditional meal or celebration.
