italian food Archives - Taste With The Eyes

Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek

Petite Broiled Lobster Tail
Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek

A petite broiled lobster tail rests atop a bed of saffron risotto, with finely diced fennel and leeks folded in to lend gentle herbal and anise notes that play off the saffron’s floral warmth. The creamy risotto and tender lobster are balanced so that each element shines without overpowering the others, making every bite delicate yet satisfying.

This dish pairs beautifully with a chilled Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Its bright acidity and fine bubbles refresh the palate, while citrus and floral notes echo the saffron and herbs, lifting the flavors and making the combination of risotto and lobster light, aromatic, and memorable.

Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto Recipe

Continue reading “Lobster Tail, Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek”

Fagioli al Caviale (White Beans with Caviar)

Fagioli al Caviale (White Beans with Caviar)
Inspired by Sophia Loren

“At first glance, the pairing of caviar with beans might seem sinful. But remember the Cinderella story, and the splendid prince who falls in love with the humble, poor-as-a-church-mouse Cinderella. Well, marrying beans with caviar has the same charm,” says Sophia Loren, in her book Recipes & Memories published by GT Publishing Corporation 1998.

Pairing caviar with beans is an excellent choice for the holidays because it blends sophistication with simplicity, creating a dish that feels both special and approachable.

Caviar brings a touch of luxury, making the dish feel celebratory and indulgent—perfect for holiday gatherings. Cannellini beans, on the other hand, offer a creamy, comforting base, which resonates with the warmth and coziness of the season.

Sophia Loren - A scene from Scandal in Sorrento 1955. — Sophia Loren – A scene from Scandal in Sorrento 1955. Photo from her cookbook.

Fagioli al Caviale Recipe

Continue reading “Fagioli al Caviale (White Beans with Caviar)”

Quick Mussels over Angel Hair Pasta

Quick Mussels Over Angel Hair Pasta
Garlic Butter Sauce, Fresh Herbs

Here I share another QUICK recipe. Last month it was a delicious Wonton Noodle Soup. This month it’s fabulous Mussels over Angel Hair Pasta.

Organic cultivated mussels from the pristine waters of Prince Edward Island, Canada are vacuum packed and fully cooked and pasteurized with a generous amount of garlic butter sauce added to each bag. The ingredients in the vacuum sealed bag are simply mussels, clarified butter, minced garlic, and parsley flakes. That’s it.

These sustainable tasty mussels are found in the refrigerated section at Costco. They offer a fresh, sweet, briny flavor reminiscent of the sea, with a tender, slightly chewy texture and a mild, delicate taste that isn’t too “fishy.”

Microwave mussels for 3 minutes, cook pasta for 2 minutes! Now that’s quick!

Quick Mussels over Angel Hair Pasta Recipe

Continue reading “Quick Mussels over Angel Hair Pasta”

Spinach Gnudi with Chanterelles

Exactly three years ago today, I shared a recipe of Crispy-Skin Chicken Thighs with Chanterelle Gravy. Well, just like in 2021 Costco is again selling fresh Wild Golden Chanterelles from the Pacific Northwest.

And here is the really good news, a pound of mushrooms cost $12.99 in 2021, and with rampant inflation on most foods, Costco Las Vegas is still selling a pound for $12.99 in 2024! It was a bargain then, and even more of a bargain now.

Golden chanterelles have a buttery, peppery flavour with hints of apricots or peaches. Here they are paired with spinach ricotta gnudi, fresh spinach and thyme. It is a rich wonderful dish, perfect for Fall.

The recipe is adapted from two chefs known for their fabulous Italian recipes, Nancy Silverton and Marc Vetri. The spinach and ricotta gnudi recipe is adapted from Vetri’s Rustic Italian Food cookbook. The chanterelle recipe is adapted from Silverton’s The Mozza Cookbook.

Spinach Gnudi with Chanterelles Recipe

Continue reading “Spinach Gnudi with Chanterelles”

Chicken Noodle Soup with Calabrian Chili Matzoh Balls

Chicken Noodle Soup
with
Calabrian Chili Matzoh Balls

Over the years I’ve made hundreds of matzoh balls, usually in the Traditional style, but often with a twist with different flavors or techniques such as: Saffron, Mexican, Horseradish, Fried, Vietnamese, Turkey, Edible Flowers, and more!

This time, I added Calabrian chili to the mix to make fabulously flavorful and somewhat spicy matzoh balls with a distinct Italian flair.

Trader Joe’s Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce is made with Calabrian chili peppers sourced from a trusted pepper cultivator in Calabria, Italy (the “toe” of Italy’s “boot”). Their Italian Bomba Hot Sauce is a tribute to a centuries-old culinary tradition.

Since the 1500s, Calabrian hot chili peppers have been a staple of Southern Italian cuisine, especially when crushed, fermented, and mixed into a fiery hot condiment, just like this Bomba Sauce. The natural fruity notes of the peppers are amplified by the slightly pickled flavor and texture they take on during fermentation, making it particularly suited for pasta dishes and pizzas, and who knew, matzoh balls too?

Chicken Noodle Soup with Calabrian Chili Matzoh Balls Recipe

Continue reading “Chicken Noodle Soup with Calabrian Chili Matzoh Balls”

Petite Broiled Lobster Tail Saffron Risotto with Fennel and Leek