Morzello (Morzeddhu alla Catanzarisi)

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PRESENTATION

Soft, tender chunks of meat combined with a zesty sauce bring a real flavor punch to regional American dishes like Morzello, making family mealtimes feel special without much fuss. Deep color and thick stew texture look inviting right on the table, especially since this dish always brings that cozy, old-world charm folks crave with traditional American cooking. It usually stands out for holiday gatherings or just those chilly nights when everyone wants good comfort food. Kids and adults both remember the bold, hearty taste...a rich, slightly spicy stew that’s satisfying yet mild enough for everyone at the table. Home cooks love Morzello especially for the way it makes every bite so satisfying—tangy, savory, and full of robust, real flavor, while dried herbs and authentic spices give it an edge most easy family dinners don’t always have. Some folks say the vibrant red sauce is the best part, since it means the dish looks as delicious as it tastes—just right for shared family dinners where the food needs to be crowd-pleasing, filling, and brings everyone closer.

Families juggling busy days find Morzello fits naturally into all kinds of budget cooking routines, mostly because it keeps really well and packs tons of flavor even after a couple days—“good as new” after reheating, which makes it stand out for quick meals and other meal prep ideas. It matches up great with pitta (that simple, soft crusty bread), making a warm, fuss-free pairing you can count on for rushed weeknights, casual Sunday meals, or even last-minute potlucks. Although known for its classic Italian roots, this sturdy stew always adapts nicely to American kitchens—especially since it doesn’t require fancy or out-of-reach products, just practical pantry stuff found right alongside your everyday ingredients. Morzello really does the trick for anyone after easy family dinners with BIG, hearty flavors and a touch of something different, while still being friendly enough for all ages—a real winner for cooks after a friendly twist on familiar meals (and one of those great addition secret recipes you hold onto for years).

INGREDIENTS
Tripe 1.3 lbs (600 g) - (honeycomb, rumen and omasum "hundredfold")
Oregano 1 sprig
Fresh chili pepper 1
Extra virgin olive oil 1 spoonful
Fine salt to taste
Veal 6.4 oz (180 g) - trachea
Veal 5.5 oz (160 g) - fatty
Veal 0.9 lb (400 g) - heart
Veal 0.9 lb (400 g) - lungs
Veal 0.5 lb (230 g) - belly
Veal 0.7 lb (300 g) - spleen
Tomato paste 1.67 cups (400 g)
Water 21.1 cups (5 l)
Bay leaves 1 leaf
Preparation

How to prepare Morzello (Morzeddhu alla Catanzarisi)

To prepare Morzello, pour water into a large pot 1 and dissolve the tomato paste in it 2, add salt, olive oil 3, and let the sauce reduce for about 3 hours over medium heat, or until it thickens well. This cooking process will allow you to obtain an intensely flavored sauce to best season the offal.

Meanwhile, focus on cleaning the offal: rinse thoroughly under running water, or alternatively, you can ask your trusted butcher for pre-cleaned offal. Boil the tripe for 25 minutes 4, or until the meat is tender, then drain 5 and cut into strips 6.

Place the cooked tripe in a bowl and set aside 7. Continue by cooking the remaining offal, place all the remaining pieces of veal in a pot 8, cover with water, and boil for about 40 minutes, until tender as well, testing the doneness by piercing the meat with a fork 9.

Once cooked, remove the offal, drain well 10, and cut into strips 11. Sauté all the offal in a pan to dry them 12.

When the tomato sauce is well reduced 13, add the tripe and the rest of the offal 14. Continue cooking for 1 and a half hours. Chop the chili pepper with a knife 15.

20 minutes before the end of cooking, season the Morzello with the herbs: bay leaf, oregano, and chopped chili pepper 16. After the indicated time, the Morzello will be ready to serve (17-18).

Storage

Store Morzello in an airtight container for a couple of days in the refrigerator. It can be frozen if fresh ingredients were used.

Tip

There are several variations of the recipe, a common alternative is to cook the tripe and offal together with the sauce and not separately. To best enjoy Morzello, accompany it with Calabrian pitta, and it will become an irresistible street food.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.