š®š¹ Italian Ā· Main Dish
š Mazzarelle Abruzzesi
Mazzarelle
Small bundles of lamb offal wrapped in lamb intestine casing with wild herbs, slow-braised in tomato sauce, a traditional springtime dish tied to Abruzzo's Easter lamb slaughter.
Mazzarelle makes thoughtful use of lamb offal - heart, liver, lungs - wrapped with fresh herbs inside intestine casing, a technique reflecting Abruzzo's shepherding heritage and its practical nose-to-tail approach to spring lamb.
Ingredients
Equipment: Kitchen twine, Heavy-bottomed pan with lid
- 600 g (1.3 lb) mixed lamb offal (heart, liver, lungs), cleaned and sliced into strips
- Lamb intestine casing, cleaned (from a butcher)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Fresh wild fennel or fennel fronds, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 400 g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 100 ml (scant 1/2 cup) dry white wine
- 80 ml (1/3 cup) extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and chili flakes, to taste
Method
- Lay out strips of the cleaned offal and sprinkle with parsley, wild fennel, garlic, and a little salt and chili.
- Roll each portion up into a small bundle and wrap with a piece of the intestine casing, tying securely with kitchen twine.
- Warm the olive oil in a heavy pan and saute the onion until softened.
- Add the wrapped bundles and brown lightly on all sides.
- Add the wine and let it reduce, then add the crushed tomatoes.
- Cover and simmer gently for 1.5 hours, until the bundles are tender.
- Season to taste and serve hot with plenty of sauce.
Chef Tips
- Ask your butcher to help clean and prepare the offal and casing if you are not experienced working with them.
- Tying the bundles securely is important so they hold together through the braise.
- This is a traditional springtime dish, timed to when fresh lamb offal is most available.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not securing the bundles tightly enough, causing them to unravel during cooking.
- Rushing the braise, which leaves the offal with an unpleasantly tough texture.
- Skipping the fresh herbs, which are essential to balancing the offal rich flavor.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Offal is notably rich in iron, vitamin B12, and other micronutrients.
Cultural Note
Mazzarelle reflects Abruzzo's shepherding heritage and traditional nose-to-tail use of spring lamb, historically prepared around Easter when lamb offal was most available.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate up to 2 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop.
Serve with: Crusty bread, A robust red wine from Abruzzo