Are you ready for the European Championship 2024 marathon? Here are some quick and tasty recipes for those cheerful summer evenings spent watching a soccer game but also perfect for an evening with friends
The big soccer tournaments are always fun, and they excite every age. This year's European Championships begin on Friday, June 14, in Munich and conclude with the final in Berlin on Sunday, July 14. To enjoy the nights of the matches to the fullest, here are some ideas for Italy and Germany inspired summer snacks, easy to prepare and yummy to munch on in front of the screen.
Pretzel bites
A small gastronomic tribute to the country hosting the European championships: these irresistible pretzel bites are the only pre-game recipe whose preparation requires a little time and attention. But they are really worth it!
Ingredients:
For the dough
- 500 gr of “00” flour
- 1 sachet of dry brewer’s yeast (about 7 g)
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 300 ml of warm water
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
For the baking soda solution:
- 1 liter of water
- 60 g of baking soda
For the topping:
- Coarse salt to taste.
First of all, prepare the dough: in a large bowl, mix the flour, dry yeast, sugar and salt. Add warm water and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough begins to form.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in volume.
You can also use a ready-made bread/pizza dough, the only difference is that the pretzels will come out less fluffy.
Preheat oven to 220°C and line a baking sheet with baking paper. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and divide it into 6-8 equal parts. Roll each part into a cylinder about 1.5 cm in diameter. Cut each cylinder into pieces about 2 to 3 cm in size.
Then bring one litre of water to boil in a large pot, when it boils add the baking soda and stir until dissolved. Dip the pretzel bites into the water and baking soda solution for about 30 seconds. Remove them with a skimmer and arrange them on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle the pretzel bites with coarse salt to taste and bake them in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Let them cool slightly on a wire rack.
Serve them hot with sauces to taste, such as mustard, ketchup or barbecue sauce. They are also delicious with spreadable cheese.
Tricolor Skewers
A delicious, colorful and fresh recipe that brings our flag’s colours right to the table. To be prepared all together before the game!
Ingredients:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cherry mozzarellas
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt to taste
- Extra-virgin olive oil to taste
- Balsamic vinegar (optional)
Wash the cherry tomatoes and basil leaves, drain the mozzarellas, and dry everything gently.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Take a toothpick and pierce half cherry tomato with the cut side facing up.
Fold a basil leaf in half and place it on top of the cherry tomato half. Stuff a mozzarellina on top of the basil leaf.
Cover the mozzarellina with the other half of the cherry tomato, forming a “sandwich” with the mozzarellina in the centre.
Repeat for the desired number of skewers. Then arrange them on a serving plate.
Sprinkle them with a pinch of salt. Drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil.
If you like, add a few drops of balsamic vinegar for an extra touch of flavour.
Chocolate Popcorn
A sweet and delicious version of classic popcorn, perfect for enjoying the excitement of soccer with family or friends.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of corn for popcorn
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (olive, corn, sunflower, etc.)
- One bar of dark chocolate (100gr)
Pour the vegetable oil into a sufficiently large pot with a lid. Add the corn kernels so that they form an even layer on the bottom of the pot. Close the pot with the lid and turn on the stove to medium-high heat.
Shake the pot occasionally to prevent the popcorn from burning and for it to pop evenly.
As soon as the popcorn stops popping, remove the pot from the heat to prevent burning.
Transfer the popcorn to a large baking sheet covered with baking paper.
Break the dark chocolate into small pieces and place them in a heatproof bowl. Melt them in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds so that they melt evenly.
Using a spoon, drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn and let cool to room temperature until the chocolate has solidified. They are ready to be munched!
Your pre-game snacks are ready... Turn on the TV!
Go go go, hooray for summer!
A summer full of great sporting events awaits us: let's get excited about it, and let's experience it sportingly even as a family. Alternate runs and walks, somersaults and dives, jumps and bike rides, with television moments of great excitement. The right clothing for the little champions is colourful short-sleeved T-shirts and shorts, to allow freedom of movement. Finally, on the feet the right shoes: flexible, lightweight, but with grip and support.
*Article written in collaboration with Giovani Genitori
