Gennaro’s
Italian Family Favourites
Food brings people together. When I was growing up it was the favourite topic of conversation at the dinner table. This was the same table on which my mother would roll out her fresh pasta, knead bread or bottle preserves. The table was our altar, a place to eat, discuss, argue, laugh, sometimes cry.
“…the family that cooks together stays together!’
Gennaro
As a parent, I strongly believe in implementing good eating habits from an early age and showing my kids where our food comes from and how to cook it. I was taught how to respect food and our leftovers were always put to good use.
I love cooking with my children and hope that I am passing on some of my family traditions which will stay with them forever.
ZUPPA DI ZUCCHINE E BASILICO
Courgette and basil soup
This soup is simple to prepare and light and delicate in taste with the freshness of courgettes and basil.
Liz cooks it when my friend Paolo has a glut of courgettes in his allotment and she usually makes lots to freeze in batches.
It is delicious for all the family and was ideal when my girls were babies. Serve as a starter or with good bread as a light meal.
Method
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan, add onion and courgettes and sweat on a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Add the potatoes, stock, some black pepper, increase the heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the basil and blend until smooth.
- Stir in parmesan, heat through if necessary and serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Ingredients
4 servings
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 x small onion, roughly chopped
600 gr courgettes, thickly sliced
200 gr potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
750 ml vegetable stock
black pepper
a handful fresh basil leaves
30 gr grated parmesan
Dan Jones
