Gennaro’s Verdure: Big and bold Italian recipes to pack your plate with veg

By Gennaro Contaldo

In Gennaro’s Verdure, Gennaro transforms humble vegetables from side dish material into the hero of the plate, using punchy flavours from staple ingredients in his unique and much loved Italian style.

‘The don of Italian cooking takes veg to the next level. Belissimo!’– Jamie Oliver

‘Gennaro’s food is full of passion and wonderful flavour; his delightful book puts vegetables at the centre of the table and makes them the star of the show’ – Ainsley Harriott

Structured by colour chapters that group recipes into vegetable families, Gennaro champions their versatility and breaks the common misconception that vegetables lack texture and flavour. This novel approach not only adds visual appeal but also allows for easy navigation and exploration of the wonderful world of vegetables.

Up first, Green Vegetables, Gennaro highlights the crisp freshness and health benefits of greens like asparagus, spinach, and broccoli. He transforms these humble ingredients into culinary masterpieces; try Gennaro’s Asparagus Carbonara, a delightful twist on the classic pasta dish, and be tempted by his Spinach ‘plumcake’, a unique creation that combines savoury and sweet flavours.

In Red Vegetables, Gennaro celebrates the vibrant hues and rich flavours of produce such as tomatoes, Swiss chard and red peppers. From Chard Calzone to a zingy Tomato Sorbet, Gennaro proves that these red gems can be the star ingredients of extraordinary dishes.

Sunshine Vegetables radiates with the vibrant colours of yellow, cream and orange vegetables. Gennaro showcases the natural sweetness and sunny disposition of ingredients such as carrots, onions and pumpkins. These recipes will bring warmth and joy to your plate, from comforting Pumpkin Gnocchi to Carrot Soufflé.

Purple Vegetables uncovers the hidden treasures lurking in the depths of our refrigerators. Aubergines, purple radicchio and beetroots take centre stage. Savour Beetroot Capracchio and Raddchio Terrine over a picnic lunch on a summer’s day, imagining you are on the Amalfi Coast.

While not all recipes are entirely plant-based, Gennaro ensures that every dish includes the beauty and goodness of plants. With his signature Italian touch, these innovative meals are designed to please not only vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians, but also meat-eaters looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet.

Gennaro’s Verdure is a testament to the incredible potential of vegetables, including an in-depth profile of each. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for a meatless Monday or aiming to embrace a plant-based lifestyle, Gennaro’s recipes are sure to leave you satisfied, nourished, and eager to experiment with the endless possibilities of vegetables.

Format: Hardback
Release Date: 14 Mar 2024
Pages: 224
ISBN: 978-0-00-860373-1
Price: £26.00, £26.00 (Export Price) , €None
Gennaro Contaldo’s warmth, Italian spirit and sense of fun have led him to be one of the UK’s most-loved chefs. He is renowned for being a mentor to Jamie Oliver and teaching him, with Carluccio, everything Jamie knows about Italian cooking. In 1999, he opened Passione in London, which was awarded Best Italian restaurant in 2005. He is a favourite on Saturday Kitchen, has his own YouTube food channel, and is an ambassador for Citalia, Parmigiano Reggiano and Birra Moretti. He lives in East London with his wife and twin daughters. @gennarocontaldo (773k followers, Instagram)

‘The don of Italian cooking takes veg to the next level. Belissimo!’- Jamie Oliver -

”'A wonderful, timely book - simply beautiful and beautifully simple” - - Stanley Tucci

”'I’ve loved Gennaro’s food since buying his first book, Passione, over 20 years ago. His latest, Verdure, is packed with typically lively, inventive recipes with vegetables at their heart - it's a beautiful creation, and having already dived into half a dozen, I think this might be his best yet” - - Mark Diacono

”'Gennaro's food is full of passion and wonderful flavour; his delightful book puts vegetables at the centre of the table and makes them the star of the show” - - Ainsley Harriott

”'Humble recipes - the way every vegetable wants to be treated - written by possibly one of the nicest humans on this planet” - - Hasan Semay

”'Beautiful - recipes that are a joy to cook from and will become family favourites in the years to come” - - Joe Woodhouse

”'Gennaro writes such trustworthy recipes - you just know they are going to work… and be very tasty!” - - Ravneet Gill

”'Filled with simple, delicious and no-nonsense veg-focused recipes - it’s never been more important to eat more veg, and this book makes that a breeze. Exactly what the world needs” - - Giuseppe Federici, @sepps

‘A refreshing new take from the Italian legend himself' - Calum Harris -