A surprise panzerotti party and another easy oven-roasted fish with zucchini, onion, and capers.

Plus, a bit of This & That.

A Panzerotti Party

I never realized a panzerotti party in Italy was on my bucket list until last week, but I'm happy to report that I can now check that one off the list! This culinary experience was truly a highlight of the entire summer for me thus far and sparked so many ideas for new ways to entertain and cook that are really delicious for large groups. So often, food at parties, especially when there are many people, is lackluster and disappointing, but these perfectly fried pockets of goodness had everyone scrambling for another of this classic and beloved Southern Italian street food. 

Last Wednesday, while we were staying in Puglia, Andre's cousin Vito invited us to his Putignano home for a night of making panzerotti. Andre was so excited and could not stop talking about how his grandmother used to make them for him all the time when he was a kid. I'd never heard of them before this moment, and now I can tell you I will crave them for the rest of my life! For those also unfamiliar, panzerotti are savory turnovers originating from the culinary traditions of central and southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Apulia and Campania. They resemble little calzones, but instead of being baked, they are fried, giving them a unique flavor and texture.

We assumed it would be a casual evening, having fun and preparing some panzerotti with the kids. Little did we know what he had in store for us. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by two chefs preparing fresh panzerotti from scratch in an outdoor kitchen. Every step, from rolling out the homemade dough to filling each panzerotti, was done before our eyes. The chefs made 160 panzerotti by hand with three different fillings! All ingredients were local. The first was the traditional mixture of tomato sauce and mozzarella. The second had tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and capers (a favorite and signature in Putignano). The third was with a lactose-free cheese for those with dietary restrictions. And finally, they also made some plain with no filling for the picky kiddos, just in case.