Tag: tips

Genoese pesto: 5 tips from the 2024 pesto champion – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

La Cucina Italiana


To achieve perfection, training is needed, but it is not enough on its own. The world champion himself explained it to us, giving us advice for a perfect Genoese pesto.

1. Haste is the enemy (also) of pesto

«I think I won for passion and accuracy. I don’t know if my technique is the best, what is certain is that a good pesto cannot be improvised”, said Bassi.

2. The quality of the ingredients is fundamental

For a Genoese pesto that deserves this name you must first of all respect the traditional recipe, that of the Genoese Pesto Consortium: DOP Genoese basil from the Ligurian Riviera, Italian pine nuts, garlic from Vessalico (Imperia), DOP Parmigiano Reggiano, Sardinian flower, sea salt from the Trapani salt pans, DOP Ligurian Riviera DOP extra virgin olive oil. «The ingredients must be respected to the letter, and must be of high quality. In particular pay attention to the Parmesanwhich must be well seasoned: minimum 24 and even better 30 months of maturation says Bassi.

3. Flavors must be balanced

The biggest risk you run with pesto is that it is too salty, due to the salt, pecorino and parmesan. «Proportions are important: I personally use them ¾ of Parmesan and ¼ of Sardinian flowerand I taste before adding the salt.”

4. You have to pound in a specific order

To obtain a perfect consistency it is essential to crush the ingredients in a certain order. “I I start with garlic and pine nuts and then set them aside: I empty the mortar to dedicate myself to the basil. I crush the leaves by grinding them in order to eliminate those filaments that give too strong a color to the pesto and do not make the consistency homogeneous. Then I continue: I pour in the garlic and pine nuts, then the cheeses and salt.”

5. Pesto isn’t just pasta

The classic preparation remains the one with pasta, but pesto is excellent in many other preparations, which in Genoa are cornerstones of home cooking: «Use it for every gnocchi and put a spoonful in the minestrone: the pesto is fantastic.

Other articles from La Cucina Italiana that might interest you:

3 WWF tips for a more sustainable future – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

La Cucina Italiana


3 tips from WWF which continues to serve as a beacon in the search for practical solutions for a sustainable future, presenting new guides within the Sustainable Future campaign. Downloadable in PDF format, these three guides provide concrete ideas for improve both our health and that of our precious planet.

WWF’s 3 tips for a more sustainable future

A diet for your well-being and for the planet

The journey to one sustainable lifestyle starts at the table. The WWF guides offer us practical advice, from shopping cart choices to creating a small home vegetable garden. The guide A diet for your well-being and for the planet invites us to consider the environmental impact of our food choices, even when we eat out.

Goodbye to fossil fuels

The abandonment of fossil fuels, main source of climate-changing emissions, is essential to avoid uncontrollable global warming. The WWF guide Goodbye to fossil fuels offers practical solutions, promoting not only the fight against climate changebut also benefits such as the elimination of pollution and greater energy security.

Life in plastic isn’t great

Our daily actions, from choosing products to managing waste, influence our health and the environment. The guide Life in plastic isn’t great from WWF explains how reduce the use of plastic in everyday life through practical advice and insights.

The campaign for a more sustainable future

WWF’s goal of Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental footprint by 50% by 2030 requires everyone’s commitment. The Sustainable Future campaign aims to reaffirm the central role of people in the transformation of economic and cultural systems, starting from daily choices up to collective action.

A look at the past and a commitment to the future

Over the last 50 years, development has had a devastating impact on nature and our health. However, WWF pushes us to reflect on our power to change direction. Reducing the use of fossil fuels, improving the food system and reducing the use of plastic are crucial steps. Only by transforming needs into concrete actions can we build a future where people and nature thrive together.

The WWF mission and the responsibility of each of us

The WWF challenges us to embrace a path towards a sustainable future, based on renewable energy, responsible food systems and natural solutions. Their mission is our daily mission: to restore harmony with nature through choices that preserve the well-being of the planet, its biodiversity and the climate. Only in this way can we build a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

How to cut sugar after the holidays: 5 tips from the expert – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

La Cucina Italiana


The most popular question every January is: how to cut sugar after the holidays. In fact, the Christmas holidays are one of the periods of the year in which, more than others, there are real feasts of sugarspresent not only in panettone, nougats, sweets, but also in unexpected foods such as cotechino, zampone, cheeses and cured meats.

Limiting the consumption of foods rich in them immediately after the holidays is essential not only to avoid the risk of gaining many extra kilos, but also to avoid putting your health at risk. Frequent and exaggerated consumption of these nutrients in fact favors weight gain, but also the onset of disorders and pathologies such as hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, mood and even tumors.

Here then how to cut sugar after the holidays according to the nutritionist’s advice Valentina Galiazzospecialist in clinical biochemistry.

How to cut sugar after the holidays in 5 tips

1. Limit consumption of dates and other rich foods

Dried fruit is much higher in carbohydrates than fresh fruit. For this reason it is necessary to eat it paying more attention to how it is consumed. «To avoid the risk of exaggerating with sugars, the ideal is to prefer those that have a lower glycemic index such as dried and natural apricots and plums, says the nutritionist Valentina Galiazzo. Then pay attention to the quantities. «To limit the consumption of sugars you need to ingest them a maximum of 30 grams per day and never at the end of the meal.”

2. Choose wholemeal bread for breakfast

«Granola, muesli and breakfast cereals in general often contain high quantities of added sugars including fructose and sucrose, which increase blood sugar peaks. A trick to cut the amount of sugar in your daily diet is to replace it with wholemeal bread, even better if stale and toasted, which has a lower glycemic index.”

3. Be careful with vegetable drinks

«Some vegetable drinks based on soy, coconut, almonds can provide a higher sugar content than that of milk of animal origin, explains nutritionist Valentina Galiazzo. «For this reason, before purchasing them, it is always a good idea to carefully read the information on the packaging and give priority to products that provide less sugar to avoid the risk of adding excessive amounts of sugar to the menus.

4. Consume more oranges and less juice

«Not only ready-made fruit juices, but also freshly squeezed citrus fruit juices have a high sugar content, including glucose and fructose, which the body assimilates quickly also due to the absence of fibre. It is better to consume more whole fruit which, thanks to the fibre, allows you to avoid sudden increases in blood sugar.”

5. Avoid sweetening your coffee

Even if you can’t do without classic white sugar, to reduce sugars, use spices instead of sweeteners. «They improve the flavor of drinks without increasing the sugar intake in the daily diet. Which ones to use? «Star anise is a very suitable spice for correcting the bitter taste of coffee, especially after lunch. It provides substances that, unlike sugars, facilitate digestion.”

Proudly powered by WordPress

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Click here to read more information about data collection for ads personalisation

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Read more about data collection for ads personalisation our in our Cookies Policy page

Close