9 Comments
User's avatar
Jo Candiano's avatar

I make brodo every couple of weeks. I literally wrote about it yesterday. In our Sicilian village we don't use tongue but certainly bones with some beef on them, and the same aromats. I added a couple of cloves last time when I saw your recipe. Not strong but a lovely addition. I use bay leaf instead of parsley and I use chicken skeletons. Other differences are that we add large pieces of potato and a chopped up tomato. And mini meatballs when I can be bothered! I have also made it with oxtail in winter for a really rich brodo. Oh and always a piece of pecorino or grano rind. This is in my top 5 dishes. Also mum has told me about how they used to make this soup for weddings with a stuffed, deboned chicken that are turned into cotolletti. That's a story for another day!

Expand full comment
judy witts francini's avatar

The broth we make is really just a benefit of making boiled beef! So more meat than bones. We are a Beefy region of Italy.

Expand full comment
Jo Candiano's avatar

Fair enough!

Expand full comment
judy witts francini's avatar

I adore the regional variations. Siclians always have pasta in their soups too. Minestra.Where I stay I adore the minestra with the Cuzzuzza greens.

Expand full comment
Jo Candiano's avatar

Yes! Tenneruma. We have to grow our own in Australia as they are not available to buy at all. There you can get them at every market and roadside.

Expand full comment
Sarah May Grunwald's avatar

Today is my 20th anniversary here!!!

Expand full comment
judy witts francini's avatar

Auguri!

Expand full comment
Mariangela's avatar

I remember as a child going to the original FINI restaurant in Modena which was very formal and they would bring the covered carrello with bollito misto and sauces. So delicious!

Expand full comment
Ruth Stroud's avatar

Such a fascinating story and loved the pictures—and the lesson on making a bollito misto!

Expand full comment