Our top 12 favorite Italian recipes Our top 12 favorite Italian recipes

Pesto has been around in some shape or form since Roman times. Darren brings the sauce bang up to date by filling it with super greens: kale, spinach and broccoli, as well as the classic basil. A great way to get kids to eat their greens.

Nothing beats the flavor of a good parmesan topping. While the rest of the world fell in love with that cheesy, tomato-y sauce and started throwing it on top of crumbed chicken or veal, the original Italian dish was made with eggplant.

A vegan-friendly spin on the classic, creamy carbonara. The secret? Cauliflower, cashews and vegan parmesan cheese.

The melt, the toastie, the toasted sandwich: whatever you call it, it’s a comfort food for all occasions. But don’t you deserve the very best from your toastie moments? Lift your game in just five minutes with this Mediterranean marvel.

This lasagne packs all the saucy, cheesy, delicious Italian taste you’re after, without any of the pasta. That makes it a great option when you need to cater for gluten-free or if you’re cutting down on dinner-time carbs when training to lose weight.

Because everyone deserves the joy of slurping spaghetti with extra fun on top, these ‘meatballs’ are a vegan-friendly blend of zucchini, chickpeas and oats. Make a big batch and freeze for later.

Where else to begin an Italian collection but with pizza? This pizza would definitely be at home on the ‘gourmet’ menu, but only takes 10 minutes to get oven-ready. Make it sing ‘that’s amore!’ with marjoram – a herb often mistaken for oregano, but with a sweeter flavor.

This hearty, budget-friendly soup is traditionally made with stale bread – so don’t throw out the leftovers from last week’s loaf! Just tear it up and throw it into a bowl of ribollita rich with flavor and nutrition.

Bring out the Italian nonna within you with this surprisingly easy homemade gnocchi. If you’re feeding the extended family, it’s a simple dish to scale up. Prego!

Transport your taste buds straight to Rome by wrapping the colors of the national flag (green baby spinach, white ricotta, red tomatoes) into a breezy Italian-style omelette.

A summer essential. In just 10 minutes you could be enjoying the crunch of baked bread, soft bocconcini mozzarella and the zing of a vinegar and herb dressing. Bellissimo!

Frittata is a simple egg dish you can fill with your favorites – or whatever’s left in the fridge! When you make frittata the Darren Robertson way, simple becomes special, with creamy goat’s cheese, broccolini and a dash of chilli flakes for maximum flavor.