STANLEY TUCCI COOKBOOK RECIPES

Steps:

• In a dry frying pan over a medium-high heat, toast the pistachios for a minute or two until lightly golden. Keep an eye on them because they can easily burn. Remove from the heat and set aside.

  Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of well-salted boiling water according to the packet instructions, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid.

  Meanwhile, put the garlic, a pinch each of salt and pepper, the pistachios, chilli flakes (if using), grated cheese, lemon zest and mint in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the oil and pulse a couple of times to combine. Drizzle in a little more oil as you pulse until you reach the desired consistency – you’re looking for a thick wet pesto with a coarse texture. Alternatively, pound the ingredients in a pestle and mortar and stir in the oil. Check the seasoning and add more lemon juice if needed. Set aside.

  Put the pasta back into the pan and stir in the pesto, 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Stir to combine over a very low heat, adding another tablespoon of pasta water if needed to form a glossy sauce. Check for seasoning.

  Serve in warmed pasta bowls, drizzled with a little extra-virgin olive oil, scattered with cheese and garnished with mint leaves.

Steps:

• Cook time: 45 minutes, plus proving.

  Pour 700ml of lukewarm water into a large bowl with 10g of sea salt. Gradually mix in a small handful of the flour to break the water and start to turn it into a batter. Mix in the yeast and leave for 2 minutes. Gradually mix in 90% of the remaining flour until you have a pliable, soft dough. Tip the remaining flour on to a clean surface and knead the dough for 20 minutes, or until smooth and elastic (or 10 minutes in a free-standing mixer with a dough hook). Place in a floured bowl, cover with a clean, damp tea towel and prove for 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Knock out the air with your fists, roll into a sausage shape, chop into 6 equal pieces and roll each one into a ball, stretching the edges underneath. Place on an oiled tray, drizzle with oil, cover with clingfilm and the tea towel and prove overnight in the fridge (for better flavour and a more relaxed dough). 

  Preheat the oven to full whack (240C) and place a pizza stone inside. Use a fish slice to move one ball of dough on to a flour-dusted surface. Press the ball out into a flat round disc, then pick it up and gently turn and stretch it to 30cm in diameter, using gravity to help you. Stretch it over the back of your fists, then place it on a floured pizza paddle or board – the dough should be a little thicker around the edges. Pull it into shape and give it a jiggle so you know it's free-moving. Working quickly and with restraint, add your chosen toppings (see my favourites below). Quickly shunt onto your pizza stone and close the door to retain heat. Wait 7 or 8 minutes and it'll be golden, crisp and ready to eat. 

  CALORIES 569kcal FAT 2.6g SAT FAT 01.g PROTEIN 23.8g CARBS 112.7g SUGAR 2.6g SALT 1.7g FIBRE 4.3g

  Classic Margherita (pictured above)

  The Neopolitans don't mess around – they keep their tomato sauce beautifully simple, raw and fresh, so buying quality tinned tomatoes is a must. Simply scrunch tinned San Marzano plum tomatoes in your clean hands until smooth, then spoon over your pizza base. Top with a few fresh basil leaves, some torn mozzarella cheese and finely grated Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with a little olive oil, bake, and finish with a few extra basil leaves. 

  Ricotta and Baby Courgette

  Spoon over tomato sauce (see recipe above), then top with ricotta cheese mashed with fresh marjoram leaves and finely grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese and lemon zest. Add baby courgettes tossed in olive oil and lemon juice, drizzle with a little more olive oil and bake.

  Grape and Honey

  Toss red and black grapes, fresh rosemary leaves and very finely sliced red onion in olive oil, then scatter over your pizza base with pine nuts, finely grated pecorino cheese, torn mozzarella cheese and a tiny drizzle of runny honey. Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake.

  Tomato and Rosemary

  Spoon tomato sauce (see recipe above) over your pizza base, then scatter over some fresh rosemary leaves tossed with a little olive oil. Tear over some spicy n'duja, finely grate over some Parmesan cheese, drizzle with a little more olive oil, and bake.

  Broccoli and Sausage

  Spoon tomato sauce (see recipe above) over your pizza base, then top with small blanched broccoli florets fried with garlic, fresh chilli, black olives (destoned) and sausagemeat. Tear over some provolone cheese, drizzle with a little olive oil, and bake. 

  Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliver is published by Penguin Random House © Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited (2018 Jamie Cooks Italy), photography: David Loftus.