Pork Stew

Name: Pork Stew
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Pork coppa salami 2.2 lbs; Potatoes 1.1 lbs; Meat broth 4 ¼ cups; Carrots 3.5 oz; White onions 3.5 oz; Celery 0.7 cup; Garlic 1 clove; Type 00 flour 0.67 cup; White wine 1.8 oz; Tomato paste 2 tbsp; Rosemary 3 sprigs; Sage 3 sprigs; Butter 2 tsp; Extra virgin olive oil 2.3 tsp; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h
Serving: 4
Cost: Average

PRESENTATION

Pork stew, or spezzatino di maiale, is like the ultimate comfort food in Italian homes—especially when it’s chilly outside. And listen, this pork stew? It’s something special. The small cubes of meat get so tender and juicy—really really tender—after slow cooking. They just soak up all that rich, homemade sauce. For real, the aroma alone is enough to bring everyone to the table.

In Italy, you usually find it served with lasagne with pumpkin or just some buttered noodles. And you know what? Dipping a big piece of crusty bread into that golden sauce is the best part—doing the classic "scarpetta." It’s not just a meal; it’s about those lazy Sunday lunches where people linger, going for seconds and really savoring the moment.

Across Italy, you’ll find all sorts of twists on this pork stew recipe. Some folks throw in spicy lentils on the side. Adds a little kick. Pretty much keeps its comforting Italian heart. Others might add carrots, potatoes, or even a splash of red wine. Deepens the sauce, makes it more hearty. But here’s the deal—let everything simmer until the flavors get rich and the meat is super super soft.

That’s why this dish is a winter favorite—it’s like a warm hug. And you don’t need fancy ingredients for an easy pork stew. Nope. And it’s about quality meat, a slow cook, and the right veggies. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want something simple yet satisfying, this dish gives you that comfort only Italian home cooking can offer. Grab your bread, scoop up that last bit of savory sauce, and you’ll get why so many families keep this recipe on repeat. It’s about the simple joy of good food with good company, turning every meal into a special occasion.

How to prepare Pork Stew

To prepare the pork stew, first cut the meat into 3-centimeter (about 1 3/16-inch) cubes 1. Heat a cast-iron pot (or alternatively a heavy-based casserole) with the butter and extra virgin olive oil 2. Once melted, add the meat cubes 3.

Season with salt and pepper 4. Brown the meat well on all sides; this will take about 5 minutes. When it is nicely browned, add the flour 5 and stir for a minute to toast it, then deglaze with the white wine 6.

Mix well and let the alcohol aroma evaporate 7. At this point, remove the browned meat from the pot 8 and keep it warm in a baking dish 9.

Now take care of the vegetables: chop the celery, carrot and onion 10. Put the chopped vegetables into the casserole with the cooking fond from the meat 11 and add a ladle of hot beef broth 12.

Stir to deglaze the bottom 13. After about 3 minutes, return the meat to the pot 14 and cover with hot broth 15.

Aromatize with sage and rosemary tied together with kitchen twine 16, then cover with the lid, lower the heat and simmer gently for 60 minutes 17. In the meantime peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes the same size as the meat (about 1 3/16-inch) 18.

After 60 minutes, remove the lid and discard the bouquet garni 19. Add the tomato paste 20 and the diced potatoes 21.

Add the remaining beef broth 22 and stir well with a spoon 23. Cover again with the lid and cook for another 40 minutes over medium-low heat 24.

When cooking time is up, check that the meat is tender and the potatoes are cooked 25. Season with rosemary, sage and pepper to taste 26. Your pork stew is ready to be served 27!

Storage

Pork stew can be kept for 2 days in the refrigerator.

You can freeze it.

Tip

The cut of meat determines the success of the recipe: we used pork neck (coppa), but shoulder will also work. The important thing is that it has the right percentage of fat and is not a very lean cut.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Pork Stew

PRESENTATION

How to prepare Pork Stew

Storage

Tip

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