Waitrose is returning to its series of celebrity chef collaborations with a new 12-strong fresh Italian range from Angela Hartnett.
The retailer continues to use big culinary names to bring extra credibility to its premium own label, following the strong performance of its Ottolenghi partnership. It comes as rival M&S also used a chef collab – with Tom Kerridge – to help refresh its premium convenience range.
”We really wanted to tap into that craving for restaurant-quality food at home, and this ‘Angela Hartnett with Waitrose’ collection is all about bringing those authentic flavours to the table for the ultimate ‘dinner for tonight’ treat,” says Waitrose product developer Barbara Ross.
”It’s really about giving food lovers the inspiration to turn a standard Tuesday night into a high-end regional Italian feast that’s actually quick, easy and accessible.”
The Hartnett with Waitrose range, which lands in stores this week, features chilled filled pasta, sauces, focaccia and lasagne rather than ambient sauces or pantry staples. Searches for “Italian food” on Waitrose.com are up 46% year on year, and the retailer is betting on chef-backed authenticity to tap into one of the UK’s most reliably popular cuisines.
“It’s exactly the kind of food I love: delicate and delicious filled pastas, vibrant sauces, spaghetti and comforting lasagna – all rooted in the Italian traditions of my heritage,” says Hartnett. ”I’ve kept things authentic to honour my Italian roots, but added my own signature touch with products inspired by recipes I’ve been making for decades.”
Spinach, Ricotta & Parmigiano Reggiano Tortelli
£6/250g
Sheets of fresh egg pasta filled with a blend of ricotta, chopped spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, shaped into tortelli.
Slow-braised Pork & Beef Girasoli
£6/250g
Sheets of fresh egg pasta filled with slow-braised pork and beef, simmered in Vino Chianti PDO until tender, then wrapped and shaped into girasoli. Inspired by Tuscany.
Cacio e Pepe Ravioli
£6/250g
Fresh egg pasta, with black pepper, cut and filled with a classic cacio e pepe combination of Pecorino Romano PDO cheese and cracked black pepper.
Butternut Squash & Sage Tortelli
£6/250g
Tortelli made from sheets of fresh egg pasta, double-filled with butternut squash, sage and a smooth cheese sauce.
Slow-braised Beef & Veal Quadratini
£6/250g
Bite-size quadratini made from fresh egg pasta and filled with slow-braised beef and veal. Inspired by a recipe Angela Hartnett has been making for over four decades.
Spaghetti alla Chitarra
£3.50/500g
Fresh egg spaghetti inspired by traditional pasta from Abruzzo, where dough is cut using a wooden frame strung with metal wires to create its distinctive square shape. Made with free-range egg and cut into squares.
Lasagna al Forno
£12.95/800g
Lasagna made with sheets of free range egg pasta, a ragù with red wine and a béchamel sauce. Topped with Parmesan.
Rosemary & Sea Salt Focaccia
£4.25/270g
A handcrafted focaccia made using a 24-hour-long fermented dough, enriched with extra virgin olive oil, hand-topped with fresh rosemary and flaked sea salt, and finished with a splash of olive oil. Bake for an extra five minutes for a crispier finish.
Semi-dried Tomato Focaccia
£4.25/310g
A handcrafted focaccia made using a 24-hour-long fermented dough, enriched with extra virgin olive oil and hand-topped with semi-dried Italian tomatoes. Finished with a splash of olive oil. Bake for an extra five mins for a crispier finish.
Puttanesca Sauce
£4/300g
Crafted in Italy, a puttanesca with Taggiasca olives, capers and anchovies, simmered into a tomato base with extra virgin olive oil and chilli.
Classic Tomato Sauce
£4/300g
Crafted in Italy, a classic tomato sauce made using Italian tomatoes grown in the Emilia-Romagna region. Simmered with extra virgin olive oil.
Fennel Sausage Ragu
£4.25/300g
Crafted in Italy, a fennel sausage ragù made with coarsely ground Italian sausage, fennel seeds and a simmered tomato base. Finished with extra virgin olive oil and a touch of chilli.
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