Parmesan

It's the Rolls-Royce of the menu at this Melbourne diner.

This Italian starter of raw beef and toppings hails from the Piedmont region. We've opted for mushrooms and parmesan but feel free to tweak the toppings to your taste - just don't skimp on quality.

A few mushrooms and a handful of herbs are all that's needed to create a frittata, one of the most quick and satisfying meals there is.

Earthy mushrooms and creamy, parmesan-rich polenta make the best of friends.

Lebanon's dish of fried cauliflower - zahra maqlia - gets a contemporary twist from chef Greg Malouf.

Baby lettuce hearts with pistachio dressing and parmesan recipe - For pistachio dressing, process ingredients in a blender until smooth and season generously to taste.

Prosciutto and parmesan cappellacci with brown butter and asparagus recipe - For pasta dough, process ingredients and a pinch of salt in a food processor until a dough forms.