Cavolo nero or Tuscan kale is a staple in Tuscan cuisine and you will find it in many of their regional dishes. One of my favourite way to cook with it is making a delicious, seasonal, vibrant pesto!
It's so good for you, it's packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fibre and it gives the pesto a deep, earthy flavour. You can also add a few anchovies in the pesto if you like for an extra layer of savouriness. You can use the pesto however you prefer, from a simple bruschetta to pasta, risotto - you name it! I served mine with trenette, a pasta shape similar to linguine.

Torta di mele is a staple in many Italian households and it has been one of my favourite sweet treats since early childhood. I love the simple sweetness, the soft consistency and the fact that it is packed with apples. Whether it’s enjoyed for breakfast or served as a dessert, it’s a guilt-free pleasure! You can also add a little bit of cinnamon to the cake batter for an autumnal twist.

If you love basil pesto, you’ll love this beautiful, light and zingy version from the island of Procida, just off the coast of Naples. It comes together in just 15 minutes and has a fresh Mediterranean flavour that is completely different from any other pesto. The star of the recipe is, of course, the lemon. Procida is famous for its large, juicy lemons that have an exceptionally thick, sweet and spongy white pith. Unlike many lemons, the pith has very little bitterness, making it possible to enjoy almost the whole fruit and eat it just as it is! These special lemons can be difficult to find unless you live close to Procida, but this recipe brings you as close as possible to their beautiful flavour. Just make sure you use organic, unwaxed lemons. Simply blitz the lemon zest together with the other ingredients to create a creamy, vibrant pesto, then toss it through freshly cooked pasta for the perfect taste of the Mediterranean and an easy weeknight meal.

If you love peppers, you'll love this Southern Italian recipe. Peppers and onions are slow-cooked in a rich sweet and sour tomato sauce to make a very simple but super versatile side dish. It's perfect served simply on some toasted bread, as a side dish with meat or fish or you can even stir it into pasta or risotto, or blitz it to make a delicious sauce. It also freezes well if you want to save it for the winter months. 

If you love a tuna sandwich, then you'll love this recipe! A beautiful focaccia stuffed with roasted tomatoes, fried aubergine, fresh mozzarella and tuna fillets. The tuna fillets are tender, firm and flaky and hold together well which makes them perfect for a sandwich filling. Although mayonnaise would work well here I've swapped this for a tangy tomato and lemon salsa instead.  

This simple Italian potato salad with green beans, lots of herbs and a punchy dressing is perfect for summer lunches, BBQs or can be simply enjoyed on its own!