Italian Easter Recipes: Lamb with Artchokes.

Easter or Pasqua in Italian, is one of Italy’s biggest and most important holidays. Grand processions, firework displays and other open-air events are held across the country, as each region celebrates the resurrection of Jesus according to their own unique set of traditions. As this collection of Italian Easter recipes demonstrates, this also extends to the foods that are eaten. In Sardinia star-shaped tartlets filled with ricotta, saffron and citrus peel are a traditional favourite, while In Sicily, colourful Italian biscuits called Cuddura Siciliana are eaten during Easter lunch. These unusual little biscuits feature a whole boiled egg wrapped in pastry and are said to have originated with the Ancient Greeks who colonized Sicily over 2500 years ago

The Italian mainland has just as rich a food heritage as its islands. In Naples a fragrant wheat cake called Pastiera Napoletana is commonplace. Served for breakfast on Easter Sunday, it is traditionally prepared on Good Friday to allow enough time for the citrus, vanilla and ricotta filling to properly infuse. No Italian Easter collection would be complete without a Torta pasqualina, a delicious Easter pie which has a rich ricotta and egg filling – ingredients that were historically forbidden during lent. Bring this classic Italian Easter dish to your own home with Luca Marchiori’s easy recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

Per 6 servings

2 lb lamb loin
6 artichokes
Toscano Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 small bunch mint, chopped
3 ½ oz Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
mix of spices (oregano and capers) to taste

PREPARATION: 1 hour and 40 minutes

• Clean the loin of lamb, leaving it whole.
• Flavor the lamb with Sapori Italiani - mix of spices and allow it to marinate at least one hour. 
• To clean the artichokes, cut them in half, and then julienne style (cut them into short, thin strips).
• Place them in the pan with a little Toscano Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP and sauté until tender. Once the artichokes are done, add the chopped garlic and mint; mix gently.
• Brown the lamb in the pan with some Toscano Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP, and then put it in the oven until it is finished cooking (approximately 10 minutes). Just before the lamb is finished, degrease and douse with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
• Once the lamb is finished cooking, let it rest for a few minutes.
• Place the cooked artichokes in the center of a dish.
• Slice the lamb, following the line of the ribs, and place them on top of the artichokes.
• Drizzle it slightly with the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena remaining in the pan and the flavorful Toscano Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP and serve.