Cicchetti 3 Easy Venetian Appetiser Recipes
I like to bring back a recipe or two from my travels abroad and as we recently visited Venice, Italy. So I’m bringing you, Cicchetti 3 Easy Venetian Appetiser recipes. These little open sandwiches are absolutely delicious and so easy to make.
Venice
We had an amazing four days to enjoy Venice. It’s a remarkable city with its glittering gold Basilica and towering Campanile in St Mark’s Square.
If you visit Venice don’t miss the ornate Doge’s Palace and my favourite place, the elegant Peggy Guggenheim Modern Art Museum. There is so much to see and, of course, everywhere you go you see the iconic canals and gondolas.
Gondola on the Grand Canal
If you visit Venice take a ride in a gondola, it is expensive but it is such a great experience. We had the good fortune to be in Venice at the same time as my blogging friend Christina of Christina’s Cucina.
We met up with Christina and her mother on our first night in Venice for a pre-dinner drink. and thought that would be our only chance to get together.
The next evening Christina messaged me to ask if we wanted to join them for a gondola ride, it took us zero seconds to say YES and 15 minutes later we were on a gondola heading towards the Grand Canal!
About Gondolas
Did you know that gondolas are counterweighted so they balance evenly when the gondolier stands to one side?
They are also asymmetrical in shape because the gondolier uses only one oar due to the narrowness of the canals. If they were straight they would simply go round in circles!
Fabio, our gondolier
With Christina and Lidia
Cicchetti – Recipes Inspired by Venice
What are Cicchetti?
They are small appetisers you eat with an aperitif in the bars of Venice. We didn’t actually eat any Cicchetti in Venice. We took the Vaparetto (water bus) to visit the Venetian island of Burano and I saw a Cicchetteria and decided we just had to try these local delicacies.
Order a selection of Cicchetti ours came on a wooden board. There were with slices of bread and slices of cold polenta topped with fish and seafood or vegetables, like artichokes and tomatoes.
There were also skewers of cooked prawns. It was a really filling meal and it was fun to try the different varieties.
Cicchetteria
We visited Buatno on a very hot day, so it was great to sit in the shade beneath that red awning. We each tried all the varieties of Cicchetti all washed down with a welcome cold glass of beer.
Burano and Murano
Burano is a beautiful island, traditionally a fishing community. It is also famous for its lacemaking and the brightly painted houses that you see in these photos.
Burano is much prettier than the island of Murano which is famous for its glass making, We did visit Murano, but it seemed to be mainly either very high-end expensive shops or souvenir shops.
Make Cicchetti at home
Once I returned home I wanted to recreate these delicious little bites. So I created these 3 Easy Venetian Appetiser Recipes.
These are Cicchetti-style recipes which to make at home using ingredients you can get in the supermarket.
Bread or Polenta?
I made all of the open sandwiches with slices of bread because it is quick and easier than making polenta.
Recreate the flavours of Cicchetti
I don’t make any claim that my Cicchettii recipes are authentic. What I’ve tried to do is recreate some of the flavours from the platter of Cicchetti we enjoyed on the beautiful Venetian island of Burano.
Cicchetti 1: Smoked Mackerel in Mustard Sauce
As Venice is surrounded by water, fish is a must for this selection of Cicchetti. On one hand, Smoked Mackerel is not native to the Venetian coast on the other mackerel is native to the British coast, and it is one of my favourite fish! The mustard sauce is similar to the one we were served in Burano.
Ciccheti 2: Artichoke Hearts with Parsley Dressing and Grano Padano
A simple jar of artichoke hearts and some shavings of Grano Padano cheese this Cicchetti is not only easy to make but also, probably the most authentic too.
Cichetti 3: Cream Cheese with Quick Pickled Radishes
This is probably the least authentic topping for the Cicchetti. However, radishes are very easy to grow in the garden, and they are so good pickled with a little white wine vinegar and a little salt and sugar.
The radishes contrast very nicely with the soft bland tatse of the cream cheese. I like to grind over some black pepper for a bit of extra kick.
More Appetiser Recipes from Farmesgirl Kitchen
More Light Bites Recipes
- Nori-Wrapped Hot Smoked Salmon Bites with Miso mayonnaise – Kavey Eats
- Cucumber Roll-Ups with a Garlicky Feta & Mint filling – Tin & Thyme
- Tomato & Tarragon Bruschetta – Lost in Food
Cicchetti
Ingredients
- 12 slices of bread, lightly buttered (see notes) filone. baguette or sourdough
Smoked Mackerel in Mustard Sauce
- 1 medium smoked mackerel fillet, skinned and roughly flaked
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 lemon juice only
- 2 gherkins sliced
- salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Artichoke Hearts with Grana Padano and Parsley dressing
- 4 artichoke hearts in oil
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- 100 grams grana padano or parmesan shavings
- salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cream Cheese with Quick Pickled Radishes
- 50 grams soft cheese cream cheese, ricotta or quark
- 4 medium red radishes, sliced or 6 small radishes
- 60 millilitres white wine or cider vinegar
- 60 millilitres water
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar
- zest of half a lemon in fine strips
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Smoked Mackerel in Mustard Sauce
- Mix the mayonnaise, mustard and lemon juice together,
- Add the flaked smoked mackerel to the mayonnaise mixture, season to taste.
- Pile the smoked mackerel mixture onto slices of bread and top with a slice of gherkin
Artichoke Hearts with Grana Padano and parsley dressing
- Mix the olive oil, lemon juice and finely chopped parsley together, season to taste.
- Cut the artichoke hearts into halves or quarters, depending on size and gently mix with the dressing.
- Divide the dressed artichoke hearts onto the slices of bread and top with shavings of Grano Padano cheese.
Cream Cheese with Quick Pickled Radishes
- First, make the quick pickled radishes, wash the radishes and slice thinly and pack them into a jar. Mix together the water, vinegar, salt and sugar and pour over the radishes. Leave for 15 minutes then use.
- Spread the bread thickly with cream cheese, ricotta or quark.
- Top with the quick pickled radishes and garnish with thin strips of lemon rind.
Notes
As you know, we visited Venice for a third time just a few weeks before your visit. This time we tried a lot more cicchetti than our previous two visits, and loved this style of eating. Especially with an Apero sprits! Love your three dishes.
Thanks Kavey. I’d like to do self catering in Venice as you did, I think it would help get closer to the authentic Venetian experience. We struggled with eating too much, yes really ?
How fabulous, Janice! I love your cicchetti, they look wonderful! I loved seeing you and Brian in Venice and was so happy when you said you could join us! I think it was zero seconds for you to answer! haha! 🙂 Thanks for joining us!
Thanks, Christina.
You are making me want to head back to Venice, and Burano in particular. I absolutely love it ther – like Balamory in the sunshine! We never tried Cicchetti but I love the idea of them and your recreation – whether truly authentic or not.
Thank you. Burano was a real highlight, such a pretty little island and so full of character.
What amazing photos Janice. You must have had a fabulous holiday. Loving the veggie options. Shared!
Thank you, it was a great holiday.
Love Venice. Love cicchetti. Love your take on these classic Venetian snacks!
Thanks Kellie, I know you were there recently too, so appreciate your comments.
Fantastic idea Janice and something different. My son is just back from Venice and I’m sure will love these recipes too.
Thanks Rachel, what a fabulous honeymoon destination. I hope they enjoyed Venice as much as we did.
I have never tried Cicchetti but I liked your recipe.
Thanks Paul
These look like my kind of appetiser, particularly the cream cheese and pickled radish one! #CookBlogShare
Thanks, Beth. It’s a simple idea but lots of gutsy flavours.
Oh how I miss travelling just now! Venice is a city I absolutely adore. Been many times abs each time I love getting lost in the small streets. My kids love the gondola rides too. I’ll need to make these and open a large bottle of chianti!? Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Michelle x
I’ll join you with an Aperol Spritz! Venice is certainly a magical place and well worth visiting.