The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and we’ve all had a wild year. I think we deserve a little something to warm our bellies and our hearts, don’t you think? Let’s try a couple Piemontese Fall recipes.
As an Italian-American, a mom, and certified Food Lady, this past year has been tough. My favorite thing to do in the whole world is to gather with loved ones and friends, welcome people into my home, and feed them lots of delicious dishes. For me, the purest form of joy is seeing a table of those closest to me enjoying a hearty meal together. What can I say, I’m a true Italian Nonna at heart!
This year, we’ll all be celebrating the holiday season a little differently. Whether we’re together or apart, we can still make this winter a delicious, comforting one all with the help of a few cozy recipes from the region of Piemonte. Let’s eat!
What better comfort food is there than lasagne? Piemontese lasagne is different from other lasagnas in one delicious way: it uses a creamy béchamel sauce instead of ricotta for an unbelievably decadent dish.
Here, we’re taking this classic dish and adding a few special twists. First, I add parmesan to the béchamel sauce for an added layer of flavor. Then, I make it a full meal-in-a-dish by layering our lasagne with meat sauces and lots of healthy sautéed veggies and pair it with a crispy and refreshing kale salad.
This recipe is perfect for a big family meal, a hearty celebration, or comfort food on a cold winter’s night.
Here I show you how to make it, step-by-step, so you may try this wonderful recipe at your home.
In this recipe I recommend one of our delicious, small-batch traditional tomato sauces. Here I chose our savory Pinerolo Tomato Sauce for the smokiness of the pancetta and sage blending with the meat and vegetables in this dish. Any of our sauces or a high quality tomato sauce of your choice will work just fine.
Piemonte is known for a lot of things – beautiful snowy mountains, tempting wines, hard-working people. And let’s not forget their signature, traditional cuisine!
One of the most delicious ways to enjoy the flavors of Piemonte is with a hearty Piemontese risotto. Risotto is an essential northern staple, as it is thrifty, hearty, and easy to prepare. But unlike other regional risottos that are creamy, classic Piemontese risotto is made with tomato sauce, giving it a vibrant color and flavor.
But, you know me! I love to blend my favorite traditional Piemontese Fall recipes with a few of my own inspirations. My Piemontese risotto recipe combines this classic tomato risotto with my love for nutrient-rich black rice for something really special.
Watch me make it, and follow along.
I used our own Bagna Rossa with Olives in this recipe (it’s delicious).
If you want to make this dish right away and don’t have the patience to wait for the AnnaMaria’s Bagna Rossa to be delivered, here are the ingredients you can substitute (I give you instruction on how to use these in the video).
2 finely chopped garlic cloves
2/3 cup canned diced tomatoes
2 TBS finely chopped red pepper
2 TBS finely chopped carrots
2 TBS coarsely olives
1 tsp balsamic vinegar