Aperitivo Nibbles from my new book Cocktail Italiano
My new book includes lots of great appetizers; I like to call them nibbles.Whenever you order a cocktail at a bar in Italy, there is always food involved. Simply brilliant. I think it may be my favorite part. Full disclosure: I love seeing what bars choose to serve with their cocktails. Sometimes it's just olives and the humble potato chip, and sometimes it's the most lovely fresh focaccia with sublime charcuterie, a veggie frittata or mini salads like the fennel orange salad in this post. Poached scampi, rice salads, and fried calamari are some of my favorites.Check out my book Cocktail Italiano for all the nibbles recipes, and my fun stories about our time living on the Italian Riviera... oh and of course, there are amazing cocktail recipes as well.Enjoy the recipes in my book at home with friends, or toss it into your suitcase and do my Aperitivo tour on the Riviera in the back of the book. My book includes all my favorite bars, beach clubs, local joints, fancy hotel bars and classic haunts to enjoy aperitivi. Cin cin. x
Orange Marinated Fennel with Pecorino Shavings
Serves 4
You will need:
- 4 oranges peeled and sliced in ¼ “ thick slices
- 1 large fennel bulbs sliced into paper thin pieces
- ¼ cup apple balsamic vinegar I like Ritrovo brand or apple vinegar.
- ½ cup orange juice- ½ teaspoon salt- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup small black olives
- 1 cup shaved Pecorino cheese
To prepare:
Slice peeled oranges and fennel into paper thin slices. Combine vinegar, juice, salt, oil in a bowl. Place the oranges and the fennel on a platter pour the vinegar mixture over the oranges and fennel. Sprinkle olives over the oranges and fennel. You can make this in the morning and let sit out all day, serve for aperitivo with small plates with forks.
Scampi Poached in Olive Oil
You will need:
- 3 cups olive oil
- 3 large fresh rosemary sprigs
- 18 uncooked large shrimp or scampi, peeled and deveined
- 4 Lemon wedges
To prepare:
Add 3 cups olive oil into heavy large saucepan, and add rosemary sprigs. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of saucepan and heat oil over medium heat until thermometer registers between 165°F and 180°F. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shrimp to hot oil and poach just until shrimp are opaque in center, adjusting heat to maintain temperature between 165°F and 180°F, about 8 minutes. Transfer shrimp to paper towels to drain. Serve at room temperature, garnish with lemon wedges.