Nigellissima is a BBC Two cookery series in which Nigella Lawson explores her passion for Italian food, combining the flavours and traditions of Italy with her own relaxed approach to home cooking. Inspired by her time living and working in Florence, the series presents Italian dishes that are designed to be straightforward, accessible and suitable for everyday life.
The programme focuses on Nigella’s personal interpretation of Italian cuisine rather than attempting to reproduce traditional recipes exactly. She takes inspiration from Italy’s bold flavours, fresh ingredients and love of food while adapting dishes for British kitchens and ingredients that are readily available in supermarkets. The result is cooking that remains rooted in Italian culinary traditions while feeling practical and contemporary.
Across the series, Nigella demonstrates a wide variety of recipes covering everything from pasta and meat dishes to seafood, vegetables and desserts. Her creations include Sicilian pasta with tomatoes, garlic and almonds, Italian roast chicken with peppers and olives, pork loin with Parma ham and oregano, Sardinian couscous with clams and shortcut sausage meatballs.
A key feature of Nigellissima is its emphasis on uncomplicated cooking that can fit around modern lifestyles. Nigella shows viewers how to create impressive meals without elaborate preparation, whether she is preparing a quick late-night pasta dish, a midweek family feast or a relaxed meal for friends. The series encourages viewers to embrace Italian-inspired cooking as something enjoyable and achievable rather than overly formal.
The host, Nigella Lawson, is a celebrated British food writer, author and television cook known for her warm, informal and distinctly personal style of presenting food. Her connection with Italy began when she lived and worked in Florence as a teenager, an experience that had a lasting influence on her approach to Italian cuisine. In Nigellissima, she brings that affection for Italy to the screen through relaxed demonstrations, expressive descriptions of food and recipes designed to make everyday cooking feel pleasurable and indulgent.
