MammaMiaRecipes.com MammaMiaRecipes.com - Authentic Italian Recipes

Rice Balls

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Easy Recipes, Special Italian Foods

Ingredients:
2 cups (500 ml) rice (riso superfine Arborio)
4 eggs
1/2 cup (125 ml) parmesan cheese
1 tbsp parsley (we like parsley so we add more)
pinch salt to your desired taste
2 each large garlic cloves (use 3 cloves if small)

riceballsbanner

Directions:

  1. Using a 4 liter pot, cover rice with water, bring to boil.
  2. Simmer for 20-25 minutes
  3. Cool until cold
  4. Add 4 eggs, parmesan cheese, salt, parsley and garlic
  5. Mix well – Mush it or mix all ingredients by hand
  6. Mold the balls into desired shape (helps to coat your hands with oil to avoid sticking)
  7. Fill a deep frying pan with Mazola corn oil…enough to cover at least half of a rice ball…heat oil and carefully place the formed rice balls into the heated oil.
  8. turn quickly, when golden brown place on plate to cool.

This is a great appetizer to bring to a dinner party or finger food for the entire family. They disappear quickly and will soon become a family favourite…. Mangiare!

Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Italian Recipes, Pasta Recipes

This pasta recipe takes a bit of work but if you are having a dinner party and you are wanting to WOW the crowd this Italian recipe will do just that.

Ingredients:

Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells1 1/2 lbs Fresh Spinach or 2 (10 oz) packages frozen chopped spinach
2 green onions finely chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
36 each Jumbo shells
3 cups Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce
8 ounces sweet Italian sausage (this item can be left out if wish to have without meat)

Directions:

  • Place fresh spinach in large saucepan, cover and cook over moderate heat until wilted. About 4-5 minutes. Drain and cool. When cool squeeze dry and chop fine.
  • With a large skillet on moderate heat cook the 8 ounces of Italian sausage (remove casings first), until brown or about 5 minutes. To reduce grease use a slotted spoon to place the meat onto a plate with paper towel. Cool and chop fine.
  • Using same skillet saute 1 small finely chopped onion, 1 clove garlic (minced). Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
  • Using a large bowl combine onion mixture, sausage, spinach, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 1 tbsp minced parsley, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  • Cook pasta as per package instructions…do not overcook. Drain off about half of the water and refill the pot with cold water. Remove shells and place on kitchen towel.
  • Preheat oven 375 deg F.
  • Spread tomato sauce over bottom of shallow 2 quart casserole dish. Stuff pasta shells with sausage and spinach mixture and place them on the sauce. Spoon remaining (2 cups) of sauce overall and sprinkle with rest of parmesan cheese (1/2 cup).
  • Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until heated and bubbling

Serves 4

Let Mamma Feed you … Mangia

Italian Coleslaw

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Salad Recipes

Italians love their salads and it is not unusual to have more than 5 or 6 different salads at a family meal. Often the salads are simple to prepare and have some very basic ingredients — olive oil, vinegar, garlic cloves, salt to name a few of the regulars. Cucumber sometimes with white onion, tomato with hot peppers and a specialty when in season is dandelion salads.

Today we are going to share a North American version of an Italian Colesaw Recipe which we hope you enjoy.

Ingredients

1/2 cup Italian Salad Dressing
1 cup Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
4 cups Shredded Cabbage (if you have on hand use 2 c purple and 2 c regular)
Sea Salt
Pepper
Carrots (optional)

Directions

Slowly stir the 1/2 cup of Italian salad dressing into the mayonnaise. Once the dressing is blended or mixed well, you can add enough of the dressing mixture over the shredded cabbage to moisten; toss lightly. Add salt and pepper to taste and Mangiare!

Pane Di Pasqua

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Italian Bread Recipes

Easter in Italy does not typically involve the Easter Bunny. It is a time of celebration and with that comes FOOD.  Some of the foods your will encounter vary from region to region however some popular gifts or treats typically given at this time of year include a large hollow chocolate Easter Egg which has a  prize inside and another is Pane Di Pasqua or Easter Bread.

A family tradition Mamma enjoys is giving all the children the hollow chocolate Easter Egg and a loaf of bread or Pane di Pasqua. Mamma’s version is lightly sweetened and she uses dough to wrap around a single egg. Some versions have an egg at either end of the bread and some like to paint the eggs.

easter-bread

Her recipe can be located here: http://www.mammamiarecipes.com/italian-bread-recipes/easter-bread.html

Buona Pasqua

 

Italian Pastries Dordelee

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Italian Baking

italian-pastries-dordeleeThis is another unique Italian pastry and from the region of Italy that Mamma is from it is known as or called Dordelee. It is a ball of pastry with an infusion of Vermouth. You can pop them into your mouth and are a wonderful treat.

Ingredients

4-1/2 – 5 cups of flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt

3 small eggs
1/3 cup oil (olive oil)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup vermouth

Directions

In a large mixing bowl –  Mix all dry ingredients, starting with just 4 cups (of the 4 1/2 or 5 cups) flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. Save about 1 cup flour to add after all wet ingredients have been included. You will add extra flour only if needed.

Add your eggs, oil, vanilla and mix. Now add your vermouth and mix well. If required, add little bit of flour at a time from the 1 cup of flour you set aside and do this until you reach the desired consistency.

Roll your dough into long, narrow, round strips until they are about 1 inch in diameter.  Cut the dough in pieces.

In a deep frying pan add enough oil to cover at least 1/2 of the pastry ball. On medium heat allow oil to get hot and then carefully place the pastry balls into the oil and deep fry.

Do not leave unattended as they will cook quickly. Let cool and finish with a sprinkle of icing sugar.

Grilled Zucchini

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Easy Recipes

Great summer side dish which is easy to make using the BBQ and tastes great is grilled zucchini slices. This recipes is courteous of our friends Al and Kat.

Grilled Zucchini Slices  Ingredients

1 -Freshly picked medium sized zucchini

Keg Steak Spice

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions

Slice the zucchini in 3/4 to 1 inch thick

Using a basting brush cover the slices with olive oil.

Lightly spice one side of the slices with Keg Steak Spice. Flip and repeat.  Careful not to use too much Keg spice (first time you cook them try varying degrees of spice until you find your sweet spot). Mangia, Mangia!

Boneless Dry Garlic Ribs

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Easy Recipes

drybonelessribsmamma
Ingredients
4 lbs Pork Roast
3 tbsp Seasoning Salt
3 tbsp Black Pepper
4 tbsp Corn Starch
3 tbsp Garlic Powder Granulated (No Salt)
4 eggs

Directions
Cube Pork into bite sized pieces and place into large bowl
Beat the four eggs and then pour egg mixture over the cubed pork. Stir to to ensure the pork cubes are evenly coated.
Mix all dry ingredients into bowl
Slowly sprinkle or add the dry spice mixture over cubed pork
Stir well while adding ingredients to get an even distribution of spices
Cover bowl and marinate the pork overnight in fridge

When ready to cook, dust the ribs with white flour and deep fry until golden brown. Mangiare!!

Cioccolato Zucchini Cake

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Dessert Recipes

Chocolate Zucchini Cake 

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
2-1/2 cups flour
4 tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
2 cups grated zucchini
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Cream butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Mix in zucchini and chocolate chips. Bake in a greased and floured bundt pan or a 9 inch x 13 inch greased pan at 350 deg F for about 50-55 minutes. Mangiare!

Breaded Asparagus – Deep Fried

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Easy Recipes, North American

deep_fried_asparagus

    Ingredients

Asparagus
2 Eggs
Garlic Powder
Seasoning Salt
White Flour
Bread Crumbs (Panko if no bread crumbs available)

    Directions

1. Wash and dust asparagus with white flour – set aside.
2. In a bowl add 2 eggs, a splash of water. Beat mixture well.
3. Add Garlic Powder and Seasoning Salt to egg mixture.
4. Soak or dip the dusted asparagus in egg mixture and then roll or cover with bread crumbs.
5. Set aside or in fridge for 10 minutes which allows coatings to stick.
5. Deep fry until golden brown and serve immediately with dipping sauce….Mangiare!

    Dipping Sauce

There are many options or variations for dipping sauce. Try 1 cup of mayonnaise with some hot chili sauce and Tabasco…..fold together in bowl and serve. Some like the sweet chili sauce or finely diced green chili peppers.

Spinach Frittata

Posted by: Gina  :  Category: Easy Recipes

What is a Frittata? A Frittata is a fried Italian dish using whisked or beaten eggs similar to a Spanish omelet. Like an omelet and depending on your tastes, it can have a wide variety of ingredients. Our easy Italian Frittata Recipe:

FritattaIngredients

5 or 6 eggs
One Mild Italian sausage – casing removed
Spinach
1/2 white onion diced
Mushrooms
Cheese
Milk
Butter
Salt and Pepper

Directions

In an oven safe frying pan (example stainless steel ) cook your mild sausage, onions, mushrooms.  The butter coating will help prevent sticking.

Preheat oven to 425 deg F. In a separate bowl whisk your eggs, add 1/3 cup milk and whisk well right up until you add it to your saucepan. This will increase the fluffiness.

Once your sausage is cooked, add the spinach let simmer for a minute.  Add the whisked egg mixture, shredded cheese on top and cook for a couple minutes on medium heat.  When it starts to set, place the frying pan in the oven and cook at 425 deg for 10-12 minutes.

Check the center to see if it is ready and serve.

Mangie Bene!

Serves 2-3

 

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