Spezzatino

Spezzatino is an Italian stew consisting of small pieces of meat that are cooked in a small amount of liquid. It's usually made from the less tender cuts of beef, lamb, mutton, or pork, which all have a nice amount of connective tissue and cartilage that breaks down into a hearty gravy. The meat pieces are typically dusted with flour, then fried in butter with carrots, onions, celery, pancetta, and white wine. The combination is cooked slowly for a long time until all the ingredients are covered in a dense sauce. There are also versions of spezzatino with added potatoes or tomatoes, and the name of the dish is derived from the word spezzettare, which means to cut into smaller pieces.