Marie Hennechart
So I’ve read all the (gorgeous) Italian cookbooks and I’ve watched all the TV shows starring (gorgeous) Italian chefs – and I have to say that I thought I knew all the secrets of Italian cooking. But I’m here to tell you, I was terribly wrong (akin to mistaking tinned spag bol for the real deal, wrong)
Having spent two weeks in Italy, traversing the countryside, I’ve learnt that there are some cooking secrets only a true Italian can teach you. Here goes:
Know where to get the best ingredients, and when
Every Italian has a favourite place for tomatoes and pecorino and prosciutto. For every ingredient, they have a stallholder or small shop. It’s this willingness and passion to learn where to find the best of everything that takes their cooking to the next level.
Embrace the seasons
There is a time to eat artichokes and a time not to. You would never catch an Italian trawling the markets for a summery ingredient in the depths of winter. Italians know that the key to the best meals is to only cook the fruits, vegetables, meats and cheese that are currently at their absolute prime.
Make your own pasta.
Flour, eggs and water. They are the three simple ingredients that come together to make that most Italian of foods, pasta. Italians love making pasta and do, regularly. Many daily. It is not a laborious task but one that ensures they are always eating the freshest pasta possible.
Be curious
A wander through the markets means constantly asking questions and tasting and trying, not putting your head down and ticking off a list. Shopping for ingredients should be a richly sensory experience– and should introduce you to new tastes and smells.
Keep things simple
Many Italian dishes only have three or four ingredients in them, total. They know that secret to great food is to buy the best and then let those products sing.
Cook with love
Don’t hunch over the stove, the weight of the day on your shoulders. Time in the kitchen is time to savour and enjoy. Cooking is about passion and about sharing something wonderful with the people you love.
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