Recipes from an Italian Butcher – The Silver Spoon Kitchen

The first edition of The Silver Spoon (Il Cucchiaio d’argento) cookbook was published in 1950. Experts collected hundreds of traditional recipes throughout Italy, including every regional speciality, to create what has become the most successful Italian cookbook in history.

The Silver Spoon has been continually updated, adapting the recipes and techniques to our modern lifestyle without losing the principles of authentic Italian cuisine. Phaidon’s Silver Spoon series continues to deliver hundreds of simple and traditional recipes. 

Recipes from an Italian Butcher: Roasting, Stewing, Braising is the latest addition to the series and shares 150 inspiring and authentic Italian recipes for meat, poultry, and game. This book is not only a collection of recipes, it is also a valuable reference on meat cuts and cooking techniques for Italian, American and British cooks, respectively, includes a full glossary of cooking terms as well as providing a selection of side dishes.

Pork loin braised in infused milk, Poussin in a thyme crust, and Milanese osso buco are just a few examples of the hundreds of tempting recipes here. Phaidon is graciously sharing the Meatballs cooked in beer sauce recipe with our members today which is what I have chosen to make for dinner tomorrow. I have leftover mashed potatoes and carrots to accompany this dish and am already looking forward to tomorrow! 

The publisher is also offering three copies of this title to our members in the US, UK, Canada and Australia in our contest below. Please remember Eat Your Book members receive 30% off Phaidon titles when using the link provided. 

Meatballs cooked in beer

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Serves: 4
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS

7 oz/200 g stale bread, torn into chunks
full-fat (whole) milk, to soak
11 oz/300 g (minced) beef
11 oz/300 g sausage, removed from its casing and crumbled
2 eggs
few chives, chopped
⅔ cup (3 oz/80 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
pat (knob) of butter
3 onions, chopped
4 ¼ cups (34 fl oz/1 liter) beer
1 tablespoon tomato paste (purée)
1 sprig thyme, leaves only
salt and pepper

Instructions

Soak the bread in a little milk in a bowl for about 3 minutes, then drain. In another bowl, mix the ground (minced) beef with the crumbled sausage, eggs, drained bread, some of the chopped chives, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread the flour out on a plate. Using damp hands, shape the mixture into balls, about the size of a walnut, and roll in the flour to coat. Heat the oil and butter in a large, deep skillet (frying pan) over medium heat, add the meatballs, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. To brown the meatballs without them falling apart, shake repeatedly in the skillet so that they roll themselves in the oil and butter and brown on all sides. Do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Add the chopped onions to the same skillet, pour in the beer, a little at a time, and let evaporate. Add the tomato paste (purée) and thyme leaves, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes then return the meatballs to the pan with the sauce, and cook for another 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve.

Adapted from RECIPES FROM AN ITALIAN BUTCHER by The Silver Spoon Kitchen (Phaidon, $49.95 US/59.95 CAN, October 2017) 

The publisher is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members in the US, CA, AU and the UK.  One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on December 4th, 2017.

 

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91 Comments

  • lbecker  on  October 27, 2017

    i would try meatballs cooked in beer first because i now have that recipe and this way I don't have to wait until i get the book!

  • contest718  on  October 27, 2017

    Pork loin with mashed pumpkin and potato…..Right up my alley!

  • Joy001  on  October 27, 2017

    Pork tenderloin braised in milk

  • kmn4  on  October 27, 2017

    Roasted pork loin with apples and cider (Arrosto di maiale al sidro e mele)

  • rchesser  on  October 27, 2017

    Braised beef with pears (Stracotto di manzo alle pere)

  • lgroom  on  October 27, 2017

    Poisson in a thyme crust — oh yum!

  • sgump  on  October 27, 2017

    This time of year, the roasted pork loin with apples and cider (arrosto di maiale al sidro e mele) sounds delightful!

  • PennyBarr  on  October 27, 2017

    Definitely couldn't resist meatballs cooked in beer, with some of the beer as an accompanying drink.

  • tinaellen  on  October 27, 2017

    I really want to try the beef tenderloin with mushroom stuffing as well as all of the veal recipes! I don't cook veal at home often enough.

  • sarahawker  on  October 27, 2017

    Orange-scented entrecôte with pancetta (Entrecôte con pancetta al profumo d'arancia)

  • lpatterson412  on  October 27, 2017

    I would try the venison stew!

  • ravensfan  on  October 27, 2017

    Roasted beef in a pastry crust (Arrosto in crosta)

  • RichardMosse  on  October 27, 2017

    Cacciatore-style leg of lamb

  • mpdeb98  on  October 27, 2017

    Poussin in a thyme crust

  • Shelley.b  on  October 27, 2017

    Meatballs cooked in beer

  • matag  on  October 27, 2017

    Lamb with wild fennel

  • kitchenfrolic  on  October 27, 2017

    Definitely the Meatballs cooked in beer – those sound amazing!

  • LaurenE  on  October 27, 2017

    roasted pork loin with apples and cider

  • t.t  on  October 28, 2017

    Pork tenderloin braised in milk (Maiale al latte)

  • Livia  on  October 28, 2017

    It has got to be the Chicken breast fricassée (Petto di pollo in fricassea)

  • lapsapchung  on  October 28, 2017

    Pork loin with apricot sauce (Arista con salsa alle albicocche)

  • Sherrianne  on  October 28, 2017

    Roasted pork with orange (Arista all'arancia)
    Most definitely adore a flavorful pork dish oranges & oregano 🌿 I’m sold!

  • PennyG  on  October 28, 2017

    I tell ya those Meatballs cooked in beer really caught my eye. But I have had a "thing" for meatballs lately!

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  October 29, 2017

    I would love to try making the Roasted beef with chestnuts (Roast-beef con le castagne).

  • trudys_person  on  October 29, 2017

    Capon Stuffed with Dates sounds interesting …

  • annieski  on  October 30, 2017

    Parmesan Brussels sprouts

  • Siegal  on  October 30, 2017

    Chicken cacciatore is my fav

  • Kristjudy  on  October 30, 2017

    Roast beef in pastry

  • Rooks  on  October 31, 2017

    Pork tenderloins in citrus and myrtle scented salt.

  • ktwalla  on  October 31, 2017

    Roasted pork shank with honey and mustard

  • terrestris  on  November 1, 2017

    Pork tenderloin baked in foil (Maiale in cartoccio al forno)

  • Shelley.b  on  November 2, 2017

    Roast beef in pastry

  • Mivas  on  November 3, 2017

    Loin of lamb with thyme and escarole (Carré al timo con contorno di scarola

  • ennsee  on  November 3, 2017

    The Roasted pork loin with apples and cider (Arrosto di maiale al sidro e mele).

  • sugo  on  November 3, 2017

    Pork loin with apricot sauce (Arista con salsa alle albicocche)

  • rachael_mc  on  November 4, 2017

    Curried chicken puffs!

  • robynsanyal  on  November 5, 2017

    Parmesan Brussels sprouts

  • Anno  on  November 5, 2017

    I have 3 juicy pumpkins cut up in my freezer- waiting for a recipe like " pork loin with mashed pumpkin and potato"!

  • lynneskip  on  November 6, 2017

    Poussin in a Thyme crust

  • skipeterson  on  November 6, 2017

    Abruzzo-style lamb (Agnello all'Abruzzese)

  • lisaevanoff  on  November 6, 2017

    Pot-roast chicken (Pollo arrosto)

  • Anno  on  November 6, 2017

    Turkey roulade in passito wine with carrots (Rotolo di tacchino al passito con carote)

  • Amandaspamanda  on  November 6, 2017

    Roasted beef in a pastry crust (Arrosto in crosta) would be my first pick, I've never made a savory pie dish before

  • J00ls  on  November 7, 2017

    Arrosto in Crosta – we raise our own beef and I cook for our local Shoot, this would be perfect!

  • RSW  on  November 7, 2017

    Pork loin with mashed pumpkin and potato (Carré con purè di zucca e patate)

  • bibliophile02  on  November 7, 2017

    I am very amused that the "Jewish-style suckling lamb" calls for lard and prosciutto!!

  • RoseMGenuine  on  November 8, 2017

    Stuffed capon with Marsala sauce.

  • lucychhu  on  November 11, 2017

    Meatballs cooked in beer!

  • juldum  on  November 11, 2017

    I’m a fan of recipes with dried plums so my first recipe from this book would have to be the rack of pork with dried plums!

  • PeavineBlues  on  November 11, 2017

    Anything from Dario Cecchini

  • jlh39  on  November 11, 2017

    Spicy pork stew for the first recipe.

  • cora429  on  November 11, 2017

    The roast pork loin with apples and cider

  • chimpbob  on  November 11, 2017

    Roast Beef in pastry

  • Peirsd60  on  November 11, 2017

    Braised beef with pears sounds amazing!

  • readers  on  November 11, 2017

    Meatballs cooked in beer

  • Julia  on  November 11, 2017

    Pork stew with peas or any of the roast pork recipes.

  • pstrawser81  on  November 11, 2017

    I would definitely start with the meatballs in beer.

  • BMeyer  on  November 11, 2017

    leg of lamb

  • MoonOverParma  on  November 11, 2017

    Meatballs cooked in beer

  • sequoia55  on  November 12, 2017

    Spicy pork stew

  • kaitk  on  November 12, 2017

    I'd try braised pork with rosemary.

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  November 12, 2017

    Roasted beef in a pastry crust (Arrosto in crosta) found on page 58 sounds interesting

  • TanyaD  on  November 12, 2017

    Rack of pork with dried plums

  • RickPearson54  on  November 13, 2017

    Leg of lamb

  • jim.windle  on  November 13, 2017

    Roast leg of lamb in herb crust

  • tararr  on  November 13, 2017

    Leg of lamb

  • VeryVigario  on  November 13, 2017

    Roasted pork loin with apples and cider

  • AnnaZed  on  November 15, 2017

    Roasted pork with orange (Arista all'arancia)

  • fbrunetti  on  November 15, 2017

    Braised pork with rosemary

  • silversand  on  November 16, 2017

    Beef tenderloin with radicchio (Filetto al rosso Trevigiano)

  • milliganf190  on  November 16, 2017

    Lamb with wild fennel

  • Katiefayhutson  on  November 17, 2017

    Venison stew

  • bstewart  on  November 18, 2017

    Pork loin with mashed pumpkin and potato!

  • IngridO  on  November 18, 2017

    Rabbit stuffed with olives

  • Scotsman61  on  November 20, 2017

    Roasted pork loin with apples and cider (Arrosto di maiale al sidro e mele)

  • kitchenclimbers  on  November 21, 2017

    braised pork with rosemary

  • stephanieyee  on  November 21, 2017

    turkey stew

  • lhudson  on  November 22, 2017

    Meatballs cooked in beer, I have been looking for the perfect meatball recipe maybe this is it.

  • Soosie  on  November 23, 2017

    I love all things Italian and I especially adore the way Italians cook meat. I would start with the turkey roulade from this book, because it reminds me of a meal I had while on holiday in Tuscany. A raviolo in sage butter to start, a green salad to refresh the palate, then the turkey roulade, which was so full of flavour, yet so simply cooked and presented, I remember every juicy, savoury mouthful. I would love to recreate that meal!

  • lhodder2016  on  November 24, 2017

    One summer I went through the entirety of an old edition of the Silver Spoon. Braises can often be missing a sharpness, but the Braised veal with olives (Arrosto alle olive) seems to fulfil the braising brief, but also deliver on the briny brightness from the olives.

  • SheenaSharp  on  November 25, 2017

    this would have to be it: Pork shanks in red wine with spinach (Stinco di maiale al vino rosso con spinaci)

  • DesiKim  on  November 25, 2017

    Pork and pickled chile peppers (Maiale ali peperoncini sott'aceto)

  • dbielick  on  November 28, 2017

    Roasted pork loin with apples and cider (Arrosto di maiale al sidro e mele)

  • orchidlady01  on  November 29, 2017

    Roasted pork loin (Arista al forno) and Pork shanks in red wine with spinach (Stinco di maiale al vino rosso con spinaci)

  • auntietina  on  December 1, 2017

    Pork loin with apricot sauce

  • matwell  on  December 1, 2017

    Roasted pork loin with Apples and cider sounds amazing!

  • pappaslauren  on  December 4, 2017

    Roast beef in pastry!

  • XXOOL  on  December 4, 2017

    I'm making the meatballs in beer tonight! Who doesn't love a good meatball? Am I right?

  • monique.potel  on  December 4, 2017

    Milanese osso buco (Ossibuchi alla Milanese)
    love love love osso buco i can almost taste it

  • JaneRose  on  December 5, 2017

    I would try Pot Roast Beef. A nice warming comfort food the whole family loves.

  • LeighF  on  December 5, 2017

    The pork Tenderloin in milk – yum

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