Hearty Corsican Veal Stew with Olives & Myrte
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Ingredients
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800 grams veal shoulder
(Cut into 2-inch cubes)
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150 grams Black Olives
(Pitted, preferably Niçoise olives)
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1 tablespoon Myrte berries
(Can use dried ground Myrte or fresh if available)
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2 medium Carrots
(Peeled and diced)
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1 large Yellow onion
(Chopped)
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3 cloves Garlic cloves
(Minced)
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2 tablespoons Tomato paste
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200 milliliters dry white wine
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500 milliliters Beef or veal stock
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1 teaspoon Fresh Thyme
(Or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
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1 leaf Bay leaf
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3 tablespoons Olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
(Cut into 2-inch cubes)
(Pitted, preferably Niçoise olives)
(Can use dried ground Myrte or fresh if available)
(Peeled and diced)
(Chopped)
(Minced)
(Or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
Nutrition
- Servings: 4
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (300g)
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Fat: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
- Calcium: 50 mg
- Iron: 4.2 mg
Instructions
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1 - Prepare Ingredients:
Cut veal into cubes, peel and dice carrots, chop onion, mince garlic, and measure spices before cooking.
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2 - Brown the Veal:
Heat olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown veal cubes in batches until golden on all sides; remove and set aside.
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3 - Sauté Vegetables:
In the same pot, add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
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4 - Add Tomato Paste and Wine:
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up browned bits. Let wine reduce by half.
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5 - Simmer Stew:
Return veal to the pot. Add stock, Myrte berries, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer gently for 1.5 hours until tender.
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6 - Add Olives:
Stir in olives during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Adjust seasoning as needed.
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7 - Serve:
Remove bay leaf. Serve stew hot in bowls, optionally with crusty bread or polenta.
Cut veal into cubes, peel and dice carrots, chop onion, mince garlic, and measure spices before cooking.
Heat olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown veal cubes in batches until golden on all sides; remove and set aside.
In the same pot, add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up browned bits. Let wine reduce by half.
Return veal to the pot. Add stock, Myrte berries, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer gently for 1.5 hours until tender.
Stir in olives during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Remove bay leaf. Serve stew hot in bowls, optionally with crusty bread or polenta.
More About: Hearty Corsican Veal Stew with Olives & Myrte
Corsican Veal Stew with Olives and Myrte
This traditional Corsican dish showcases the island's rich culinary heritage, combining succulent veal with robust Mediterranean flavors of olives and the unique aromatic touch of Myrte berries — a distinct local seasoning. This stew exemplifies rustic comfort food from Corsica, where simple ingredients are elevated by fiery herbs and slow cooking.
Myrte berries, a less common ingredient outside Corsica, impart a subtly sweet, pine-like aroma enhancing the dish's depth. Olives add briny undertones balancing veal’s richness. The long simmer tenderizes the meat while developing layers of concentrated flavor.
Serve with crusty country bread or creamy polenta for an authentic experience. Ideal for chilly evenings, this recipe delivers impressive complexity yet remains accessible enough for home cooks with some experience.
Tips & Notes:
- For authentic flavor, source black Niçoise olives and dried Myrte berries.
- Veal shoulder is best for stewing; it tenderizes beautifully while retaining flavor.
- The wine deglaze is essential for binding the flavors and lifting fond from the pot.
Cultural Relevance:
Corsican cuisine fuses French Mediterranean and Italian influences shaped by the island’s unique flora. Using wild herbs like Myrte berries honors traditional methods where locals used native plants to add signature tastes.
Mastering this stew offers welcoming warmth with artisanal inspiration, perfect for anyone eager to explore nuanced rural French cooking that celebrates Corsican identity.
