Italian food holds a special place in Belgian hearts; pizza nights and pasta dinners are staples in households across Flanders. But replicating the depth of flavour found in Sicilian trattorias requires more than just salt and pepper. That’s why we created Bella Italia and Nonna Norma, two spice blends inspired by our travels through Sicily and crafted by chefs for home cooks.
The story behind our blends
While exploring Italy’s sun‑drenched markets, we realised that every region has its own “secret mix.” Bella Italia captures the classic Mediterranean flavours – tomato, garlic, oregano, basil and thyme. Nonna Norma pays homage to Pasta alla Norma, a beloved Sicilian dish of sautéed eggplant, tomatoes and ricotta salata.
What makes them special?
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Balanced Mediterranean flavours: Bella Italia combines dehydrated tomato, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, lemon zest, paprika and parsley. It’s perfect for seasoning pasta, sprinkling over pizza or mixing with olive oil for a bread dip
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Authentic Sicilian profile: Nonna Norma uses dehydrated eggplant, garlic, tomato, basil, oregano, lemon zest, fungi (mushroom), paprika and parsley - straight from Sicily. It was designed to capture the savoury, comforting flavours of Pasta alla Norma (click here for our recipe!)
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Crafted in Brussels: Both blends are hand‑mixed and ground in‑house using ethically sourced, organic whole spices. They’re vegan, gluten‑free and contain no artificial additives.
How to use them
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Bella Italia: Toss freshly cooked pasta with olive oil and a generous pinch of the blend; sprinkle over pizza before baking; or mix with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a bread dipping sauce.
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Nonna Norma: Sauté diced eggplant until golden, stir in crushed tomatoes and a teaspoon of the blend, and simmer to make an authentic sauce. Sprinkle over roasted vegetables or add to tomato soups for extra depth.
Ready to taste a little Italy?
We’ve created a recipe for Pasta alla Norma with ZEST’s Nonna Norma Blend. Check it out for step‑by‑step instructions for your next favourite pasta dish!
Don't forget to stock your pantry and impress your friends with your new Italian creations.
Buon appetito!
