ALSO READ: These 8 irresistible Italian desserts will satisfy that sweet tooth

Abi’s Italian dinner party menu

1. Taleggio-and-green olive bruschetta

There’s something deeply satisfying about the moment Taleggio cheese begins to bubble and ooze under the grill, its earthy, mushroomy depth mellowing into something almost dessert-like as it melts. Paired with the briny pop of crushed green olives and a slick of garlic-infused olive oil on crisp, toasted sourdough, this is the kind of uncomplicated bar snack that steals the show.

Taleggio-and-green olive bruschetta recipe

2. Parma ham-and-crisp antipasto

There’s a reason the simplest pairings are often the most memorable – Parma ham with hand-cooked truffle-and-Parmesan potato crisps is proof. The ham is silky and salty-sweet, melting on the tongue, while the crisps bring a golden crunch that makes everything better. Topped with sundried tomato pesto and it’s the easiest antipasto you’ll ever make.

Parma ham-and-crisp antipasto recipe

ALSO READ: 6 ingredients you need to host a budget-friendly Italian dinner party

3. Calabrian chilli-and-cannellini bean salad

This is the kind of salad that quietly steals the show on every table. Creamy cannellini beans meet punchy Calabrian chilli and a sharp, garlic-kissed dressing. It’s bold without trying too hard, and comes together in the time it takes to open a can.

Calabrian chilli-and-cannellini bean salad recipe

4. Grapefruit Nozeco spritz

There’s something deeply satisfying about a spritz that walks the line between bitter and bright. Alcohol-free Nozeco’s fine, gently sparkling bubbles carry the smokiness of charred grapefruit, while the ruby grapefruit soda adds a burst of citrus sunshine. Serve it over plenty of ice in wine glasses and you have a drink that looks as good as it tastes: sophisticated, zingy and utterly moreish.

Grapefruit Nozeco spritz recipe

5. Trippa alla Abi

Truffle-and-Parmesan potato crisps (from the antipasto with Parma ham) and baby Italian artichokes (used in the cacio e pepe gnocchi recipe below) were two surprise ingredients we sprang on Abi while she was cooking. The third was Woolies’ slow-cooked ox tripe (or trippa in Italian). Abi simply added a 375 ml bottle of Woolies’ boerewors ragu pasta sauce to the tripe and cooked it according to package instructions. Simple!

Find more of Abi’s recipes here

6.  Cacio e pepe gnocchi

This is the dish that proves weeknight dinners and dinner-party wow factor can share the same recipe. Pillowy Woolworths Italian potato gnocchi gets a legendary cacio e pepe treatment: a silky, glossy sauce that clings to every dumpling in the most irresistible way without a drop of cream. Simple, quick and spectacular.

Cacio e pepe gnocchi recipe

ALSO READ: 7 Italian dinner ideas that aren’t pasta

7. Tiramisu-pistachio affogato

These affogato-style treats are pure theatre at the table. A shot of hot, dark espresso poured over cold, silken tiramisu or vivid pistachio ice cream – classic and unmistakable. Allow your guests to choose tiramisu or ice cream and make their own.

Tiramisu-pistachio affogato recipe

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