Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Hearty Beef Stew with Peas: A Sicilian Classic
Discover how to make a delicious Sicilian beef stew with peas, bursting with flavour and tradition. Perfect for any occasion!
📖 What is it
Discover how to make a delicious Sicilian beef stew with peas, bursting with flavour and tradition. Perfect for any occasion!
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 600g diced beef or veal
- ✓ 100g plain flour
- ✓ Half a onion
- ✓ 1 celery stick
- ✓ 2 bay leaves
- ✓ 1 carrot
- ✓ 1 garlic clove
- ✓ 120ml white wine
- ✓ 500ml beef stock
- ✓ 350g fresh or frozen peas
- ✓ Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- ✓ Salt, to taste
- ✓ Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
📊 Nutritional Information
Dive into the authentic tastes of Sicily with this slow-cooked beef and pea stew, a dish steeped in tradition and warmth. The meat, gently simmered with fresh herbs and vegetables, fills your kitchen with comforting aromas that make you feel right at home, surrounded by the rich scents of island cooking.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Roughly chop the carrot, onion and celery using a few pulses in a food processor.
- 2
Dust the meat pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess.
- 3
Heat the olive oil in a large pan with the garlic clove and brown the meat over a high heat for about 10 minutes, turning until golden on all sides.
- 4
Add salt, pepper, bay leaves and the chopped vegetables, letting them soften and release their flavours for 5 minutes.
- 5
Pour in the white wine and allow the alcohol to evaporate completely.
- 6
Add 150ml of hot stock, cover the pan and simmer gently for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- 7
Halfway through cooking, add another 150ml of stock to keep the meat tender.
- 8
After 2 hours, stir in the peas and the remaining stock; continue cooking for a further 15 minutes.
- 9
Remove the lid and let the sauce reduce for 5 minutes over a medium heat.
- 10
Serve the stew piping hot with its rich cooking juices, accompanied by rustic Sicilian bread if you like.
💡 Tips and Variations
- •
For a richer flavour, stir in a tablespoon of tomato purée or a few cubes of pancetta during cooking.
- •
If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the stew simmer uncovered for the last few minutes.
- •
Use a heavy-bottomed casserole to ensure even cooking and keep the meat tender.
- •
For a vegetarian twist, swap the meat for chestnut mushrooms or legumes like chickpeas, keeping the peas for their natural sweetness.
- •
To boost umami, sprinkle a pinch of nutritional yeast flakes just before serving.
- •
For a lighter version, omit the pancetta and reduce the oil, using vegetable stock instead of beef.
- •
The secret to this dish lies in the slow, gentle cooking that makes the meat melt-in-the-mouth and the sauce deeply flavoursome.
📦 Storage
- • Store the stew in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days to keep it fresh and flavoursome.
- • For longer storage, allow it to cool completely before freezing; it will keep well for up to two months.
- • When reheating, warm gently on the hob or use the microwave, and avoid refreezing once thawed.
🍷 Pairing
Pair this stew with a Sicilian red wine like Menfi Bonera, whose fruity and spicy notes complement the sweetness of the peas and the tenderness of the meat beautifully. Alternatively, a Nero d’Avola from Vittoria or a classic Tuscan Chianti make excellent, well-balanced choices.
Whipping up this beef stew with peas is like inviting a little slice of Sicily into your kitchen — full of honest flavours and family traditions. I warmly encourage you to give it a go at home and share the joy with your nearest and dearest. After all, good food is best enjoyed together, so why not spread the love and bring a touch of Sicilian sunshine to your table?
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