Articles

All About Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a unique type of vinegar that differs from most others due to its production process. It undergoes only one stage of fermentation, followed by aging in barrels for a prolonged period of time.

Roasted Peppers

Roasted peppers are a popular ingredient in many cuisines around the world, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking.

Mother's Day Recipes

Mother's Day, the one day a year we show our appreciation to all the great dads out there. Moms deserve the best. Make this Mother's Day special by cooking one of our signature recipes hand picked by Chef Cento. These recipes are sure to bring a smile to her face this year.

Easter Recipes

Easter is a season that brings joy and excitement as nature renews itself with colorful blooms and fresh scents. It's a time to celebrate the arrival of spring, embrace new beginnings and spend quality time with loved ones.

Easter Traditions

Easter is the second-most celebrated holiday in Italy. This weekend long affair celebration is full of friends, family and delicious traditional foods. Learn more about the Italian Easter tradition and the desserts enjoyed in celebration.

Colomba

An Italian Easter celebration staple is colomba, a soft and sweet dove-shaped sponge cake. In Italy, the dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, peace and the arrival of springtime.

Meatless Recipes

If you are looking for delicious recipes to help you through lent then look no further! Chef Cento has put together some of his favorite meatless recipes to avoid eating meat on Fridays.

Spring Recipes

Spring is here which means it's time to ditch the heavy soups for something fresh and light. Pack the picnic basket with salads and sandwiches and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Pantry Essential

It is very important for every household to have a collection of recipes that can be made from basic pantry items.

Top Uses For San Marzano

The versatility of the San Marzano Tomato is almost limitless. We suggest starting out by creating your basic “San Marzano Marinara”. Use our recipe as a guide to creating your own signature sauce. When it comes to sauce, San Marzano is king.

What Are Capers?

Capers are un-ripened flower buds from the capparis spinosa grown in the Mediterranean. After picked, they are sun dried and preserved then brined or cured in salt ready to eat.

Big Game Recipes

The big game is finally here which means it is time to pull out your party playbook and create championship level recipes!

Chef Cento's Mini Calzones

A calzone is a traditional Italian oven-baked folded pizza, often known as a ‘turnover’, originating in Naples, Italy during the 18th century. Check out Chef Cento's mini calzone recipes.

Finger Foods

Are you hosting a party and want to make a lasting impression? Whether it's a holiday family party or you a quick get together, we got you covered!

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition celebrated on Christmas Eve each year, with at least seven seafood courses eaten before midnight. Learn more about the symbolism of this feast and how to start your own Italian Christmas Eve tradition.

Italian Christmas Lunch

One of the most celebrated holidays in Italy is Christmas or Natale. Children open presents from Babbo Natale, “Father Christmas”, and houses are filled with the holiday spirit. However, the main event begins around noon when the Christmas lunch begins.

Fall Recipes

The temperature is dropping, leaves are changing colors, which can only mean one thing: Fall is finally here! Time to make some warm, comforting recipes, featuring the delicious flavors of fall.

Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is a time that we gather together with family and friends around the table to enjoy some delicious home cooked food.

The Art of Pizza Making

Authentic Italian Naples pizza all starts with soft wheat “00” flour. This 100% Italian flour is perfect for making a classic Italian pizza right from your home oven. Top with Cento San Marzano Tomatoes for a truly authentic Margarita pizza.

Spooky Fun Halloween Recipes

Ghouls, goblins and ghosts unite! Tis’ the season of Halloween. Candied apples and candy corn take a back seat to these fun, and spooky recipes! So grab your cauldron, and tasty ingredients and let’s get cooking.

Game Day Recipes

Why not upgrade your playbook to championship levels with some of our delicious and touchdown worthy Cento recipes to serve at your next tailgate or watch party?!

Espresso

Originating in Milan Italy around 1900, espresso is a type of concentrated coffee. Espresso is made the same way as coffee except the grind is treated differently.

The Mighty Artichoke

Artichokes are sometimes referred to as a “superfood” due to their high amounts of vitamins and nutrients.

Back To School Recipes

It’s that time of year again, kids are packing their lunches and looking for quick snacks during and after school.

Summer Sauces

Try something new this season and make your own sauce! Ketchup and BBQ Sauces. There are endless options you can make right from your home.

Pasta Salads

Ever wonder how pasta can be considered a salad? The best answer is dressing. Pasta salad consists of chilled pasta with a vinegar, oil, or mayonnaise-based dressing, best served in the warmer weather months.

Summer Seafood Favorites

Summer is here and it's time to kick back and relax in the sun. Seafood is perfect for any hot summer day!

Some Like it Hot

If you want to spice up your next meal we've got your back. Check out our line up of recipes and products, where we take heat to the next level!

Quick Salads

If you're looking for a quick salad, Chef Cento has put together some of his favorite 15 minutes or less recipes.

Cento Grilling Season Guide

Summer is finally here, dust off the grill and get back to creating crowd pleasers for all your friends and family.

Make Your Own Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip or spread, made from mashing up chickpeas, with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. This dish is usually enjoyed as a dip, served with veggies, or pita bread.

Anna Tipo "00" Flour

High quality flour is the most important ingredient for making dough. What is a “00” flour? Well, Italian flours are graded by the ash content of the flour, and how fine and coarse the flour is.

Meal Prep Tips

Sometimes you crave a tasty home cooked meal, but just can’t quite find the time. If you meal plan accordingly, you can have your favorite dishes ready to go at a moments notice.

Pasta Cuts Guide

When it comes to pasta, every cut is meant for a different purpose. Whether you are using it as a main dish or as a side in a soup or salad, each holds sauce differently. We've developed a guide which explains what kind of pasta pairs best with what kind of sauce.

Lupini Beans

Lupini beans are yellow legume seeds from the lupinus albus plant mostly found in the Mediterranean countries. They are a considered a super bean because of all the health benefits that are packed inside the small bean.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet is considered the most heart-healthy diet by nutrition experts and doctors alike. The abundance of anti-inflammatory foods and healthy fats help reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and premature death. Learn more about the Mediterranean Diet and how to kickstart a healthier lifestyle with Cento.

Panforte

The most popular variety of panforte is “Panforte Margherita” named after Queen Margherita after she received it as a gift from the people of Siena. This version is sweeter and easily identified by the white icing sprinkled on top.

Panettone and Pandoro

Without Panettone and Pandoro at the table, it isn’t a true Italian Christmas celebration; these popular sweet breads are staples in every household during the holiday season. Learn more about the history of these cakes and what makes them so vital to celebrating.

Torrone

A nougat made of honey, sugar and egg whites with toasted almonds, torrone is the most popular Italian candy and is made throughout all of Italy. Learn more about this beloved Italian nougat that inspired many of the commercial candy bars we know today.

Chef Cento's Tips & Tricks

Ever find yourself struggling in the kitchen? We’ve all been there, and we want to help!

Quick & Easy Pronto Pizza

Make your own pizza from scratch with our Pronto Pizza recipe, topped with Cento Pizza Sauce and mozzarella cheese. The perfect homemade pizza recipe for a busy night.

20 Out of the Box Tuna Recipes

Chef Cento has put together his favorite tuna recipes.

Chef Hope Cohen

Hope Cohen’s culinary work as a chef, author, restaurant/food/media consultant has earned her the reputation of one of Philadelphia’s gastronomic movers and shakers.

Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten is a protein most commonly found in grains, wheat, barley, and rye. This protein helps food maintain its shape. Think of it as the glue that binds some foods together.

Father's Day Recipes

Father's Day, the one day a year we show our appreciation to all the great dads out there. Dads deserve the best. Make this Father's Day special by cooking one of our signature recipes hand picked by Chef Cento. These recipes are sure to bring a smile to his face this year.

Chef Mike Scipione

Chef Michael Scipione, owner of Sano, is a self-taught chef and has been creating delectable, healthy dishes for over 30 years.

Chef Cento's Lasagne

This comfort food layers robust tomato sauce, ground beef and a mozzarella-ricotta cheese mixture between sheets of pasta. This baked dish is perfect for everything from busy weeknight dinners to parties and entertaining.

One Dough Ball, Endless Possibilities

Bread has been a symbol of life since ancient times, used as the center piece for many celebrations and served in small baskets at family dining tables everywhere.

Cento Vinegar Guide

Vinegar is one of the most versatile products on the market and for over 10,000 years, people have been using vinegar in an endless number of ways.

Tomato Paste In A Tube

Cento Double Concentrated Tomato Paste in a Tube is made from fresh Italian tomatoes, cooked down to create a super dense and rich flavor, and packed in a convenient BPA free, resealable tube.

Cento Wine Pairing Guide

Whether you're crazy about Italian cooking or a self-proclaimed wine expert, we can all agree that food and wine are best enjoyed together.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

It’s very hard to come by a high quality apple cider vinegar but we’ve done just that. Our apples are harvested from Italy, and are certified organic.

Pasta, Overpriced or Overlooked?

Have you ever asked yourself why some pasta brands are more expensive than others? Certain brands, like Maurizio Artisan Pasta, go through a very time honored process, setting it apart from the rest.

Sardines

Sardines, the fish that fed millions of soldiers during both World War I and World War II and also Sicilian, foreign-born workers, can now be found in pantries everywhere.

Why White Balsamic?

Most of us are familiar with traditional balsamic vinegar…but what about white balsamic vinegar? Is there a difference?

Organic Polenta with Fontina & Eggs Recipe

Our Organic Polenta With Fontina & Eggs is the perfect hearty comforting breakfast to cook for your next morning meal. We know this quick and easy dish will leave you feeling full and ready to start your day.

Olive Oil Guide

Olive oil is one of the most versatile and essential ingredients in the world of cooking. Use our Olive Oil Guide to learn about the differences between extra virgin and classic olive oil, as well as their best uses and storage tips to help keep your olive oil fresh longer.

Quality Assurance

At Cento, we don’t cut corners. We don’t sell anything that we wouldn’t serve to our family and we would never sacrifice quality when it comes to our customers. Learn more about our extensive quality assurance practices and the steps we take to ensure Cento products consistently meet our high standards.

Cento's Test Kitchen

Our collection of more than 250 authentic Italian recipes was hand-crafted by our Executive Chef, Chef Cento, specifically for Cento products. Learn more about Chef Cento’s recipe development process and why for the best results, you should always use Cento.

San Marzano Tomatoes

San Marzano tomatoes are widely recognized by top chefs, foodies, Italian cooks and food aficionados as the gold standard for taste, but what makes them so special? Learn more about San Marzano tomatoes and the steps we take at Cento to ensure authenticity and superior quality.

Mastering Risotto

While risotto may have an intimidating reputation because of the attention it requires, risotto is actually very easy to prepare and never fails to impress. No risotto-cooking hacks needed here, just follow our Mastering Risotto steps and tricks, and you’ll soon become a risotto master.

Stock and Broth

Stock and broth are two similar items that are often confused as interchangeable ingredients. While, in some cases, they can be used interchangeably, it's important to note that there are differences between the two in both taste and use. Learn more about Cento Stocks, Cento Broths, and the best uses for each.

Maurizio Artisan Pasta

Maurizio Artisan Pasta uses century-old, traditional Italian methods of production. Learn more about the steps that make our artisan pasta unique and why artisan pasta is widely regarded as the best.

Heart Healthy Oil

Olive oil, a primary component of Italian cuisine, is considered one of the healthiest oils to cook with due to the health benefits when its used in place of saturated fats in your diet. Learn more about the health benefits of olive oil, ways to incorporate it into your everyday cooking, and conversions to use oil in place of butter while baking.

Cento Organics

At Cento, we recognize the importance of sustainability and protecting our environment. Our Organic products are produced without the use of pesticides and food additives in compliance with the USDA. Learn more about our line of organic products, our commitment to protecting our environment and our sustainable farming practices.

Olive Guide

Olives have been enjoyed for thousands of years as the olive tree is one of the oldest trees ever harvested by humans. Equally diverse and versatile, olives are grown across the world and come in many different varieties that can be used to complement your favorite dishes. Our Olive Guide gives detailed information on our Cento olives, including their origin, taste and uses.

Whole Grain Guide

Whole grains contain valuable antioxidants not found in fruits in vegetables, such as iron, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin B. Eating whole grains can help reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity, as well as lower your cholesterol. But, how do you know what foods are whole grain? Use our Whole Grains Guide to learn more about these important grains and our Anna Whole Grain Pasta cuts.

Canned Tomato Guide

With so many different varieties of canned tomatoes, sometimes it can be confusing trying to figure out which type is best for your recipe. From our Cento Certified San Marzano Tomatoes to our Cento Tomato Paste, we offer an extensive line of tomatoes to suit your culinary needs. Use our Canned Tomato Guide to understand the differences in texture and the best use for each type of Cento premium tomatoes.

Crushed Versatility

Cento All Purpose Crushed Tomatoes are your "everything tomatoes", a pantry staple that is versatile enough to use in your favorite recipes. These vine-ripened tomatoes are picked, steam peeled and fresh packed to preserve freshness and flavor. Learn more about why Cento All Purpose Crushed Tomatoes are so popular and the many ways you can use them in your favorite dishes.

Cento Tuna Standards

Cento Tuna is wild caught, dolphin-safe and certified sustainable with complete traceability to wild capture fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council. Learn more about our commitment to providing only the finest tuna loins and the steps we take to ensure our tuna is the highest quality available.

Cento Olive Oil Standards

Our Quality Assurance mandates strict laboratory testing and extensive quality control tests to ensure our olive oil is just that, 100% olive oil made from only the finest olives. Cento Extra Virgin Olive Oil and all of the oils in our family of brands are rigorously tested and held to the highest of standards to ensure only the highest quality, authentic product is used by consumers.

Cento Steam Peeling Commitment

For the past 50 years, we have continued to use an environmentally friendly steam peeling process for our tomatoes. We have always and will always continue to exemplify the highest industry quality and sustainability standards: using no chemical by-products, just hot water and the same process that has been used in Italy for centuries.

All About Balsamic Vinegar