Simply Italian

In this first episode, Michela shows us how easy it is to make delicious fresh pasta at home...without the use of any gadgets. She starts by creating the perfect pasta dough and rolling it by hand to make simple Linguine Primavera, long, thin ribbons of pasta with a Zesty, Spring Vegetable Sauce.

This episode is all about how to create the perfect filled pasta. Michela takes us back to Italy to the stunning Cinque Terre coastline in north east Italy where she learns the dos and don’ts of cooking shellfish with fresh pasta from chef Alessandro Barili. The visit inspires Michela to create the most beautiful Lobster Ravioli with a Light Asparagus and Tomato Sauce for her friends.

Michela demonstrates how to create the most amazing variations of pasta. Michela kicks off with gorgeous Gnocchi Tricolore served with a Creamy Hazelnut Sauce. She creates dainty red, white and green potato dumplings in honour of her Italian roots. The key to the perfect gnocchi, according to Michela, is to make them small and evenly sized so they stay light and fluffy when cooked.

For her final recipe, Michela really pushes the boat out to create the most magnificent pasta parcels, Tortelli Piacentini with a Sage and Butter Sauce. These tiny filled pasta creations are only ever made for traditional Italian celebrations. Michela makes two fillings for the Tortelli – spinach and ricotta and butternut squash with Amaretti biscuits and Mostarda – Italian candied fruit in a mustard syrup – to give it spicy kick. For Michela, these Tortelli really are special…so special, she serves them at her own wedding…