Sunday, February 21, 2010

Winter Comfort Food in the Desert

Living in the desert we don't get a lot of blustery cold days where we can find comfort in a warm bowl of soup or stew. So when the temperatures this weekend suddenly dropped to the low 60's and it started to rain we decided to take advantage of the situation and make some veal stew. 

I found the recipe below in the January edition of La Cucina Italiana magazine.  It was easy to put together and delicious.  Exactly what we needed this weekend: comfort in a bowl. 

I'm submitting this recipe to Magazine Mondays over at Cream Puffs In Venice.


 

Veal Stew With Vegetables

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds veal stew meat, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 large white onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, preferably smoked
  • 2 1/2 cups store-bought vegetable broth plus 1 cup water, heated to a simmer, or 3 1/2 cups homemade vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon unbleached all-purpose flour

Instructions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half of the veal and cook, turning, until browned all over, about 7 minutes. Transfer veal to a plate. Repeat with remaining oil and veal. Pour off the oil.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in pot over medium heat; add potatoes, carrots, onion, zucchini, celery, 1 teaspoon rosemary, peppercorns and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Add veal and any accumulated juices back to pot. Add stock and water; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and gently simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer veal and vegetables to a bowl. Pour cooking liquid into a second bowl, and return pot to stove. Melt remaining tablespoon butter in pot over medium-low heat, then stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Whisk in cooking liquid. Bring liquid to a low boil and cook, uncovered, whisking
occasionally, until reduced to about 2 cups, about 15 minutes.

Return vegetables and veal to pot; stir in remaining teaspoon rosemary. Heat to warm through. 

9 comments:

  1. Yum, I saw that recipe!! :) Enjoy your cool days!!

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  2. I love making (and scoffing) veal spezzatino! I like this rendition, very delciate.

    Hey, if you're a cornmeal fan, I've updated the Polenta series, care to taste THREE more toppings?

    Ciao
    E xx

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  3. Let's make a deal. I will try to send more cold weather your way so you can eat more soups and stews. And I will take some of your warm, dry weather so that I can stop having to wear fifty layers of clothing. Sound good?

    This looks amazing! I love veal. And polenta.

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  4. just looking at your stew warms my heart. it's really the epitome of comfort! (although i would sub the veal for other meats since i dont eat it) hahah

    rock on!

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  5. What a wonderful stew. It looks hearty and delicious! I wish that I were eating it in the desert right now!

    We are expecting another big storm on Thursday -this winter cannot end soon enough for me!

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  6. There's nothing like a warm and hearty, stick-to-your ribs stew to warm you body and soul. I could use some right now - with a giant storm yesterday and another breathing down our necks tonight.

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  7. OK, that stew looks amazing. I am going to have to get some more local veal and try it.

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  8. I just need a spoon to start digging in! Gorgeous!

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  9. Like you I don't have cold weather here in the Caribbean. This is the kind of hearty stew that I'd enjoy even a warm day.

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