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Meat, Italy

Beef pizzaiola with pan fried potatoes

Beef pizzaiola is an Italian dish of thin beef slices simmered in a tomato sauce with garlic, oregano, and black olives. This recipe serves 4, takes 1 hour, stays easy even for a first try, and costs €3.60 per person. The key is to sear the beef quickly, then just warm it through in the sauce without boiling, so it stays tender.

Tonight, beef pizzaiola, simmered in a garlicky tomato and oregano sauce, with golden pan fried potatoes.

Beef pizzaiola with pan fried potatoes
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.60
Calories per person
640 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Beef pizzaiola is tender meat that finishes cooking in a tomato sauce scented with garlic and oregano, with black olives adding a salty edge. The sauce coats the beef slices well, and the golden pan fried potatoes on the side soak up all that juice. It's a generous dish that smells like a real Italian family kitchen, nothing fussy about it.

This is the kind of recipe to turn to on a weeknight when you want a warm, comforting meal without spending hours on it. Kids tend to like the mild tomato sauce and the pan fried potatoes, you can just leave their olives out if needed. It also works for a relaxed Sunday with the family, no special occasion required.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Beef sirloin slices 600 g

Pantry

  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 500 g
  • Dried oreganooften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Black olivesoften in the pantry 50 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Potatoes 900 g
  • Parsley 4 sprigs

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the potatoes into cubes and brown them in a pan with oil, covered first, then uncovered. 25 min

    Add them to the pan once the oil is hot, so they don't stick.

  2. Sear the beef slices in a sauté pan with a little oil, one minute on each side, then set aside. 4 min

    Don't overcook them now, they'll finish cooking in the sauce.

  3. In the same pan, pour in the tomatoes with the oregano and let reduce. 10 min

    A pinch of sugar softens the tomato's acidity.

  4. Add the minced garlic and olives, then return the beef to the sauce. 8 min

    Don't let it boil, the meat needs to stay tender.

  5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with the pan fried potatoes.

    Taste the sauce before salting, the olives already add salt.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick thin beef slices of even thickness, they cook more evenly and stay tender.
  • Brown the potatoes covered first so they cook through, then uncovered so they turn crisp.
  • If your tomato sauce looks too thin, let it reduce a few more minutes before adding the beef back in, it only gets better.

The variations

  • Swap the beef for veal cutlets for a more classic take on pizzaiola.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with grilled eggplant slices before dipping them in the sauce.
  • For kids or a rushed night, skip the olives and serve the sauce over pasta instead of pan fried potatoes.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with a sharp vinaigrette
  • Bread for soaking up the sauce
  • Sparkling water with lemon

Storage

Beef pizzaiola keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. You can freeze it without the potatoes, which don't freeze well. Reheat the sauce and beef gently in a pan or saucepan over low heat so the meat doesn't toughen.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the tomato sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the tomato sauce with garlic, oregano, and olives the day before and keep it in the fridge. Just reheat it and add the seared beef at the last moment so it stays tender.

What cut of beef can replace the sirloin?

Flank steak or ribeye work just as well, as long as the slices stay thin. Avoid tougher cuts that need long cooking, they'd turn chewy in the sauce.

Why add the garlic at the end of cooking?

Raw garlic cooked too long turns bitter and loses its flavor. Adding it minced right before putting the beef back in keeps all its taste without burning.

Can you swap out the black olives?

You can leave them out entirely if you're cooking for young kids who don't like their taste. Rinsed capers bring a different but equally pleasant salty note.

How long does it take to make a beef pizzaiola with pan fried potatoes?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a beef pizzaiola with pan fried potatoes?

About 640 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a beef pizzaiola with pan fried potatoes cost?

About €3.60 per serving, or €14.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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