Roman Stew Food

ROMAN LAMB STEW (ABBACCHIO ALLA CACCIATORA)

Steps:

• Peel the garlic and cut one clove in half and set aside. Roughly chop the other clove.
• Remove the leaves from the stem of rosemary and finely chop them. Add the garlic and anchovies to the rosemary and chop them all together until they form a coarse paste. Use the side of your knife to mash the garlic and anchovies a little towards the end, adding a little salt if needed to help them mash.
• Place the garlic-rosemary paste in a small bowl and add the vinegar. Mix all together so the paste breaks up in the liquid. Set aside.
• Warm the oil in a medium-large Dutch oven or similar pan with a lid over a medium heat. Add the two halves of garlic clove and brown on both sides then remove from the pan.
• Increase the heat to medium-high and add the lamb. It can be good to start by adding some, then wait a minute before adding the rest to save the temperature reducing too much. Season the meat with salt and pepper then turn the meat to brown it all over.
• Once the meat has browned, sprinkle over the flour and stir to mix through. Try to avoid having any lumps of flour left.
• Add the wine to the pan and stir to deglaze any browning from the bottom of the pan. Allow most of the alcohol to evaporate then add the rosemary-vinegar mixture.
• Stir through the vinegar mixture then reduce the heat and cover the pan with a lid. Reduce the heat further if needed to have the mixture just gently simmering. Cook for around 1 - 1 1/2 hours until the meat is very tender. If needed, top up the liquid a little with some water or stock so it doesn't become dry, but you don't want a very liquid mixture either. Serve the meat with the sauce that has formed.

ROMAN STEW (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown the beef in the oil over medium-high heat (do this in batches). Transfer the beef to your slow cooker.
• Add the garlic ,celery and onion slices to the slow cooker, then sprinkle the salt, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, allspice, and nutmeg over the beef and vegetables.
• Pour the tomatoes and the wine over the beef and vegetables.
• Cover the slow cooker, and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
• If you want a thicker sauce, stir in some cornstarch mixed with water at the end of the cooking time.

ROMAN STEW

Steps:

• Cut meat into 1-in cubes and brown in butter and oil over medium heat using a large pot. Remove.
• Sauté mushrooms for 3-4 minutes. Remove. Sauté onion and garlic 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes, parsley and seasonings. Simmer 5-19 minutes.
• Add wine, broth, and cheese. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Stir in meat and mushrooms.
• Cover and cook for 1 hour. Add a little water or broth if needed.
• Good served with either rice cooked in broth or oven-roasted potatoes, broccoli and crisp rolls.

PASTA E CECI (ITALIAN PASTA AND CHICKPEA STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not taking on any color, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary and red-pepper flakes, and cook 1 minute more. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the tomatoes and the chickpeas, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon or spatula and smashing about 1/2 cup of the beans.
• Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and simmer, stirring often to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan, until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes. The water will mostly be absorbed by the pasta, but if you prefer it brothier, you can add 1/2 to 1 cup water and simmer until warmed through, 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add the escarole and stir until wilted. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

ROMAN COUNTRY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large pot, brown the meat in oil.
• Stir in tomatoes with juice, (I like to cut the tomatoes into smaller pieces),tomato sauce, water, onion spices.
• Heat to boiling, reduce heat and cover and simmer until meat is tender about 1 1/2-2 hours.
• Stir in macaroni and bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 mintes, stirring occasionaly.
• (hint, do not use more than 4 oz. of macaroni).
• Stir in green beans and cook another 15-20 minutes.
• Serve with parmesan cheese.
• Goes well with french bread and a salad.

SPICED CHICKPEA STEW WITH COCONUT AND TURMERIC

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and starts to brown a little at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and the chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they've started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
• Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides. (This will help thicken the stew.) Add coconut milk and stock, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. (Taste a chickpea or two, not just the liquid, to make sure they have simmered long enough to be as delicious as possible.) If after 30 to 35 minutes, you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you've reached your desired consistency. Determining perfect stew thickness is a personal journey!
• Add greens and stir, making sure they're submerged in the liquid. Cook until they wilt and soften, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you're using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Season again with salt and pepper.
• Divide among bowls and top with mint, reserved chickpeas, a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and a good drizzle of olive oil. Serve alongside yogurt and toasted pita if using; dust the yogurt with turmeric if you'd like.