The Scented Memory of Steak Pizzaiola

Name: Steak Pizzaiola
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Ingredients: 2 lb. chuck steak, cut 2-inches thick; 2 cups onion, chopped; 6 cloves garlic, left whole; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 2 28-ounce cans whole plum tomatoes crushed by hand; 1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes left whole; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup red wine (Chianti or Barolo); 2 tsp. dry oregano, plus a pinch; cracked black pepper; salt; 2 bay leaves

A scented, childhood memory of braised steak pizzaiola inspires this recipe for a classic Italian peasant dish.

By Daniel Mancini

9:00 AM EDT on April 28, 2025

I have an expression called “scented memory.” This is when an aroma transports you back to a special time and memory in your life.

When I make my grandmother's steak pizzaiola, the aroma hits me, and I am back in the 60s and 70s coming home from school when the aroma of her steak pizzaiola braising on the stove leads me directly into the kitchen.

There are many recipes for steak pizzaiola. This one my grandmother carried with her from Bari, Italy in 1921. For me, it is the only way to make this classic peasant dish. She taught me to use a very inexpensive cut of beef, like chuck steak, because she would braise the beef in the tomatoes and the onions for hours. The result would be a beef dish that literally melts in your mouth.

The sauce is outstanding, so if you want to make some pasta, rigatoni is a perfect choice. You can freeze extra sauce for another day.

If you make my grandmother’s recipe, I hope it creates a “scented memory” for your family.

Steak Pizzaiola

Recipe by Daniel Mancini

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hours

Ingredients

2 lb. 2 chuck steak, cut 2-inches thick
2 cups 2 onion, chopped
6 cloves 6 garlic, left whole
1/4 cup 1/4 extra virgin olive oil
2 28-ounce 2 cans whole plum tomatoes crushed by hand
1 28-ounce 1 can plum tomatoes left whole
1/2 cup 1/2 water
1/2 cup 1/2 red wine (Chianti or Barolo)
2 tsp. 2 dry oregano, plus a pinch
cracked black pepper
salt
2 2 bay leaves

Directions

In a large, heavy pot add the oil and get that very hot.
Season both sides of the meat with salt.
Brown the beef on both sides then remove to a dish.
Add the wine and deglaze the pot, use a wooded spoon to do this.
Add the onions and garlic; sauté this for 2 minutes.
Add all the tomatoes, bay leaves, oregano, pinch or pepper, water bring this to a boil.
Add the beef, push it under the tomatoes
Cover the pot put the heat to a very low simmer and let this braise for 1.5 hours. Check it along the way and spoon the sauce on the beef.
Remove the lid and simmer for 30 minutes longer to thicken the sauce.
Discard the bay leaves.
Serve the Steak Pizzaiola with the sauce and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.