The Italian Pantry: 10 Ingredients, 100 Recipes – Showcasing the Best of Italian Home Cooking

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Chiacchiere are one of the most famous Italian pastries enjoyed all across the country during carnival (just before lent). They can go by different names depending on the region you’re in; bugie in Liguria, frappe in Lazio, or cenci in Tuscany. There are two main styles of sfogliatella – riccia and frolla. Riccia means “curly” and is the original version made with flaky, layered pastry. This style is best when freshly baked and hot out of the oven to get its famous crunch. Frolla features a less labour-intensive shortcrust pastry shell, so doesn’t have sfogliatella’s signature thin layers. But it’s still delicious and can be eaten hot or cold. Sfogliatella is a shell-shaped layered pastry, with a sweet custard-like filling made with semolina, ricotta, and candied citrus fruit. You can also find versions with other fillings such as a simple whipped cream, almond paste, or chocolate cream.

I got you my friend! If you've started reading this post, this means you're seriously obsessed with Italian cuisine. And I can't blame you! Italian food is amazing! Today, I want to tell you about a few basic ingredients. If you have them in your pantry, you can whip up any Italian recipe in a blink of an eye.

Chili Flakes: (red pepper flakes): Chili flakes are something I use quite a lot to spice up sauces and add some heat. I also loved the jarred chili pastes you can buy, they taste incredible! And when I'm tired and don't know what to cook, I always refer to pasta dishes. If we have tomato sauce, dinner is ready. If we have a Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top, there's no a better meal. Ciao, we're Emily and Nathan. Our years living in Italy taught us how to cook authentic and delicious Italian food. We're here to help you put a beautiful meal on the table with tried and tested recipes you can trust.

Fruity and a little tart, balsamic vinegar has such a versatile use. Think salad dressings, glaze for meat and fish, drizzle over your favorite appetizers. Try my Easy Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinaigrette. Every list of Italian pastries has to include the classic cannoli. Arguably Italy’s most famous dessert, cannoli can be eaten at any time of day, even for breakfast. The king of hard cheeses, Parmigiano-Reggiano takes its special place in Italian cooking. Rich, sharp and intense flavor with a granular texture make Parmigiano-Reggiano an inevitable part of any recipe.Everyone knows some of the best wines out there come from Italian vineyards! Our wines range all the way from Tuscany and Veneto, down to Puglia, Sicily and many more regions. Ask us for help with food pairings and tasting information to find the perfect red, white or rosé for you. Of course we offer the classic delight of a warm, fruity Amarone, waiting for you in store! Still dreaming of the amaretti from that beautiful artisanal bakery in Florence? Or those incredible Sicilian Cannoli you had in Taormina? That’s why we bring them to you! The pantry has many sweet Italian treats like cannoli, amaretti and Baci to remind you of your travels. And of course, we can’t forget the Gluten Free options too – you’ll find all the same delights made without wheat in our Gluten Free section. And to make sure these easy Italian recipes are always available to me, there are several ingredients that I always keep in my pantry. And I know you're busy too. That's why I made this post specifically for you. So next time you go grocery shopping, don't forget to add the following ingredients to your list. That way you'll never be short of ingredients for easy Italian recipes. Extra virgin olive oil, the king of all condiments, is by all means the most easily digested vegetable fat, and therefore suitable for people of all ages. Always go for extra virgin: it is the highest quality and most natural - virgin means the oil was made by simply pressing olives and extracting the juice. It is the only cooking oil that is made without the use of chemicals and industrial refining. Along with onion and garlic, extra virgin olive oil is the basis of sauces in Italian cuisine and often replaces animal fats of butter or lard. Its fruity, bitter, pungent taste add a delicious flavor to any dish, from pasta to meats, from seafood to vegetables. That’s our guide to the best Italian pastries your must try. Got any questions or suggestions? Let us know in the comments below.

Cannoli are tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough filled with a sweet, creamy filling that usually contains ricotta – the popular Italian whey cheese. The ends of cannoli are sometimes sprinkled with chocolate, candied fruit, or nuts. Aceto balsamico has a variety of uses in the Italian kitchen, the most common being as a condiment for salads (along with olive oil and a pinch of salt); but that would be restrictive. Balsamic vinegar is also used on chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano, on risotto, on scaloppini, and even strawberries and gelato! Just make sure you buy traditional balsamic vinegar, which is only made in Modena and Reggio Emilia (it must be labeled Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale and carry a D.O.P. -Denominazione di Origine Protetta- stamp). We currently offer 4 brands of fantastic, widely adored pasta – including some premium brands for that very special dinner occasion. Ask us for help on what’s best for you – and get a load of our Gluten Free section! On of my favorite ways to use capers is to fry them. Frying will make them nice and crisp and perfect for appetizer toppings. They will taste like tiny little chips and who doesn't love chips?;) If you don't happen to have a free day (and an ample tomato harvest) to gather the family to make and bottle your own, then this rich, cooked tomato concentrate is the next best thing. Produced in Italy, it makes the perfect base for a simple pizza or pasta dish.If you love Italian food and you like preparing it at home, you will need a few staple ingredients, which are always handy to have in your pantry, whether you want to make a simple pasta al pomodoro, or fancier creations using the wonderful foods and flavors of Italian cuisine. Chiacchiere are another traditional Italian carnival pastry, consisting of strips of sweet dough that puff up slightly when fried and are served dusted with powdered sugar. Chiacchiere – also called “Angel Wings”– are known for their signature rectangular shape with two slits down the middle and crimped edges. They’re delicate, crumbly, and incredibly addictive.