Tag Archive for: finger food

Some recipes are born almost by chance. From a slice of toasted bread, an ingredient waiting to be used, or a flavour combination that sparks curiosity. And very often, these are the creations that end up winning everyone over, just like my Bruschetta with beef tartare, hazelnuts and caramelised onion.

It is with this spirit that my new series, Not Your Usual Bruschetta, begins—a collection of creative and delicious ideas that transform a simple slice of bread into something truly memorable. Easy to prepare, perfect for summer, and ideal for anyone who loves experimenting in the kitchen without making life complicated.

The first star of the series is a bruschetta with bold yet perfectly balanced flavours: beef tartare with crunchy hazelnuts, caramelised Tropea onions, and artichoke pâté. A combination of textures and aromas that makes every bite both surprising and deeply satisfying, whatever the occasion.

Because, after all, this is not your usual bruschetta.

ilaria-bertinelli-bruschetta-con-tartare-di-manzo

Bruschetta with beef tartare, hazelnuts and caramelised onion

39g carbohydrates for 1 bruschetta

Ingredients for 2 bruschettas

  • 2 slices of bread** (50 g each)
  • 150 g Tropea onions
  • 120 g beef tartare
  • 30 g artichoke pâté*
  • 30 g hazelnuts
  • 10 g brown sugar
  • apple cider vinegar
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Method

  1. Finely chop the hazelnuts and mix them into the beef tartare. Season with salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil, then leave to marinate while you prepare the onions.
  2. Thinly slice the Tropea onions and cook them gently in a non-stick frying pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Once softened, add the brown sugar and a splash of apple cider vinegar, allowing the vinegar to evaporate completely.
  3. Toast the bread slices until golden and crisp. Spread a layer of artichoke pâté over each slice, top with the hazelnut beef tartare, and finish with the caramelised onions.

Nutrition Note

Beef tartare provides high-quality protein and important minerals such as iron and zinc. Hazelnuts contribute mostly unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and a pleasant crunch, while artichokes are naturally rich in fibre and plant compounds such as cynarin. The caramelised Tropea onions add sweetness and depth of flavour, creating a bruschetta that is both satisfying and well balanced.

A recipe for all occasions and all year round: Ricotta and tuna patties with vegan mayonnaise.

Patties are always a successful dish with children and adults alike. These Ricotta and tuna patties are the solution for a quick, but tasty and nutritionally rich meal with the protein of ricotta and tuna.

I decided to prepare this recipe to be served as finger food during the Cibus exhibition in Parma during which I will be at the booth of the Isola d’oro company that produces Tonnotto, delicious 100% Italian tuna fillets that I used in my recipe.

To win over our visitors, I have prepared a very special vegan mayonnaise, flavoured with smoked paprika and Kala namak salt. What is Kala namak and why use it?

Kala namak is a dark, grey to violet coloured salt that is extracted from mines in northern India and the lakes surrounding the Himalayas rich in sulphurous springs. In fact, what characterises this salt is thehard-boiled egg smell that has made it particularly popular among those on a vegan diet as it is a perfect aromatic substitute for egg.

In addition to its organoleptic characteristics, this salt is recommended by Ayurvedic cooking in case of gastric disorders and is excellent for fighting bad cholesterol: that’s why I decided to use it instead of ordinary salt for my vegan mayonnaise! Be careful to the amount used because it is saltier than the salt we are used to.

Are you ready to experiment?

Polpette-di-ricotta-e-tonno-con-maio-vegana

Ricotta and tuna patties with vegan mayonnaise

5.5g carbohydrates per 100g of patties without mayonnaise

Ingredients for 6 servings

  • 500g cow’s milk ricotta
  • 150g Tonnotto l’Isola d’oro tuna fillets
  • chopped parsley or other herbs to taste
  • gluten-free breadcrumbs**
  • salt and pepper

Ingredients for the vegan mayonnaise

  • 100g sunflower seed oil
  • 50g soy milk*
  • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
  • kala Namak salt
  • smoked paprika

**Ingredients specific for celiacs

*Ingredients whose labels must read “gluten-free” (or, in Italy, present on  Prontuario AIC)

Preparation

  1. Put ricotta in a bowl and mix it with the drained, chopped tuna; add salt and season with pepper and chopped parsley or other herbs to taste. Form patties and coat them with breadcrumbs.
  2. Arrange them on a baking tin lined with parchment paper and bake at 200°C in grill mode for 15 minutes.
  3. Prepare the mayonnaise by placing all the ingredients in a tall glass and mix with an immersion blender for a few minutes to obtain a smooth, homogeneous mayonnaise.
  4. Serve the patties warm or cold with vegan mayonnaise.

Polpette-di-ricotta-e-tonno-con-maio-vegana

Version with gluten of Ricotta and tuna patties with vegan mayonnaise

Replace the gluten-free breadcrumbs with conventional breadcrumbs, the rest of the recipe is naturally gluten-free.