Easy Italian w/ Bertocchi

Pete and I were driving to the city one day along the City West Link, near Norton Street and Sydney's best known Italian enclave Leichhardt, when we noticed this huge new billboard covered in deli meat for Bertocchi Smallgoods. 

It was hard to miss.

One of Australia's leading Smallgoods manufacturers, Bertocchi Smallgoods was established in 1972 in the northern suburbs of Melbourne by Modesto Bertocchi.

In 1948 Modesto migrated to Australia with just one suitcase and a total belief that he was leaving Genoa to start a successful new life.

Today Bertocchi Smallgoods distributes their product range nationally to all supermarkets, good delicatessens, butcher shops and a host of food service establishments.

Living in an Italian neighbourhood, we really enjoy cooking with fresh Italian and seasonal ingredients. Our weekends usually consist of easy Italian inspired meals like home made pizzas, pastas and paninis.

Comfort food at its best.

Here are some quick and easy ideas for your next Italian inspired meal using Bertocchi Smallgoods.

Pete's Weekend Pasta

One of our favourite pastas to cook with at the moment is orecchiette - a homemade pasta from Southern Italy. Its name comes from its shape which is similar to a small ear.

ingredients
200g orecchiette
150 - 200g Bertocchi Prosciutto (cut into strips)
1/2 ball fresh buffalo mozzarella (torn into small chunks)
1/2 punnet of cherry or grape tomatoes cut in halves
1 clove garlic (finely sliced)
2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbs lemon zest
Olive oil
Fresh chopped parsley
Salt & Pepper to season
Freshly grated Parmesan (optional)
1 fresh chilli (finely sliced - optional)

method
Cook pasta according to packet instructions in salted water.
Meanwhile, lightly pan fry the chopped tomatoes, garlic (and chilli-optional) in a little olive oil. Remove pan from heat and keep warm.
Once pasta is cooked, drain and reserve a little liquid.
Add pasta and remaining ingredients to the pan and gently heat through.
Season with salt and pepper and a drizzle of good quality olive oil. 
If desired sprinkle with some freshly grated Parmesan. 

Super Easy Weekend Panini

In Italy, the term panino is the word used to describe a sandwich made from bread that is not sliced sandwich bread. Instead ciabatta, baguette and rosetta are the most common types of bread used. Our local Italian deli has a large range of panini type rolls and bread which we can choose from. 

For these panini you will need your choice of Bertocchi deli meat - On this occasion we chose to team the sopressa mild (above) with brie and fresh cos lettuce. And toasted panini with Bertocchi leg ham, fruit chutney and brie (below).

Another of our favourites is to make toasted panini with sliced mortadella, Asiago cheese and olive tapenade. It is simply divine! You can purchase Asiago cheese from most delis and specialty cheese sections in your local supermarket.

Pizza

Pizzas are SO easy and quick! Whether you decide to make your own base or purchase wood fired ones from your local deli or supermarket they are a great option for a super quick and fuss free weekend lunch or dinner.

Using Bertocchi leg ham and prosciutto, Pete and I make our pizzas using buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomato pasata, rocket and whatever else we feel like. Sometimes I'll include freshly sliced mushrooms whereas Pete usually prefers to keep it simple with prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil or rocket.

Bertocchi Smallgoods are available for purchase through Woolworths Supermarkets and speciality delis.

The Food Mentalist sampled a range of Bertocchi Smallgoods compliments of Bertocchi.