Angela Hartnett's Italian Summer Recipes: Grilled Peaches, Gnudi 2026

Angela Hartnett's Italian summer recipes bring vibrant freshness to your table, featuring grilled peaches, green beans, mozzarella, and gnudi in tomato sauce. These dishes celebrate simple, high-quality ingredients that shine in the warm months, perfect for alfresco dining or a sunny lunch. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a home enthusiast, these recipes are designed to delight with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Grilled Peaches, Mozzarella, and Green Beans: A Summer Salad

This salad is a beautiful balance of sweet, creamy, and crisp textures. The charred peaches add a smoky depth, while the buffalo mozzarella brings richness, and the green beans offer a fresh crunch. It's a dish that tastes as good as it looks, ideal for a light lunch or as a starter for a summer dinner party.

Ingredients and Preparation

To make this dish, you'll need fine green beans, buffalo mozzarella, ripe peaches, extra-virgin olive oil, shallot, balsamic vinegar, basil leaves, and optional toasted almonds or hazelnuts. Start by blanching the beans in salted water for 2-3 minutes, then refresh in iced water. Tear the mozzarella into large pieces and let it come to room temperature. Grill the peach halves cut-side down on a hot griddle for 2-3 minutes until charred and slightly softened.

Dress the beans and sliced shallot with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Arrange the grilled peaches, mozzarella, and beans on a platter, then scatter with basil, nuts, and lemon zest if desired. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature for the best flavor.

Gnudi with Roast Tomato Sauce: A Tuscan Classic

Gnudi, meaning 'naked' in Italian, are soft ricotta dumplings that are lighter than traditional pasta. They pair perfectly with a rich roast tomato sauce that brings out the sweetness of ripe plum tomatoes. This recipe requires some chilling time, so plan ahead for a satisfying meal.

Making the Roast Tomato Sauce

For the sauce, roast 500g of ripe plum tomatoes with garlic cloves and thyme sprigs in the oven until soft and caramelized. This intensifies the tomato flavor, creating a robust sauce that clings beautifully to the gnudi. The sauce is simple yet deeply flavorful, a testament to the quality of seasonal tomatoes.

Once the tomatoes are roasted, blend them into a smooth sauce, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper. The gnudi are made from ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, and flour, then chilled and poached until tender. Serve with the warm tomato sauce and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Comparison: Grilled Peaches Salad vs. Gnudi in Tomato Sauce

Key Takeaways for Summer Italian Cooking

• Use ripe, seasonal produce for the best flavor.
• Grilling fruits like peaches adds a smoky sweetness.
• Fresh herbs like basil and thyme elevate simple dishes.
• Let mozzarella come to room temperature for creaminess.
• Roasting tomatoes intensifies their natural sugars.

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