December 9, 2025RECIPES

Istrian-style Veal Stew with Wine & Rosemary

PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes prep + ~1.5–2 hours cooking

DIFFICULTY: Easy / Medium

Ingredients

600 g veal (shoulder, leg or other stew-worthy cut), cut into cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, chopped
Optional: 1 celery stalk (or celery root), chopped
2–3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (optional — for a more hearty stew)
1 bay leaf
1–2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or ~1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
150 ml dry white wine
~1 l meat or vegetable stock (or water + stock cube)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for serving)

Preparation

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the veal cubes and brown them on all sides (about 5–7 min), to seal in juices and build flavor.
Remove the browned meat and set aside. In the same pot, add chopped onion and garlic — sauté until they soften and become fragrant (about 3–4 min).
Add the carrots (and celery, if using) and continue sautéing a few more minutes until vegetables start to soften.
Return the veal to the pot. Add the potatoes (if using), bay leaf, rosemary, salt and pepper. Pour in the white wine and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to let the alcohol evaporate and flavors meld.
Then pour in the stock (or water + stock) so that meat and vegetables are covered. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for about 1 to 1.5 hours — until the veal is very tender and potatoes/vegetables are cooked through. Stir occasionally, add more stock if needed.
Once the meat is tender and stew is nicely thickened, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaf and rosemary sprig (if used whole).
Just before serving, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for freshness.

Serving Suggestion

Serve the stew hot, ideally with crusty bread (for soaking up the sauce), or with mashed potatoes, polenta, or žganci (buckwheat dumplings) if you prefer a more traditional side.

Istrian-style Stuffed Peppers

Rabbit & Mushroom Polenta

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Istrian White Cod

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Cuttlefish Black Risotto

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Istrian-style Jota (Sauerkraut, Beans & Potatoes Stew)

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