HEALTH & WELLNESS
Mum's Recipes: Italian Recipes with Michela
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By Kim Wyatt
izza and pasta are undeniably two of the world's most loved dishes (and frequent family favourites!), but there's more to offer from Italian cuisine. Located in Southern Europe, Italy is divided into twenty regions, each boasting unique culinary traditions, customs, and ingredients, offering a breadbasket of gastronomic delights. From the cold snowcapped Alps in the north to the warm turquoise waters of the south, the climate varies from region to region and offers an abundant array of ingredients. Think delicious cheeses such as mascarpone and ricotta from fertile, green pastures to freshly caught seafood such as sardines and anchovies from the Mediterranean Sea. And there is so much more on offer. How can we forget iconic ingredients such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar— cupboard staples for anyone who loves Italian cuisine? Italy is truly a shining star on the culinary map.
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For Doha resident Michela, her husband Karim, and teenage daughter Asia, food is the heart of the home, as with many Italian families. "The love for Italian food was born with me. I am Italian. As a child, my father decided we had to move to the countryside for a healthier life. There, we had bees, fruit trees, and veggies. You know when honey is pure if you always had it that way!" she says. Michela's passion for the Italian way of eating lends itself to her support of fresh, local ingredients—key components of Italian cuisine. "The main characteristic of Italian produce and products is they come from a specific place or region. That is what makes them special! Italy has a huge variety of microclimates which is an incredible advantage for agriculture. This is what makes our products unique! For example, butter from the Alps is very creamy and rich because the cows graze on the mountains.
