In any culture, a good beef stew is a classic comfort food. Northern Italy has its own hearty version called Spezzatino, the name derived from the Italian verb “spezzare” which means “to cut up”. It’s so easy to make a delicious pot of Spezzatino. As with any stew, always start with a cut of beef with lots of connective tissue like chuck roast, brisket or tri-tip. I always leave any fat on the beef cubes, as I can always drain off the fat later. As the stew meat cooks low and slow, the connective tissue and fat create a dense flavorful gravy that is best sopped up with crusty sourdough bread or polenta. Before stewing the meat, make sure you flour and brown the pieces to get a nice sear and then into the pot it goes with those golden, caramelized veggies, herbs, white wine and a good full-bodied beef stock. If Beef Bourguignon is the elegant dish of the French, Spezzatino, equally delicious, is the family style peasant food to be enjoyed during those chilly Italian winter months. Here’s hoping we have some of those in our near future here in Arizona!
beef stock
Ikea Swedish Meatballs
They’re as popular…maybe even more so, than their home furnishings!
Ikea’s Swedish Meatballs are Iconic! And, since the Euro furniture store posted the recipe on Twitter about a month ago, the internet has been obsessing over it.
Ikea released the recipe during the novel corona virus pandemic because, according to food a manager of IKEA U.K., “We know that some people might be missing our meatballs, which is why we’ve released an at-home alternative.”
So now you can get your meatball fix anytime you like! The meatball recipe is pretty simple. It’s very similar to an Italian meatball. The cream sauce (or gravy) is a breeze, too, although I was surprised that it included two ingredients I would not have expected; Dijon mustard and soy sauce (which accounts for its silky golden brown color.) As the directions point out, you’ll want to chill the meatballs in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before browning them in a skillet so they won’t fall apart. Yes, they’re that delicate!
So while you’re waiting for your favorite flat pack furniture store to open back up again, you can have a little taste of IKEA for dinner tonight!
Watch my How to Video HERE!
