LOW CARB ITALIAN BEEF STEW (SPEZZATINO DI MANZO)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A superb, winter-warming classic from Italy. A meat + veggies all-in-one great meal for the whole family.
Author:
Recipe type: Main Courses
Cuisine: Ketogenic. Low Carb. LCHF. Dairy Free. Grain Free. Gluten Free.
Yield: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 kg stewing beef (cut into chunks)
  • 30g beef tallow (U.S. option HERE)
  • 20g extra virgin olive oil (U.S. option HERE)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 shallot (minced or chopped)
  • 100g chopped tomatoes (from can or fresh)
  • 20g tomato paste concentrate
  • 2 beef stock cubes (I use Kallo organic, U.S. option HERE)
  • 1 tsp fine Himalayan pink salt (U.S. option HERE)
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (or 2 cinnamon sticks)
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ TBSP Italian mixed dry herbs or Herbes de Provence (or 1 TBSP fresh)
  • 500g swede (net weight after peeling, top/tailing - from 700g swede)
  • 500 pumpkin (500g net after peeling, top/tailing and coring - from 900g pumpkin)
  • 200g frozen garden peas (or fresh)
Instructions
  1. take the peas out of the freezer and leave them in a bowl to defrost.
  2. using a wide saucepan over high heat, melt tallow and EVOO, then add beef chunks and sear on all sides.
  3. add all other ingredients except last 3 on the list; stir and add enough water to submerge the beef.
  4. put the lid on, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
  5. meanwhile, prepare swede and pumpkin, cutting both into small cubes.
  6. after 1 hour, add swede cubes, stir, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
  7. minutes after that, add squash and peas, stir, cover, and simmer for a further 30 minutes, regularly stirring and checking to ensure nothing is sticking at the bottom as the liquids will have reduced considerably - you may need to add a little water at this stage.
  8. once the 2 hours are over, should a lot of liquid remain, you have three options: A) stir once more and simmer, uncovered, until desired density is achieved. B) discard some of the liquid. C) add a sprinkle of tapioca starch to thicken it (go easy as it’s quite high carb).
  9. serve on its own or with 1-2 slices of toasted Amazing Protein Bread.
Notes
If you're not dairy-free, you can use butter instead of tallow.

The only way to ensure accurate measurement of ingredients is with Metric Kitchen Scales (U.S. option HERE).
Nutrition
Serving: ⅙th Calories: 417 Fat: 23g Net Carbs: 11g Protein: 40g
Recipe by at https://queenketo.com/low-carb-italian-beef-stew-spezzatino-di-manzo/