Happy hour, Italian-style
Time to stop and smell the rosé!
Apero, happy hour or aperitivo: a unique, no-fuss gourmet experience that lets us line up a bunch of mouthwatering little snacks while slowly sipping on our favourite drink. It’s just the thing to casually yet warmly welcome your peeps and take the time to truly enjoy their company.
So unwind, sip some wine, and jump on the snacks-for-dinner trend with these foolproof recipes that will crack the party wide open!
Welcome tomato season with this simple dish made with fresh, quality ingredients that showcase this summer fruit. Think caprese with a twist or the Italian version of avocado toast, without the fuss. Serve as a starter or as a light lunch. Something tells us you’ll make this recipe more than once!
Charcuterie platter with sgonfiotti
Have you tried sgonfiotti? These marvellous little stuffed pockets of fried dough come from Veneto and are usually flavoured with rich and fine spices, including the legendary saffron. It’s a new twist on the classic treats that will enhance your appetizer platters, especially those featuring Stefano charcuteries! 😉
Inexpensive and great alternative to store-bought dips, this recipe is also a great way to get kids to eat their legumes. You can store this protein dip in the fridge for several days, which makes it perfect for lunchboxes. Serve it with your favourite raw vegetables, croutons, or crackers.
Risotto is always better the next day, even if in our house there’s rarely any left over! Whenever I do have leftovers, I use it to make arancini. These fried rice balls can be made plain or stuffed with meat sauce or cheese, and are perfect as appetizers.
The art of making something good taste even better. Elevate our ricotta and spinach frozen pizza with crème fraîche, smoked salmon, and lemon zest. With a good base, you’ll see how easy it is to improve a recipe — sceptics get ready to be proven wrong.
Calamari and shrimp fritto misto
Fritto misto can be found on the menus of every Italian seaside trattoria. These hot and crispy bites of calamari and shrimp are great as appetizers or individual entrees. One thing is for sure: make plenty because it’s impossible to eat just one!
Caponata is a Sicilian condiment that I often have in the fridge. I serve it as an hors d’oeuvre on croutons, to accompany grilled meats or fish, and especially to add some extra oomph to weekday sandwiches.
Come August, head over to your local grocers and stock up on zucchini because we’re making fritters! These crisp and golden patties are a great way to transform this summer favourite into the perfect aperitivo appetizer, especially when served with a glass of refreshing Pinot Grigio. Salute!
