Italian Food & Recipes to enjoy this Summer

In association with Ciao Gusto

Italian Food & Recipes to enjoy this Summer

I love Italian food so when Ciao Gusto, Ocado’s Italian shop, asked if I’d like to try some of their products, I was only too willing. Ciao Gusto is a family of famous Italian food and drinks brands, brought together to share their stories and to spread the love of Italian food and culture around the world. Every member of Ciao Gusto is an acclaimed brand leader in Italy. Large or small, they all share a common heritage and devotion to quality.

With a wonderful selection of products (some famous names and some new) I was spoilt for choice so picked some that would be ideal for summer; here’s what I chose:

Noberasco Organic Toasted Pistachios are unsalted so have a lovely pure flavour, great for healthy snacking or sprinkling on salads and desserts or baking with. Noberasco has a wide range of nuts and dried fruits to suit all tastes.

Ponti Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is no stranger to our household, indeed we keep a bottle of this and some olive oil on the table at all times to drizzle over salad or to dip bread in. This 3-year matured balsamic vinegar has a beautiful depth of flavour that is best described as a combination of sherry and black treacle. I keep meaning to try it with strawberries and black pepper and it’s also a great partner to Parmigiano Reggiano!

Rio Mare Tuna Salad Mexican Style is part of a range of tinned tuna products. This salad has a lovely chilli kick to it and would be great for a summer picnic or quick lunch at your desk or in the park as you can tear off the lid and dive in with a fork if you wish. The tuna is nestled in a dressing of oil under and blanket of kidney beans, sweetcorn, carrot, and red chillies. The range has no added preservatives and the tuna is pole and line caught so dolphin friendly too.

Valsoia Chocolate & Cream Soya Ice Cream (vegan) – with a daughter who wants to go dairy-free this ice cream came at the perfect time. With a soft creamy texture and nice bits of chocolate in the chocolate portion, this soya-based ice cream is a great summer dessert. I actually wouldn’t have known it was dairy-free and it got a big thumbs up from my daughter who has tried other vegan ice creams. Importantly it’s also certified GMO-free.

Fabbri Amarena Wild Cherries in Syrup – are perfect for adding a shot of sweet cherry deliciousness to any plain dessert such as ice cream, yogurt, or rice pudding, and would be super in muffins and cakes. They went very well with the above ice cream for a Black Forest Gateau flavour, in fact, they’d be a great addition to any chocolate cake with a generous spoonful of whipped cream. The syrup is perfect for adding to Prosecco or sparkling water for a refreshing summer drink!

So I hope I’ve put you in the mood for Italian food and with that in mind I asked some fellow food bloggers for their favourite summery Italian dishes and here’s what they came up with:

Parma Ham & Melon Salad – Greedy Gourmet

Tenderstem Brocolli, Chilli & Garlic Spaghetti – Fab Food 4 All

Salmon & Pea Arancini Cakes – Unconditionally Nourished

Artichoke & Spinach Polpette with Easy Marinara Sauce – Food to Glow

Prociutto Wrapped Cod with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes – The Petite Cook

Zeppole di San Guiseppe (St Joseph’s Day Traditional Italian Pastries) – Christina’s Cucina

Orange, Pistachio and Honey Polenta Cake – Easy Peasy Foodie

Tiramisu Cake – Recipes Made Easy

Strawberry Sicilian Granita – The Petite Cook

Affogato – The Crafty Larder

What’s your favourite Italian summery recipe? Why not check out Ocado for more Italian food inspiration and also visit the Ciao Gusto website where you’ll find the stories behind all of their brands and more than 250 authentic Italian recipes.

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NB: This is a commissioned post for Ciao Gousto and all opinions are my own.