This superb book is a truly comprehensive guide to choosing, making, cooking and enjoying Italian pasta. It contains a wealth of fascinating information about every aspect of Italy’s favourite food, and features 150 classic and original recipes from simple yet robust soups to fresh and healthy salads, and from rich and warming bakes and casseroles to delicately stuffed pasta parcels. A VISUAL CATALOGUE: The comprehensive full-colour identification guide contains fabulous photographs of the huge range of dried and fresh pasta types, including long, short and flat varieties; shapes for soup and for stuffing; regional pastas, and designer shapes. Each is accompanied by fascinating information on its origins, the various forms and names, and traditional sauces. A PRACTICAL GUIDE: The techniques section guides you through the secrets of making, cooking and serving pasta and includes step-by-step information about successful home-made pastas, from noodles and shape-cutting to flavoured and coloured varieties. There are guidelines on preparation and presentation, matching shapes to sauces, how pasta should be eaten and what wines to choose. THE PASTA PANTRY: A colourful visual guide to all the key pasta sauce ingredients includes fresh herbs and leaves, seasonings, spices, oils and vinegars, flavourings, fish and shellfish, vegetables, and cheese and cream. The main items of pasta-making equipment are also pictured. THE RECIPE COLLECTION: Featuring over 150 inspirational recipes, the book presents a combination of classic favourites, regional specialities and original, contemporary ideas. There are recipes for every kind of pasta dish: simple broths and hearty soups, tomato and cream sauces, fish and shellfish, meat and poultry, vegetables and vegetarian dishes, baked and stuffed pasta dishes, fresh and healthy recipes, and salads. Illustrated throughout with over 800 glorious photographs, and with easy-to-read, informative text and enticing, authentic recipes, this is the definitive kitchen guide, sourcebook, reference manual and recipe collection - the one and only book any pasta-lover will ever need.
