A Melting Pot of France, Italy and Spain...

Melbourne's Very Own Food Fair!

  

Recently I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to come together with a group of people to experience different interpretations of French, Spanish and Italian cuisine. I chose to prepare an Italian dish, and hoped to show others the cuisine which plays a significant role in my life.

POLPETTI DI RISO

I chose to prepare "Polpetti di Riso" - a croquette-style snack of fried cheese, rice and mashed potato. This dish originates from Calabria in the South of Italy, and is often enjoyed at different Italian family events. The term "polpetta" refers to the oval shape the rice mixture is rolled into.

Unfried polpetti

I chose to prepare this dish as it has a big place in my family life. Growing up, this meal was always present at family events. For me, Polpetti di Riso represents my Italian heritage and serves as a nostalgic reminder of days spent cooking with my Nonna.

I was lucky enough to have help from my Nonna - the expert - when making this dish. I had difficulty in attaining the perfect shape for the polpetti - mine definitely did not look as good as the ones Nonna rolled up! Rolling the correct shape is quite difficult with the rice mixture as it tends to open up when in the frying pan, wrecking the smooth surface of the fried flour.

I enjoyed learning about all the little tricks and techniques my Nonna has for making her dishes perfect. Whether it be the touch of water on the palm of the hand, or the use of the fork instead of the spoon when touching the polpetti, all these things helped me better understand her world of cooking.

I left my nonna’s house feeling very in touch with my Italian heritage. This heavy dish served as a heavy reminder that I would love to learn more about my Italian background.

It seemed the dish was quite well received at the food fair. People seemed slightly unsure what the polpetti were at first, but once they tried them, they loved them! The tasty blend of creamy rice and crunchy breadcrumb seemed to suit everyone's tastes for fat. I feel satisfied that people have been able to have a taste of the cuisine that has flavoured my life.