Читать книгу Italian Recipes For Dummies - Amy Riolo - Страница 52

Summer in Italy is all about keeping cool and the opportunity to head to the sea or the mountains to do so. Until the late 20th century, air conditioning was not used, and seasonal produce was used to promote cooling effects and the nutrients needed during the hot months. Many Italians who live in large cities own or rent homes at the beach or in the mountains, specifically for the purpose of spending time in the summer (especially August) away from the city heat.

Seafood, lighter meats, poultry, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, fresh herbs, greens, zucchini, melons, and berries take center stage during the warmer months. Chilled soups, cool carpaccios, pasta and rice salads, and fresh, light sauces are part of summer repertoires. Heavy sauces, intense baking, and rich, intricate recipes are avoided in the heat. Pizza, though, is still enjoyed, especially so at the beach and during summer evenings. In terms of cooking methods, grilling, pan-frying, and raw foods are the most commonly used applications when warmer temperatures abound.

Table 4-2 outlines a typical (non-holiday or Sunday) summer meal with dishes that can be created from this book. I have replaced the dessert course with frutta options from the fruit, cheese, and nut course (see Chapter 17) because this is an everyday menu. If you wanted to turn it into a Sunday menu, simply add dessert and swap out the pasta and the main course for longer cooking items.

TABLE 4-2: Summer Meal Menu

Course	Recipe	Location
Antipasto	Bruschetta con pomodori/Tomato Bruschetta	Chapter 6
Primo	Trofie al pesto/Trofie Pasta with Pesto Sauce OR Dried pasta with same Pesto Sauce	Chapter 9
Secondo	Polpo alla griglia/Marinated Grilled Octopus OR Petto di pollo marinato/Marinated Chicken Breasts	Chapter 11 Chapter 12
Contorno	Verdure grigliate/Grilled Mixed Vegetables	Chapter 14
Insalata	Insalata di pomodori e peperoni/Tomato and Roasted Pepper Salad	Chapter 15
Frutta	Frutta estiva/Summer Fruit Platter	Chapter 17
Caffé	Caffé/Classic Espresso	Chapter 16