Sophie Grigson: Slice of Italy

Sophie visits her local market and cooks a seasonal courgette dish. She learns to stuff aubergines with her neighbour and makes an asparagus frittata for friends.

Sophie visits her butcher and her neighbours to learn about local meat dishes. She cooks pasta and meatballs at home and stuffed pork rolls on the outdoor grill.

Sophie explores the traditional taralli biscuits made of wine and olive oil. Plus, she seeks out the perfect pizza and makes her own in the outdoor pizza oven.

Sophie cooks orecchiette pasta at home and makes pasta with chickpeas for friends outdoors. She visits a pottery famed for its colourful pasta ceramics.

Sophie makes a chocolate and olive oil mousse. She visits one of Puglia’s oldest olive oil groves and cooks chicken with lemon garlic and olive.

Sophie harvests fruit from the orchard to make delicious recipes. She makes pasticciotto with cherries and cooks focaccia Barese with barbecued bream.

Sophie visits Taranto to meet the fishermen catching some of Puglia’s best seafood. Later, she makes a mussel, potato and rice gratin and an octopus stew.

Sophie learns all about the sea urchin and how it is used with spaghetti. She also makes a delicious pasta sauce with the bones and leftovers of white fish.

Sophie visits an almond farmer to discover how they are harvested. Plus, a local baker shows how she makes almond and cherry jam sweet treats.

Sophie visits a local cheesemaker to see how they age their famous cheeses in caves. Plus, she stuffs courgette flowers with local ricotta.