Gennaro Contaldo – författare

From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the sun-soaked coasts of Sicily, each page explores the ingredients, landscapes and kitchens that shaped these treasured recipes, many of which are now remembered by only a few Nonnas. ‘If you have even a just passing interest in the food of Italy, you surely need this book in your life’ – NIGELLA LAWSON ‘A brilliant book by one of the masters of Italian cuisine’ – STANLEY TUCCI Gennaro Contaldo, with his unmatched passion for authentic Italian flavours, guides you through a treasure trove of lost recipes that were on the verge of fading into history. Organised by region (Central, North, Islands, and South), discover dishes that once formed the heart of family gatherings: humble pasta variations, vibrant sauces, and comforting classics.From Pope’s Pasta and Medieval Pancakes to Assassin’s Spaghetti, Courgettes with Amaretti, Sweet and Savoury Ravioli, Chestnut Pudding and even Watermelon Jelly – each captures the true spirit of Italy.Filled with Gennaro’s warm anecdotes and culinary wisdom, this book is a heartfelt homage to his homeland – celebrating tradition, preserving culture, and serving up Italy’s stories one irresistible bite at a time.

‘Cucina povera’ is the food that traditionally fed the poor of Italy yet remains the basis of most Italian dishes we love to eat today. It’s a simple philosophy – delicious, hearty meals using accessible and affordable ingredients. Along with the majority of post-war Italian families, a young Gennaro was raised on a diet harvested on a limited budget. Restricted choice of scarce ingredients meant they learnt the value what they had, how to cook dishes lovingly and use imaginative methods of preservation to make simple dishes go far: including salting, drying and curing.With tips and ideas of what to do with leftovers, Gennaro helps home cooks squeeze maximum use from the ‘cucina povera’ ethos, turning humble ingredients into nourishing feasts without taste sacrifice.From Sicilian chickpea fritters to lentil soups and bread salads – to more elaborate filled vegetables, delicious ‘poor-man’s’ ricotta dumplings and simple sweet biscotti, this book will transform the way you shop, cook and eat.

Want to master pasta? Let Jamie help, with his essential Food Tube guide to simple and seasonal pasta dishes'Enjoy this pocket-sized cookbook, full of incredible, achievable pasta recipes, from the very basics to kick-ass dishes for any night of the week. Buon appetite!' Jamie OliverJam-packed with delicious and easy recipes, The Pasta Book has all the need-to-know basics from Jamie's own Italian mentor, chef Gennaro Contaldo.Whatever your ability in the kitchen, pasta is a staple supper guaranteed to please everyone. With The Pasta Book, you can learn how to spice up your pasta for every craving - and even learn to make your own pasta from scratch!Full of delicious, simple, seasonal recipes such as:- Spring fresh WILD ROCKET & PECORINO ORECCHIETTE- Summery VEGETABLE CAPPELLACCI- Autumnal WILD MUSHROOM TAGLIATELLE- Wintery GAME RAGU- Gennaro's take on classic favourites such as CARBONARA and BOLOGNESEDiscover exciting new pasta dishes to freshen up your Italian cooking adventures and satisfy every stomach with The Pasta Book.

In Gennaro’s Verdure, Gennaro transforms humble vegetables from side dish material into the hero of the plate, using punchy flavours from staple ingredients in his unique and much loved Italian style. ‘The don of Italian cooking takes veg to the next level. Belissimo!’– Jamie Oliver ‘Gennaro's food is full of passion and wonderful flavour; his delightful book puts vegetables at the centre of the table and makes them the star of the show’ – Ainsley Harriott Structured by colour chapters that group recipes into vegetable families, Gennaro champions their versatility and breaks the common misconception that vegetables lack texture and flavour.While not all recipes are entirely plant-based, Gennaro ensures that every dish includes the beauty and goodness of plants. With his signature Italian touch, these innovative meals are designed to please not only vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians, but also meat-eaters looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.Green Vegetables, Gennaro highlights the crisp freshness and health benefits of greens like asparagus, spinach, and broccoli.Try Gennaro's Asparagus Carbonara and be tempted by his Spinach ‘plumcake’, a unique creation that combines savoury and sweet flavours.In Red Vegetables, Gennaro celebrates the rich flavours of produce such as tomatoes, Swiss chard and red peppers. From Chard Calzone to a zingy Tomato Sorbet, Gennaro proves that these red gems can be the star ingredients.Sunshine Vegetables radiates with the vibrant colours of yellow, cream and orange vegetables. Gennaro showcases the natural sweetness and sunny disposition of carrots, onions and pumpkins, from comforting Pumpkin Gnocchi to Carrot Soufflé.Purple Vegetables uncovers the hidden treasures lurking in the depths of our refrigerators like aubergines, purple radicchio and beetroots. Savour Beetroot Capracchio and Raddchio Terrine over a picnic lunch on a summer’s day, imagining you are on the Amalfi Coast.

A glorious update of a modern classic – full of colourful recipes that evoke Italian life at its most enticing, Passione is the story of Gennaro Contaldo’s upbringing in Italian food and will teach you to cook like a true Italian. Born just metres away from the sea on Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast, Gennaro learnt from his father how to seek out wild food – free-diving for oysters, foraging for wild mushrooms and missing school to go fishing. This adventurous spirit lived on throughout Gennaro’s career in food and was what went on to inspire Jamie Oliver to call Gennaro his ‘London dad’. It was summed up here in this first, glorious collection of his favourite Italian recipes, originally published in 2003.Lovingly restored and updated for the modern kitchen, this new edition of this classic book features photographs from Gennaro’s childhood alongside stunning food and travel photography. Over 100 recipes, full of delightful personal recollections, share the secrets of Gennaro’s love affair with Italian food, and will inspire cooks of all abilities to taste the true flavours of the Italian coastline. Buon appetito!‘His talent for cooking and story-telling changed my life and food forever.’ Jamie Oliver‘The man cooks like an angel and no ordinary angel.’ Matthew Norman, Sunday Telegraph

Savour the art of slow cooking the Italian way, where flavours deepen and texture is softened to create comforting, inexpensive meals with little fuss whilst you enjoy the convenience of your appliance doing all the heavy lifting. “If you fancy something warm and comforting and Italian, then this is the book for you” – Dominique Woolf In this newly updated edition, Gennaro shows you how to prepare authentic Italian meals in minutes and cook them to perfection. At the front of the book you’ll find a handy chart to convert temperatures between oven cooking times and your favourite kitchen appliance.Accompanied by refreshed photography, you'll find a selection of new vegan recipes to balance out the meat-heavier chapters and complement cherished classic recipes.Gennaro showcases the use of economical meat cuts, beans, root vegetables and pulses — all enhanced by the slow cooking process. Think hearty casseroles and one-pot dishes that simmer to perfection, succulent roasts that tenderise from oven cooking, and comforting soups that quietly bubble away on the stovetop. Delight in sweet treats, like meringues and fruit compotes, as well as freshly baked bread.

Gennaro shows that good family cooking doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're looking for a soup, a salad, a quick pasta dish, a slow-cooked Sunday lunch or something for a special occasion, this book has the recipes for you. Everyday dishes such as Trofie pasta with green beans and basil, Ricotta dumplings and Beetroot salad sit alongside special occasion meals such as Rack of lamb with artichokes, Roast chicken with lemon and herbs and Homemade ravioli.There are dishes for all ages, with plenty of recipes for kids, including pizzas and simple pasta dishes, and lots of ideas for getting the children involved with the cooking. Gorgeous desserts such as Summer fruit jellies, Coffee meringues and a delicious trifle, and traditional Italian preserves such as Preserved peaches and Small filled peppers make this book irresistible.

‘Gennaro is an incredible baker – bread has always been central to everything he does. This is a great book – incredible food and full of Gennaro-style passion’ – Jamie Oliver Making bread has always been a natural passion for Gennaro Contaldo. Ingrained since childhood with memories of his mother’s weekly bread-making and visits to his uncle’s village bakery, it is a skill which has followed him throughout his career as a chef.In this book, Gennaro takes you onto a journey into the magical world of Italian bread and baking, giving you his secret tips on making the perfect dough to create wonderful Italian breads for all occasions. And not only bread – have you ever walked into an Italian panetteria (bakery) and marvelled at the amazing variety of freshly baked goods? Not only filone, filoncini, ciabatta, campagnia, panini, but also amazing focaccia, pizzette, biscuits and cakes. Included will be Gennaro’s fabled focaccia made in different regional varieties as well as mouth watering torte salate (Italian savoury pies) using seasonal ingredients such as spinach & artichoke oozing with fontina cheese for spring or escarole, black olives & anchovy for winter. There will be a section of rustic pane dolce (sweet breads) as well as delicious crostate (sweet pastry tarts), biscuits and traditional homemade cakes just like Nonna used to make.This book will be the ultimate in Italian bread and baking – it will be your Italian panetteria bible where you will be able to almost smell that dreamy, irresistible aroma of fresh baking as you flick through the pages.Word count: 55,000

Full of enticing, authentic and, most of all, quick-to-prepare recipes, Gennaro Contaldo’s new book demonstrates how to whip up a delicious Italian feast in 40 minutes or less.From lightning-fast risottos to perfectly pronto pastas, speedy soups and delightful desserts, these recipes showcase the very best Italy has to offer, while requiring very little time in the kitchen. Featuring food from all the major regions of Italy, these quick recipes really make the most of the amazing fresh produce for which Italy is renowned. The result is delicious, nutritious food that can be on the table in minutes – perfect for busy families or for easy entertaining.Beginning with a handy guide to keeping your Italian larder full of the best ingredients to whizz up a speedy supper, the book is split into sections covering Soups, Salads, Pasta, Rice, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Sauces and Desserts ensuring that you have a wealth of recipes at your fingertips. From lemon-infused steam-baked mackerel to classic pasta recipes and quick chocolate raspberry pots you can impress friends and family with a stunning menu in minutes.‘His talent for cooking and story-telling changed my life and food forever.’ Jamie Oliver‘The man cooks like an angel and no ordinary angel.’ Matthew Norman, Sunday Telegraph

Ask a foodie about the Amalfi Coast and lemons immediately spring to mind. The sweet, aromatic, large and thick-skinned Sfusato Amalfitano is the extraordinary and delectable citrus fruit which Gennaro Contaldo grew up with. Lemons were and still are a part of daily life for locals of the Amalfi Coast, and, when Gennaro came to the UK over 40 years ago he continued this tradition. From a sliver of zest in his morning espresso to helping with minor ailments and even household chores, lemons have a wealth of uses.No part of the lemon is wasted – flesh, pith and skin are chopped into salads, juice is drizzled over meat, fish and veggies, while the aromatic zest adds a complexity to a dish's flavour. Even the leaves are used to wrap meat, fish and cheese for extra flavour, or finely chopped and made into a tea infusion.Lemons can cleanse, refresh, preserve, ‘cook’ and add a vibrant flavour to dishes as giving colour and an uplifting aroma. From Ravioli with Ricotta, Lemon and Mint, and Sicilian Chicken Involtini, to Lemon Biscuits, and Coffee and Lemon Semi-freddo, this is not only a beautiful and inspiring homage to the most revered of fruit but Gennaro's most inspirational book to date.Chapters are: Introduction – including The Amalfi Lemon and Lemons in the Kitchen; Small Plates; Vegetables; Fish; Meat; Desserts; Drinks & Preserves; Sauces & Dressings.