Pork Rib Stew (guiso de costillas)

Absolutely yes, the pork rib stew is a tasty and hearty dish, very popular both in Italy and abroad. Here is how to prepare a version with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of pork ribs
• 2 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 stalks of celery
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 500 ml of tomato puree
• 250 ml of robust red wine (a Chianti, for example)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A few sprigs of rosemary
• A few bay leaves
• Water, as needed

Preparation

1. Start by washing and cutting the vegetables into not too small pieces.
2. In a large pot, heat a drizzle of oil and brown the pork ribs until they are well-seared on all sides.
3. Remove the ribs from the pot and, in the same pot, sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until they soften.
4. Put the ribs back in the pot with the vegetables, turn up the heat and deglaze with red wine. Let the alcohol evaporate for a few minutes.
5. Add the tomato puree, rosemary, bay leaves, and cover with water until it slightly exceeds the level of the meat.
6. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let the stew cook covered for about 2-3 hours, or until the meat becomes tender and easily comes off the bones. During cooking, check occasionally and add water if necessary.
7. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
8. Serve the stew hot, perhaps accompanied by polenta or homemade bread.

Curiosity

Pork rib stew is a dish that lends itself very well to Italian flavors, thanks to the use of tomatoes and aromatic herbs such as rosemary and bay leaves. Furthermore, the red wine, besides enriching the flavor, helps to make the meat even more tender. Each region of Italy has its own variant of meat stew, often passed down from generation to generation.