Book review: Big Mamma: Italian Recipes in 30 Minutes

The Big Mamma group, the squadron behind laid-back London trattorias Gloria, Circolo Popolare, Ave Mario, Jacuzzi and Carlotta, is back with its second foray into the English cookbook space following Cucina Popolare, which landed in 2019.

The Big Mamma collective numbers around 2,000 Italian cooking specialists, who have brought their considerable experience to bear across more than 300 pages. Their signature cheeky style is on show right from the tagline of ‘shower time included’, and playful touches continue throughout, with 100 quick and authentic recipes with names such as Big Balls Theory (for arancini, of course), Pizza Get Figgy With It – pizza with figs, caciocavallo cheese and almonds – and You’re the Lim-one – a summer lemon salad. The creative instructions stay true to the philosophy of this friendly restaurant group, detailing generous dishes that can be cooked and served in just 30 minutes, such as deep-fried burrata with ‘Burratina Turner’, traditional ‘Spaghetti con Le Vongole’ using Sardinia’s favourite ingredient, bottarga, and desserts such as the ‘Jacquemousse’ chocolate mousse.

Neon yellow pages divide the book into segments dedicated to each Italian course: aperitivo, antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, pizza and dolci, as well as a ‘back to basics’ section with instructions for key elements of dishes, such as pasta, focaccia and meringue.

Sprinkled in among the recipes are tricks of the trade, such as ‘nine chef secrets for saving time’, ‘how to select basic produce’ and ‘game-changing utensils’. The education continues with an Italian wines 101, how to pick the best Parmigiano Reggiano, a guide to buying dried pasta and 10 rules for the ultimate carbonara.

To really get readers into the country’s spirit, there are even sections called ‘nine cool Italian facts’ and ‘top 10 Italian songs to round off the evening’. So, for any professional and amateur chefs, the book is a fun and accessible way to immerse themselves in this popular fare and seriously impress diners without any stress.

Big Mamma: Italian Recipes in 30 Minutes by Big Mamma (White Lion Publishing, £25)