A Guide to Italian Meat-Based Recipes for Meat Lovers

If you’re a meat lover, Italian cuisine offers a plethora of savory and satisfying dishes that will excite your taste buds. With its rich flavors and diverse ingredients, Italian meat-based recipes can be the perfect addition to your dinner table. In this guide, we will explore some delicious Italian meat-based recipes that you can easily prepare at home.

1. Osso Buco

Osso Buco is a classic Lombardy dish that features braised veal shanks cooked slowly with white wine, broth, and vegetables. The marrow from the bones adds a rich, unctuous flavor that complements the tender meat beautifully. Serve this dish over risotto or polenta for a truly authentic Italian experience.

Ingredients:

  • 4 veal shanks
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil and sear the veal shanks until browned on all sides. Set aside.
  2. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot and sauté until softened.
  3. Deglaze with white wine, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom.
  4. Add the veal shanks back to the pot along with beef broth, and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Cover and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
  6. Serve garnished with lemon zest and chopped parsley.

2. Saltimbocca alla Romana

This traditional Roman dish combines tender veal cutlets with prosciutto and sage, making for a flavorful and aromatic meal. Saltimbocca means “jump in the mouth,” and this dish definitely lives up to its name!

Ingredients:

  • 4 veal cutlets
  • 4 slices of prosciutto
  • 8 fresh sage leaves
  • 1 cup white wine
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil and butter for cooking

Instructions:

  1. Lay a slice of prosciutto on each veal cutlet and top with two sage leaves. Secure with toothpicks.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.
  3. Cook the cutlets for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
  4. Carefully pour in the white wine, bringing it to a boil and letting it reduce for about 2 minutes.
  5. Season with salt and pepper, then serve with pan sauce drizzled over the top.

3. Bolognese Sauce (Ragù alla Bolognese)

No Italian meat lover's menu is complete without a hearty Bolognese sauce. This rich, meaty sauce is perfect for topping pasta or as a base for lasagna. The combination of ground beef, pork, and pancetta adds depth and flavor to this traditional dish.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 carrot, finely chopped
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 150g pancetta, diced
  • 300g ground beef
  • 300g ground pork
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 cups crushed tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil and sauté the chopped vegetables until softened.