With the unofficial start of summer kicking off this weekend, I wanted to share a few of my favorite recipes with you so you can entertain like an Italian this season. One of the biggest secrets to entertaining like an Italian any time of year is to bring joy and relaxation into the process. When you are stressed, your food and the entire atmosphere will be impacted. Keep things simple and focus on the quality of the ingredients and they will shine on their own, just like you do!
Aperol Spritz
Nothing says summer like a crisp and refreshing spritz. Not only will this quench your guest’s thirst, but the mix of bitter herbs in this magical Italian bitter apéritif will also jump-start their appetite for all the gorgeous food that follows. I like to serve mine with salty snacks like high-quality green olives and potato chips for an easy light bite when guests arrive.
@the_pastaqueen Italian Cocktail, How to Make an Aperol Spritz #italian #cocktail #catperson ♬ original sound - The Pasta Queen
Lemon Ricotta Delight
Picture this: you are walking down the quaint streets of the Amalfi Coast; the scent of lemons wafting in the air. You hear the most beautiful singing from an open window, Italian linen curtains blowing in the sea breeze. The angelic tune is coming from someone who just sat down to enjoy a bowl of this summer sunshine. This is the best pasta dish when it feels just a little too hot to cook. The bulk of the prep is done off of the flame resulting in a no-fuss but full flavor pasta dish.
Panzanella
Don’t waste that stale bread! This is the perfect recipe to feed a crowd and makes very good use of any stale bread you may have laying around. If the bread is very past its prime, soak it in water to revive it a little, then mix with olive oil, salt, pepper, tomatoes, red onions, oregano, and basil for a delicious no-cook summer salad.
@the_pastaqueen Old Italian recipe with stale bread which turns into magic! #TikTokRecipe #panzanella #italianfood ♬ original sound - The Pasta Queen
Sicilian Potato Salad
Upgrade your standard BBQ menu with this Sicilian take on classic potato salad. Red onions are marinated in red wine vinegar to tame their bite then get tossed with steamed potatoes, tomatoes, capers, olives, and some gorgeous extra virgin olive oil. This goes well with any grilled meat but is especially tasty with grilled fish and shellfish.
@the_pastaqueen Sicilian Potato Salad #learnontiktok #potato #salad ♬ original sound - The Pasta Queen
