If you’re not familiar with spezzatino, you are missing out on one of the tastiest stews. This hearty Italian dish is meaty, savory, and incredibly satisfying. While it is traditionally made with veal, there are many ways to create a homemade spezzatino using cheaper, lower-grade cuts of different meats.
Spezzatino isn’t a dish with hard and fast rules, giving you a lot of ways to customize it to your liking. This is an excellent dish for using up veggies or other foods that need to be eaten soon. If you are interested in trying this Italian comfort dish, continue reading to see some of our favorite spezzatino recipes.
1. Lamb and Pea Spezzatino Recipe
Lamb shoulder is a tougher cut of meat, making it ideal for spezzatino because it has to be cooked slowly. The flavor of lamb contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the peas in this dish, rounded out with fragrant vegetables and red wine. Every ingredient in this spezzatino recipe results in an extraordinary dish with succulent, tender pieces of lamb that simply melt in your mouth.
An integral step you must do is brown the lamb meat before putting the stew. When you brown meat, the Maillard reaction helps it to develop a nice crust, in turn adding texture and an overall deeper, richer flavor.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Low Carb Keto Italian Beef Stew
While some spezzatino recipes call for potatoes, this keto-friendly recipe does not. Starchy vegetables are high in carbs and should be avoided if you’re trying to follow a keto diet. Regardless, this stew manages to be delicious, filling, and packed with protein. On top of that, it’s a simple recipe with only a few steps. Although it takes almost two hours from start to finish, most of the cooking time is passive.
A simple beef stew meat works perfectly here, but feel free to substitute lamb or veal if you want something with a more intense flavor. Almond flour is used in place of all-purpose flour for a keto-friendly thickener. Feel free to use sunflower seed flour if you can’t find almond flour.
Get the full recipe and directions from Keto Focus.
3. Spezzatino di Manzo
This beef-based spezzatino is rich and savory. The beef provides a deep meaty flavor, and the fat rendered out of the pancetta adds a savory umami flavor that can’t be beat. Rosemary and sage give this stew an earthy undertone, and bright tomatoes and briny capers help you create a perfectly well-rounded dish.
If you can’t find pancetta, there are a wide range of fatty pork cuts that you can use as a substitute, including bacon, prosciutto, or smoked ham. These substitutes will alter the flavor profile slightly, but you will still end up with a hearty meal that is nearly impossible to resist!
Get the full recipe and directions from Taste.com.au.
4. Freezer-Friendly Italian Beef Stew
Stews are excellent for meal preppers because you can make large portions and have plenty of leftovers afterward. Don’t worry if you make too much at once, you can easily freeze and save this spezzatino for later. This spezzatino recipe doesn’t call for many ingredients, but everything works together perfectly to produce a nice fall or winter meal.
Because of this dish’s simplicity, you can make plenty of substitutes based on your own preferences. While pork isn’t traditional, you could use it in place of beef for a milder flavor. On the other hand, lamb has a gamier flavor you may want to try. It’s perfectly acceptable to mix several types of meat together in a spezzatino, and you may find it to be your favorite version of this dish.
Get the full recipe and directions from Wegman’s.
5. Italian Veal Stew Spezzatino
If you’re looking to throw together an authentic, old-time version of spezzatino, this recipe is for you. The delicate veal has a milder taste than beef, but still packs quite a punch in terms of savory flavors. As always, start by seasoning and browning your meat before adding vegetables and aromatics. Trust us, your mouth will be watering before you’re even 10 minutes into the cooking process.
While this spezzatino recipe doesn’t call for red wine, you may consider deglazing the pan with a half cup or so to intensify the overall flavor of your stew. This step isn’t a necessity, so rest assured, you’ll be sure to impress any dinner guest with this yummy meal.
Get the full recipe and directions from Kitrusy.
6. Instant Pot Beef Stew
The Instant Pot is a wonderful tool for quickly cooking a meal that might otherwise take several hours. This beef stew recipe is easy to put together and can be finished in 45 minutes, allowing you to enjoy all the flavors of a classic spezzatino without it taking up your entire evening.
The ingredient list is short, and you should be able to find most of these staples in your pantry. The only ingredient that is out of the ordinary in this recipe is tapioca, which can easily be replaced by flour or corn starch.
Get the full recipe and directions from Pinch of Yum.
7. Crock Pot Italian Beef Stew
Thanks to the convenience of the crock pot, you can throw this simple recipe together in the morning and let it cook while you are out and about during the day. The moment you get home, you will be rewarded with an irresistible aroma throughout the house.
As always, this slow cooker recipe can be altered to fit your tastes, and you may consider using great northern beans instead of cannellini, or Herbs de Provence in place of Italian Seasoning. Either way, you’re going to love this crock pot dish.
Get the full recipe and directions from Betty Crocker.
Spezzatino is an easy, delicious dish that offers warmth and comfort to the soul. Since this dish is so hearty, it is best to serve this in the colder months of the year. Let us know about your favorite version of Italian spezzatino in the comments!
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