Spaghetti alla Nerano: the original recipe of a Sorrento Coast specialty

In Campania there are few people not knowing - or having never tasted - delicious spaghetti alla Nerano, a Sorrento Coast typical first course, seasoned with fried courgettes and Provolone del Monaco. 

To really savor this both incredible and simple dish in its actual version, you gotta reach Nerano hamlet and Maria Grazia's restaurant, est. 1901!

Italian food is famous and internationally appreciated, but when you arrive in Campania the dishes are transformed into extraordinary gastronomic experiences, because in addition to the pleasure of the palate there is added history, tradition and the care that the chefs insert into their recipes, transforming their creations in small legends.

If you are lucky enough to taste spaghetti alla Nerano right in the place where it was created, the Maria Grazia restaurant, you will surely be left with a vivid memory of the flavor of the recipe, of the words sometimes said, sometimes not by the chefs and by managers, after all it is good that a little mystery remains in everything, to keep the desire for knowledge alive. As far as we are concerned, the recipe for spaghetti alla Nerano is among the 10 dishes to try in Campania. But also try cooking it at home!

Donna Maria Grazia founded this ancient restaurant in the seaside village of Nerano. The choice of place was not random, given that already in previous centuries, since the Middle Ages, the beach of Marina di Cantone, where the restaurant is located, was a meeting place for fishermen who shared their meals there. For the invention of the recipe for spaghetti alla Nerano, however, we had to wait until 1952, with Maria Grazia's daughter, Donna Rosa, who came up with the idea for the dish during conversations with her friend Prince Pupetto of Sirignano.

Now the children of the famous Donna Rosa manage the restaurant's kitchen and carry on a culinary tradition that is now more than a hundred years old. In addition to the legendary spaghetti, these skilled restaurateurs offer an entire menu of typical local delicacies, invariably accompanied by typical and tasty wines.

Although the original recipe for the legendary spaghetti alla Nerano is shrouded in mystery, a chef never reveals all his secrets! This Campanian delight has very simple basic ingredients, although it is possible to find secular versions of the recipe on the major cooking sites.

Here are the basic ingredients and steps to prepare and try Spaghetti alla Nerano:

- Fried zucchini

- 3 types of cheese (Parmesan, mature caciocavallo and provolone)

- Aromatic black pepper

- Fresh basil

- There is neither garlic nor onion

- Extra virgin olive oil to taste

What makes this dish exceptional is not only the fried courgettes, but also the use of Provolone del Monaco. It is a matured string cheese, with a pronounced flavour, typical of the Sorrento Peninsula. Then test yourself and prepare the recipe for spaghetti alla Nerano. Before preparing them or after experimenting with the spaghetti alla Nerano recipe, the advice is always to go and taste the original version of the dish in the place where it was invented, the Maria Grazia restaurant. When you order it at a restaurant, the spaghetti is mixed only by family members who have inherited the secret. It must be said that spaghetti, more than other types of pasta, has a certain charm. 

Nerano is also a place known for its scenic beauty: seabeds and underwater caves make this place highly attractive for tourists who often choose to stay in Nerano to be able to easily access some truly beautiful beaches, famous throughout the coast.

The most representative beach of Nerano is perhaps that of Marina del Cantone, characterized by rocky seabeds and wonderful clear waters. Other incredible beaches reachable from Nerano are Jeranto, Recommone and Crapolla. Those who go to these evocative places can take part in the most diverse types of entertainment, from boat trips to scuba diving. The location of Nerano is also convenient for reaching nearby locations. It is in fact 8 km from Massa Lubrense, 13 km from Sorrento and 24 km from Positano. If you are in Naples consider a trip to these incredible beauties.