Easter menu: here are our tips for the festive lunch!

Easter Menu: a festive day to be spent with family or friends. There are many traditional dishes, and each region suggests different courses, but there are some constants that can be found on all Italian tables: eggs, often paired with seasonal vegetables like asparagus.

Whether you follow the tradition, want to present your guests with original dishes, or prefer a more casual packed lunch, or maybe organize a nice outdoor barbecue of meat, we have some tips to prepare a great Easter menu to celebrate together. Space for creativity, and why not, also for practicality: there’s no need to spend hours and hours in the kitchen to prepare a nice lunch, and you'll have more time to toast with your loved ones!

Easter Menu: Appetizers

Easter Menu: we start with appetizers, which are very important to welcome your guests in the best way, as they convey that it’s a festive atmosphere! So, why not choose a beautiful platter of cured meats and cheeses? We present the Platter i Fiori dei Pascoli, featuring Malga Novezza, Goat Gentian, Monte Veronese DOP, and Extra Pear and Cinnamon Jam, perfect to pair with cheeses! A triumph of fresh flavors, just like this spring festival!

Among the cheeses, Pecorino Romano is a must: it’s typical of the Easter holiday, used in the preparation of many dishes. Pair with unique cured meats: to give body to your appetizer, we recommend the spicy Ventricina salami from Pavoncelli, great to pair with toasted bread, given its soft consistency, perfect for spreading! Or the Speck dello Schioppo from Corrado Benedetti, with a delicate flavor and toasted notes. Pair the appetizers with a red wine like the Corvina Veronese IGT, perfect with medium-aged cheeses.

Easter Lunch: First Courses

The first courses of Easter lunch can range from classic lasagna, which is always a hit, to fantastic tagliatelle with lamb ragù, as tradition dictates. Of course, not everyone enjoys eating lamb, so you can opt for a milder sauce like the Neapolitan sauce with Piennolo tomatoes from Vesuvius DOP by Sapori Vesuviani, which is fantastic with its sweetness!

For those who love seasonal flavors, why not go for an asparagus risotto? We recommend the Vialone Nano rice mapped Extra line San Marco, which pairs perfectly with asparagus! The ideal wine to accompany it is the Langhe Arneis 2017, with a fine aroma and fruity notes that complement the first courses very well.

Easter Menu Recipes: Second Courses

Easter Menu Recipes: here are the most popular second courses! You can get creative, from the classic lamb, but also veal, particularly roast with potatoes. Both meats can also be prepared as small sautéed bites with lemon, adding a fresher tone. Alternatively, you could opt for an egg white omelet with asparagus, easy to prepare and delicious! Don’t have time to prepare your roast? Then we recommend the Arista al forno arrosto from Pavoncelli, a spectacular cut to serve alongside baked potatoes or legumes. A good wine to pair is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, or a Valpolicella superiore, which goes well with the bold flavor of the meat.

For those who want to opt for an outdoor barbecue, here are some ideas for organizing it perfectly: start with the raw pork sausage, perfect for grilling, paired with luganega, fabulous and with a strong flavor. The ones from Pavoncelli are amazing! Your barbecue will be perfect with grilled polenta, or if you’re in your garden, you can prepare roasted potatoes in your kitchen oven, great with the meat! The perfect wine to accompany it is the Valpolicella DOC classico Le Filagne, excellent with meat dishes.

Easter Lunch: Desserts

Easter lunch: it ends beautifully with desserts! The colomba is a classic, known throughout all regions of Italy. Why not opt for a traditionally handmade colomba like the one from Parole nel Piatto? You’ll impress your guests!

A truly traditional dessert is the Molisana Easter Pigna: try the one from Panificio Rosa Maria Vittoria, a handmade delicacy, ideal to bring as a gift if you are invited for lunch. Easter eggs are a must: kids love them, both for the chocolate and for the surprise inside! You, on the other hand, can surprise your guests with a final toast: we recommend the Lessini Durello DOC Classic Method Spumante aged 36 months from Fattori Agricultural Company, with notes of dried fruit and citrus, and a fine perlage that will enchant everyone!

Easter Menu: follow our advice to prepare a gourmet Easter lunch, or simple, tasty, and alternative! We at Spaghetti & Mandolino wish you our best Happy Easter!

Antonella Iannò