From the pastel-coloured palazzi in Venice to the Prosecco hills of Valpolicella, the romance of Veneto extends far beyond Romeo and Juliet’s hometown of Verona. If a trip to Italy feels like a faraway dream this Valentine’s Day, let us transport you to Italy’s most romantic region with a special Venetian menu starring an abundance of fresh seafood from the lagoons, treasured Byzantine recipes and aromatic butter sauces.
Introducing four new recipes to fall in love with…
Something spicy: Pappardelle Ricce with Seafood Ragù and Fresh Parsley
Whilst the Laguna Veneta that surrounds Venice is perhaps the most famous lagoon in Italy (and perhaps even the world), Italy has many such shoreside spots. A common thread joins them though, they supply an embarrassment of riches when it comes to i frutti di mare – ‘the fruits of the sea’.
These floating larders provide the inspiration for our first dish, a seafood ragù featuring delicately-flavoured red mullet, slowly-simmered squid and the lobster-like sweetness of monkfish. To bring it all together into a harmonious marriage, our ragù is cooked gently with tomatoes, white wine and a hit of chilli heat.
Such a special sauce needs a suitably special pasta partner. Enter our pappardelle ricce, with its wave-like edges that positively sing of the sea. These jagged edges have a practical purpose too: catching every last bit of the sumptuous sauce. It's a nailed-on match in our eyes.
All of this combines to create a dish that recalls sultry summer evenings spent enjoying seaside dinners, which we think might just be the true romance of Italy.
Something eye-catching: Sea Bass Ravioloni with Dill Butter and Samphire
Popular in the seaside towns of Veneto and beyond, the use of squid ink in Italian cuisine was first developed by thrifty fishermen trying to use up every last bit of their catch. Nowadays it’s more of a luxury, and you’ll see it served in some of the finest restaurants in the land.
Here, we’ve incorporated jet-black squid ink into our pasta dough to give our handcrafted ravioloni its dramatic appearance. Despite this, the flavour squid ink brings is altogether more understated; a subtle saltiness that hints at the sea which it came from (so you needn’t worry about scaring your date off).
For the filling, we’ve gone further afield to the Amalfi coast – and the beautiful town of Praiano – where freshly caught sea bass is a common sight in the town’s trattorie. In respect of this fish’s delicate flavour we’ve paired it with the gentle creaminess of mascarpone, before giving it a gentle lift with the fresh tang of another signature Amalfi ingredient: lemon zest.
To do justice to these elegant flavours, we’ve kept the sauce simple. Our raviolini needs little more than a coating of dill-infused butter, plus a smattering of saline samphire for a final echo of the sea.
Something decadent: Lobster, Crab & Prawn Tortelloni with Tarragon Butter
Keen to pull out all the stops for your amore? Treat them to a coastal getaway courtesy of these tempting tortelloni.
Taking inspiration from a romantic road trip along the Italian coastline, this dish is a tribute to the pastel-coloured osteria that scatter the seaside, appearing out of nowhere on the horizon to entice anyone lucky enough to have no plans for dinner.
But on the off chance that their fairy tale looks don’t hook you in, the waft of fresh seafood cooking in the kitchens usually seals the deal. From aragosta (lobster) to a glut of gamberi (prawns), these seaside spots make the most of the riches brought in by local fishermen.
Following their lead, our chefs have thrown caution to the wind and filled these handmade tortelloni with a luxurious trio of lobster, crab and prawn. And for a final flourish, these perfectly-formed parcels are lathered in an elegant tarragon butter.
Something saucy: Venetian Duck Ragù with Freshly Made Gnocchi
As you might’ve guessed from the bounty of seafood dishes on our Valentine’s menu, Venetian cuisine is shaped by its access to the Adriatic Sea. But despite its fervour for fish, Veneto still has something special for the meat-lover in your life. Our ragù d'anatra (duck ragù) elevates an Italian classic with some quintessentially Venetian twists.
Again, closeness to the coast is relevant, just for different reasons. With such easy access to the sea, the city of Venice has a long history of trade with the Middle East. It’s this heritage that shapes the region’s favourite ragù, which blends rich duck meat with red wine, bay leaf, and exotic herbs and spices.
Historically, this ragù was commonly enjoyed with bigoli (a long pasta from Veneto that’s a bit like spaghetti). While many Venetian restaurants still honour this traditional pairing, we think our handmade gnocchi dumplings are the ideal match.
Of course, true ragù is a labour of love, demanding hours of slow-cooking to reach tender perfection. Thankfully though, our chefs have done the hard work for you – so you can spend less time in the kitchen, and more time with your crush.
At Pasta Evangelists, we bring a taste of Italy to your kitchen. Prepared using the freshest ingredients, our gourmet pasta dishes are perfect for those looking to enjoy restaurant-quality meals, delivered to your door, and ready in under five minutes. Order from our weekly menu today, and we’ll offer you 25% off your first delivery - simply enter the code BLOG25 at checkout.
