Photo: iStock
Cover Piazza Venezia in Rome (Photo: iStock)

Discover the significance of Italy's Republic Day, Festa della Repubblica, and try two easy Italian recipes at home in honour of this national holiday

June 2 marks a very special day for Italians; a day known as Festa della Repubblica. This annual celebration in Italy is a national holiday that dates back to 1946, when the entire Italian population voted for the very first time in a referendum that caused the shift of government in Italy from a monarchy to a republic.

A momentous day in history signifying the rebirth of a nation and the freedom, liberty and unity that are so dear to its citizens, Festa della Repubblica is typically celebrated with grand military parades in Rome and a spectacular aerial display of the three colours of the Italian flag by the Italian Air Force's aerobatic section known as Frecce Tricolori. The day is also marked by the laying of wreaths at the historical Altare della Patria monument, where the Tomb of Italy's Unknown Soldier (Tomba del Milite Ignoto) lies.     

Related: AB Yachts Brings Italian Craftmanship To Malaysian Shores 

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Photo: Pixabay
Above Festa della Repubblica is celebrated with an aerial display of the three colours of the Italian flag by the Italian Air Force's aerobatic section, Frecce Tricolor (Photo: Pixabay)

The colours of red, green and white in the Italian flag itself are strongly evocative of the nation's natural beauty and history, with the green colour representing its plains and hills, the white representing the iconic Alps, and the red symbolic of the blood spilled in Italy's fight for Independence.         

The national flag is such a beloved symbol to Italians that its colours have found their way into fixtures of everyday life, including in iconic Italian foods like pizzas, salads or gelato. The colourful Caprese salad is an excellent example of a dish that showcases all three colours of the Italian flag beautifully.  

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Caprese salad

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'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 2 Caprese salad is inpired by the Italian island of Capri (Photo: Unsplash)
Photo 2 of 2 The three colours of the Italian flag symbolise hope, faith and charity to many (Photo: Julia Casado/Pixabay)

This simple yet gratifying appetiser gets its name from its place of origin: the beautiful island of Capri on the southside of the Bay of Naples. The salad's three main components are ripe Italian tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese and fresh green basil, which together form an unmistakable tricolour appearance that has led to its nickname of 'Insalata Tricolore'. It is also said that the green, white and red colours in this dish represent hope, faith and charity, all of which are recurring ideals in the celebration of Festa della Repubblica.    

Caprese salad is incredibly easy and quick to prepare (under five minutes). With recipes as simple as these, however, ensuring the quality of ingredients is vital to achieve those authentic flavours of Italy.  

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

  • 2 large ripe tomatoes
  • Half a cup of basil leaves
  • 450g mozzarella cheese 
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method   

Slice the mozzarella and tomatoes into slices about a quarter of an inch thick.

Arrange the mozzarella and tomato slices in an alternating pattern on a plate.

Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the slices and season with salt and pepper. 

Top with the basil leaves and your Caprese salad is ready to serve.

Affogato

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Above Enhance your affogato with toppings like shaved chocolate, cocoa powder, chopped nuts or even chocolate or caramel sauce (Photo: iStock)

Another simple yet delicious Italian favourite is Affogato, which translates to 'drowned', an apt description of creamy vanilla gelato 'drowning' in hot espresso and forming a thick foam on top. Again, the great taste of this Italian dessert comes down to the quality and authenticity of its two main ingredients. 

Ingredients

Method

Add espresso powder to approximately 60ml of boiling water to create your espresso shot. (Aim for a ratio of one shot of espresso for every one scoop of vanilla ice cream)

Using an ice cream scoop, place two scoops of vanilla ice cream or gelato into a serving glass.

Pour two shots of hot espresso directly over the ice cream and serve immediately.

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Above Discounts of up to 30 per cent on top Italian food brands this month in conjunction with Italian National Day (Photo: HappyFresh)

If Festa della Repubblica has you craving Italian food while at home this month, look out for HappyFresh's 'Made In Italy' promotion in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency in Kuala Lumpur. 

With this campaign, the Italian Trade Agency and HappyFresh aim to impress food-obsessed Malaysians with a variety of quality pasta, olive oil, cheeses, cherry tomatoes, chocolates, coffee and more from authentic Italian brands, including Lavazza, Barilla, Galbani, Olitalia and Ferrero Rocher, to name a few.

Shop for the Italian-made ingredients you'll need for homemade Caprese salad, affogato, pizza and more Italian classics all at HappyFresh's Made In Italy section, where you'll also find discounts up to 30 per cent this month.     

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Photo: Unsplash
Above Photo: Unsplash

Fun food facts about Italy:

  • Pizza Margherita, originally from Naples, also features the three colours of the Italian flag and was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy after her visit there in 1889.
  • Italian bars actually serve pastries and espresso at breakfast time, so keep that in mind when asking for the nearest bar.
  • Italians eat their salads after a meal to aid digestion, and salad dressings here typically consist only of extra virgin olive oil or vinegar. 
  • The fork first became popular in Italy before other European countries because it allowed people to eat spaghetti easily.  

For more ideas and recipes, visit HappyFresh.my or follow HappyFresh on Instagram and Facebook.  

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