Bollito Misto

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Servings:
8

For some people, the peak of Italian civilization is reached every time they avail themselves of the depths of a pot of bollito misto. Each of its unfailingly tender components brings a distinct taste to the table, though all are bathed in the combined cooking juices that convey the essence of every ingredient.

Ingredients

For the Bollito Misto

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pound beef brisket, fat trimmed

  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

  • 8 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium beef stock

  • 12 baby carrots, 4 chopped, 8 whole

  • 2 celery stalks, 1 chopped, 1 cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 ½ medium red onions, ½ onion chopped, whole onion halved

  • 2 sprigs flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 dried bay leaf

  • 1 pound cotechino sausage

  • 2 sweet Italian sausages

  • 1 whole chicken (3 to 3 ½ pounds), cut into 8 pieces

  • 8 Red Bliss potatoes (or any boiling potatoes)

For the Salsa Verde

  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 cup fresh basil

  • 1 cup fresh mint

  • ¼ cup capers, drained and rinsed

  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon mustard, plus more for serving

  • 2 anchovy fillets, rinsed

  • 1 garlic clove, smashed

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

  1. Make the bollito misto: Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season brisket generously with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Add stock; chopped carrots, celery, and onion; parsley; and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cover, and simmer gently until brisket is very tender, about 2 hours.

  2. Transfer brisket to a plate. Strain stock though a fine sieve into pot, then add browned brisket, sausages, chicken, and potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until meats and potatoes are just tender, about 30 minutes. Add whole carrots, onion halves, and remaining celery. Cover, and cook until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

  3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meat and vegetables to a platter. Strain stock into pot, and cook until reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes.

  4. Make the salsa verde: Puree all the ingredients through garlic in a blender. With machine running, add oil in a slow, steady stream. Season with salt and pepper.

  5. Slice meats, and arrange on the platter with vegetables. Drizzle some reduced stock on top. Serve with salsa verde, mustard, and remaining stock.

Cook's Notes

A simple, slightly pungent salsa verde is the typical Piedmontese accompaniment; tangy mustard is similarly well-suited to the dish's many robust overtones. Cotechino sausage is a mild-flavored fresh Italian pork sausage, seasoned with a hint of nutmeg and cloves.

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