A trip to Italy may be off the cards for now, but you can take comfort in our new Italian issue, which brings the warmth and flavours of the Beautiful Country to your dining table at home.

It’s certainly no coincidence that Australians reach for the tinned tomatoes and pasta when a crisis hits. This month, we pay tribute to the official dish of lockdown, lasagne, with six variations by some of your favourite chefs. There’s a veg-friendly version loaded with zucchini, ricotta and sundried tomatoes by Jo Barrett, a pumpkin and sausage rendition by Danielle Alvarez, and a greens and smoky bacon lasagne by Darren Robertson – invite the family over and try the lot.

Rice must have been the number three item to fly off the shelves. This month, our resident expert Silvia Colloca shares her comforting carnaroli creations, including a lemon, scallop and mascarpone risotto and a spinach risotto with crisp pancetta. If it’s liquid happiness you’re after, Colloca also brings out her best bowls from cauliflower and parmesan soup with gremolata oil to a winter greens soup with prosciutto wafers.

Of course, we had to include the dish of the year, cacio e pepe. Inspired by the famed cheese and pepper combo, we’ve reinvented the classic Roman pasta dish as a pizza, a creamy chicken bake, a steamed vongole dish, and more.

It wouldn’t be an Italian issue without nonna’s meatballs. Joel Valvasori-Pereza from Lulu La Delizia in Perth shares his treasured family recipe, along with .

Sweet dreams are made of ricotta cheese and who are we are to disagree? The delicious. team has shared their favourite ricotta sweets, from a baked ricotta cheesecake to Italian cannoli crepes and a torta Caprese with ricotta and amaretto chocolate sauce.

By now, you’re probably already planning your next trip to Italia, and we can hardly blame you. To pad out your itinerary, we take you on a tour through the streets of Venice and to the nearby isles of Burano and Pallestina. For a taste of la dolce vita, it has to be Lake Como. Having hosted celebrities for decades, this northern Italian resort town is the favoured destination for the rich and famous, although, you don’t need to be either to enjoy it.

If eating is your number one priority, then follow us to Parma. Known as Italy’s culinary centre, we show you where to score the best prosciutto and Parmesan, among other foodie finds.

The July issue of delicious. is on sale now.