This dish represents the traditional cuisine of Sicily. It’s an agrodolce (sweet and sour) vegetable dish that’s rich, comforting and packed full of flavour. It’s incredibly versatile - you can serve it over toasted homemade bread, pair it with creamy burrata, alongside roast chicken or baked fish, or even spooned over couscous. There are so many variations of this iconic dish and this is my version.

Nowadays we are all looking for food that is healthy, that tastes delicious and that doesn’t take too much effort to make! So here is my quick and easy spaghetti with Sardines. The capers bring a sharp, salty savouriness and pair perfectly with the fish, while the sun-dried cherry tomatoes add sweetness and depth. It’s simple, nutritious and uses mainly ingredients from my cupboard. But it’s still fresh and full of flavour and reminds me of holidays in Italy! Sometimes you really do only need just a few good quality ingredients to make a truly delicious pasta. ​

These traditional Italian cookies come from Piemonte in the north of Italy, which is famous for its hazelnuts, but they are very popular all over Italy. Baci di Dama translates as "Lady's Kisses" because the two tiny cookies are gently pressed together with a thin layer of rich dark chocolate in the middle. And if you can't find ground hazelnuts you can also use ground almonds like I did. These biscotti are buttery, crumbly and so delicious that you won't be able to eat just one! They also make the perfect edible gift for family and friends and you can even use your leftover Easter chocolate for the filling.

In Sardinian cuisine, legumes like chickpeas, broad beans and lentils are an essential part of our diet. They are rich in important nutrients, such as protein, fibre and antioxidants, which are known to support heart and digestive health and lower the risk of chronic diseases. They can be used in a wide variety of dishes, from soups, pasta and stews to salads and side dishes, adding flavour and texture to meals. Here is a quick Sardinian-inspired pasta that’s packed with flavour using sweet fava beans, crispy pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes and pecorino cheese, tossed together with gnocchetti sardi. And the best part? It takes just 10 minutes to make.

If you loved my Insalata Pantesca, you’ll love this fried sweet and sour potato salad with onions and olives. This traditional dish comes from the beautiful island of Sicily and the recipe is very simple. The potatoes are seasoned with olives, capers, onions, oregano, sugar and white wine vinegar and this gives this dish its characteristic sweet and sour flavours. It can be served as a main course or side dish, either at room temperature or warm alongside meat or fish.

​And if you love these Sicilian recipes, why not join my A Taste of Sicily online cooking class!

Making a beautiful risotto is so easy, all it takes is a little love and care. You can use this risotto base recipe as a canvas and turn it into your own favourite risotto using the best seasonal ingredients that are available to you. You can even use the leftovers to make arancini. I've used carnaroli rice for this because the grain is quite large, it holds the shape perfectly, it holds the cooking very well, it doesn't get mushy and it's going to give a beautiful creamy texture towards the end.