Traditional Tuscan food in Volterra Pisa
Traditional Tuscan food experience with Country Relais and bookings for you.
This year I have the pleasure of visiting Italy twice! Next month the beautiful Country Relais & Spa le Campanne in Volterra, Pisa, and then off on a Mediterranean cruise where I hope to see Rome and Naples too. As you may know the Italians are well renowned for their fantastic food and Tuscany is better known for its simplistic food with local produce and meat. Traditional Tuscan food is Inexpensive and can be cooked in large amounts perfect for family dinners and entertaining.
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So ahead of our trip to Tuscany which has been arranged by Bookings for you we had the opportunity to experience some beautifully cooked Traditional Tuscan food by our Tuscan hosts, the Giovannini family.
Tucked away in the hills of Volterra, Pisa in the heart of Italy is Country Relais & Spa Le Capanne. A beautiful old farmhouse run by the Giovannini family. This 100 year old farm house has been recently renovated and is now the perfect holiday home or wedding destination.
A secret Recipe
The Giovannini family have an extraordinary passion for food, Giancarlo and wife Fabiola started a pastry shop Dolceria del Corso in Volterra in 1984. Here they became famous for their Mille feuille pastry cakes and supply other shops in the region also. This amazing secret Mille feuille with its secret recipe is to die for and you can still go and try it in Dolceria del Corso today.
Later they set up a catering company which operates throughout Italy Germany and France. With son and daughter in law Dario and Vera working alongside the family they have made their family home in to a beautiful venue to have the perfect break or special Occasion. With 400 olive trees on the estate they even make their own olive oil which also supplies nearby restaurants and businesses.
To have the Gionvannini family prepare their dishes for us was a truly unique experience and I cannot wait to visit this beautiful venue in person. Here is an insight in to the traditionally cooked recipes by the Govannini family. I will be creating these at home and trying the real thing again very soon.
A taste of Italian Antipasti
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Ingredients
Sliced and baked Tuscan bread
Diced tomatoes, Basil Onion and Garlic.
Method
Lightly toast the bread.
Finely chopped or minced Basil, Onions and garlic
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Bruschetta Toscana
Traditional Tuscan bread sliced and baked.
Gently wipe raw garlic across the bread.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper
Crostini con fegatini/ chicken liver crostini
Ingredients
300 grams of chicken liver
4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic
6 sage leaves
25 grams of butter
One glass of sweet white wine
Method
Fry chicken livers with the garlic, sage and olive oil.
Halfway through add a glass of wine similar to that of Vinsanto or a sweet white wine.
Once cooked blitz the chicken with about 25 grams of butter and season with salt and pepper. Serve on toasted bread.
Ravioli ricotta e spinaci con pomodorini (Spinich and ricotta ravioli )
For the ravioli
1 kilo of flour fine no 0
6 eggs
2 egg yolks
5 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and water
Filling
100 grams of ricotta cheese
60 grams of spinach
Salt and pepper
Method
Make Ravioli using traditional pasta method and pasta making machine. Pasta ravioli parcels can be made in any shape using a cookie cutter.
Pica all Etrusca
1 kilo of pica pasta ( Pica is a pasta made from two different types of wheat flour and does not contain eggs)
3 eggs
4 garlic cloves
500 grams of parsley
30 grams of mint
30 grams of basil
100 grams of pecorino cheese
Olive oil salt and pepper
Method
Boil the Pica Pasta
Boil the eggs and blitz with the garlic, parsley, mint and basil to make an egg pesto. Serve with the pasta and a splash of olive oil.
Conscious di Cinghiale Agli aroma con olive ( Roasted Wild Boar )
Ingredients
1 kilo leg of wild boar.
20 sage leaves
5 grams of rosemary
5 cloves of garlic
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
White wine
Black olives.
Method
Finely chop all of the ingredients and stuff in to the skin of the boar leg.
Wrap in string drizzle with olive oil and good quality pig fat.
Put the rest of the herbs on top and cook at about 160 degrees for 2-3 hours.
Half way through cooking pour 3 quarters of a bottle of wine over the leg add some black olives and continue to roast.
Tiramisu
Ingredients
8 eggs
120 grams of sugar
500 grams of mascarpone cheese
Lady sponge fingers
Coffee
Cacao
Method
Seperate the eggs and beat the yolks in with the sugar.
Beat the mascarpone in to the egg yolk mixture.
Whisk the egg whites in to stiff peaks and then fold this in to mixture.
Soak the lady fingers in the coffee and then layer the mixture accordingly.
Chill in the refrigerator.
About bookings for you
Bookings For You are a holiday rental company specialising in Italy and France. They pride themselves on outstanding customer service and beautiful unique holiday homes and villas to rent.
With a huge portfolio of properties in Tuscany and further afield you can be rest assured you will find the perfect place to spend a relaxing break. Let Bookings for you take the stress out of your holiday stay and find you somewhere completely unique and beautiful. If you would like to visit the beautiful region of Tuscany or Country Relais & Spa take a look at it here on Bookings For You.
I hope you enjoyed a look at what Traditional Tuscan food has to offer. I hope you may get the opportunity to try some soon.
D x
