Grillezett scamorza avagy gyors, ízletes előétel // Grilled scamorza - a fast & tasty apperitive



scamorza affumicata

 Ma este annyi dolgom volt, hogy jószerivel kimaradt a napi teendőim közül az alapos bevásárlás - gondolom, ismerősen cseng, nemigaz? Na de mégsem lehet éhezni ilyenkor sem, a korgó gyomor nem egészséges!
Benéztem hát a hűtőbe és íme, egy gusztusos és gyors előételt rittyentettem az ott találtakból pár perc alatt. A prosciutto (cotto) most nem is kapna olyan nagy hangsúlyt tőlem, sem a csípős oliva vagy a mozzarellás-majonézes toast falatkák - azonban felhívnám a figyelmetek egy déli remek sajtra. A Pugliából származó scamorza sajt az egyik kedvencem, sokan a mozzarellához hasonlítják, szokták is azt helyettesíteni vele, de ha füstölt változatot kóstoltok, az ízhatás egészen más. Én ma este füstölt scamorzát grilleztem (amire csak kevés bors került, hogy pikánsabbá tegye az egyébként sem egyhangú ízvilágot), és nem volt több 10 percnél (a grillezés ebből csak 2 perc!). Kívülről grilles-ropogós, ám belül puha és olvadt - nem hiába használják oly' sokat a déliek, főként a nápolyi konyha egyik alapanyaga.
Íme a gyors harapnivaló elfoglalt háziasszonyoknak - jó étvágyat, ciao a tutti!
Marco

Tonight I realized that I was too busy to do a proper shopping (which sounds familiar to some of you, I am sure...) but still we must eat something, right? I opened the fridge to search for some solutions and as you can see on the picture I saved the dinner with some quick but tasty aperitives. Beside the prosciutto ( cotto), spicy olive and mozzarella toast pieces I would mention a tasty cheese from the south. Scamorza originates from Puglia region, one of my favourite, many people mention it similar to mozzarella, sometimes even substitute it but if you try the smoked one - that is a totally different world! I grilled smoked scamorza, added some pepper to make it even more characteristic and it was ready in 10 minutes (out of which the grill process was only 2 mins). Grilled and crispy in the outside - soft and smooth inside, those Italians in the south (especially near Naples) know the secret!
So this is a quick apperitive for busy housewives - buon appetito & ciao a tutti!
Marco

Bruschette variations

bruschette

Tonight I prepared another typical appetizer which can also serve as main dish (as it fulfills your stomach, depending on the quantity you eat) - called bruschetta.
For sure you know the one which has garlic, tomatoes and olive oil - however this is not the basic type.

The principal and most simple bruschetta is a toasted bread piece scratched with garlic, some olive oil and oregano. This is the most common type which you will definitely find in every Italian restaurant.

The tomatoes variation (which I found popular here in Hungary) can also be spiced up with some peperoncino (for those who like hot and spicy tastes) or basilico.

The third one for tonight on the picture is with scratched garlic (that is a base for all type), prosciutto and parmesan pieces (but you can add any type of cheese).
Further variations exist, only your imagination can stop you - I will show you some more later on.

Enjoy the view - and try more bruschetta!

Ciao a tutti & buon appetito!
Marco

Classical Italian appetizers



classico aperitivo italiano



Tonight I share with you the secret to start a dinner in a proper, lets say, Italian way. This is the so-called "aperitivo" (=appetizers) which category contains various of small plates.

Usually we have this before dinner (as before lunch it would be too much and anyway you do not have so much time during the day, but the dinner is the time and place for socializing, meeting friends in a nearby bar where you enjoy together the aperitivo).



oven potatoes (aperitivo)



Some of my Hungarian friends told me that this habit may be the secret of keeping the "bella figura" as we do not wait until we are dying from hunger, but instead we take a little bit of this and a little bit of that, so we avoid fulfilling our stomach completely with dinner - well, you need to try it yourself to give the exact answer whether this way of eating contributes to a bella figura - and if you tried, let me know :)

So tonight I prepared a very typical and classical selection of appetizers (of which some elements I found at Vásárcsarnok market, really great place!) which contains cheese, olive filled with spices, baby onions, cucumber, mortadella, pizza pieces, peanuts, chips and seperately I made some potatoes in the oven with garlic, peperoncini and rosmarino. Not to forget the thirstiness, Campari is a must-have element of this meal, together with some white wine.
For Italians, aperitivo is something you can not miss, you can meet old and new friends in your favourite bar - or invite friends and enjoy spending time together, a real happy hour!

Hope you enjoy - tonight these tastes really brought me back the sweet memories of aperitivo I spent with my friends in Italy.

Ciao a tutti & buon aperitivo!

Marco