• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food and Journeys®
  • WORLD CUISINES
  • HOW-TOS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • Notes on Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Categories
  • Countries
  • Global Pantry
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Categories
    • Countries
    • Global Pantry
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Tuscan Beef Stew with Red Wine (Peposo)

    Published: Jun 2, 2021 · Modified: Aug 26, 2021 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Rich and peppery, that’s what Tuscan Beef Stew with Red Wine is all about.  Locally known as ‘Peposo,’ it’s a luscious, comfort dish that will tick all the boxes for cozy-up food. Yum!

    Overhead shot of a serving of Tuscan beef stew, served with toasted bread.

    (*This post contains some affiliate links)

    As ossobuco is to Lombardy, so is peposo to Tuscany — a delicious comfort dish packed with flavor in every bite of that tender chunk of beef.

    Peposo is referred to by various names:

    • Tuscan beef stew
    • Pepper beef stew
    • Tuscan peppery stew 

    As you can probably tell, pepper (i.e., peppercorns) and red wine are the primary flavor base for this stew.  Both ingredients tell you that it’s a warming dish.  

    Do not think peposo is heavy, though. It is definitely not. It will only feel heavy depending on what you serve with it.

    IF YOU WANT MORE AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RECIPES FROM TUSCANY, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THESE POSTS!

    • Slices of pane Toscano served with some salami next to it.
      Tuscan Bread (Pane Toscano)
    • An overhead shot of a freshly baked Italian Apple Cake, with powdered sugar and fresh apples on the side.
      Torta di Mele (Tuscan Apple Cake)

    Ingredients

    An image showing all the ingredients you need to prepare Peposo at home.
    • Beef – I strongly suggest getting the chuck (front shoulder part) because it has excellent flavor with all the connective tissues and fat.  Please do not go for the lean cuts; they end up dry when cooked for hours.
    • Tomato sauce – go for your favorite brand for this peposo recipe.
    • Garlic – minced or sliced thinly.
    • Peppercorns – black whole peppercorns for crushing; preparing it this way is crucial to preparing peposo.
    • Salt – make sure you use it generously for seasoning the beef.
    • Dry red wine – as you can see in the image above, I used Chianti in this peposo recipe because that is how it’s done in the region.
    Tuscan Peppery Beef Stew in an uncovered Dutch oven, ready to be transferred to plates.

    Preparation

    Start preparing your peposo by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F).

    Crush the peppercorns; do not ground them (photos 1 & 2).

    Using a Dutch oven, combine beef with the crushed peppercorns and add salt (photo 3).

    First part of a collage of images showing the step by step process on how to prepare Tuscan beef stew at home.

    Add garlic and tomato sauce (photo 4).

    Pour red wine into the beef.  You might not need to use the entire bottle; it should be just enough to cover the meat (photo 5).

    Mix to combine all the ingredients for peposo, then cover with the lid.

    Second part of a collage of images showing the step by step process on how to make beef stew with red wine at home.

    Place pepper beef stew in the oven for three hours.

    Take it out of the oven, taste, and adjust seasoning.

    Mix, place the lid back on, and return in the oven for another thirty minutes.

    Transfer your peposo into bowls or plates.

    Serve.

    A closer shot of peposo, highlighting the peppercorns and the sauce coating the chunks of beef.

    Helpful tips

    • You can also use mortar and pestle to crush the peppercorns, but make sure you don’t pound it so they don’t result in ground (finer) pepper.
    • If you are not a fan of garlic, keep them whole when you add them.  You can then pick and remove them later when you are adjusting the seasoning of the sauce of your Tuscan beef stew.
    • Do not pour the wine all at once. You should only use enough to cover the beef.  For your reference, I only used two cups of red wine for this peposo recipe.
    A piece of bread dipped into the beef stew, and used to scoop up bits of beef.

    Recipe variation

    • Tomato paste. Some add at least a tablespoon of tomato paste with the tomato sauce when they make peposo, so feel free to do that.
    • Other types of red wine.  While Chianti is traditionally used for making this Tuscan beef stew, you can, of course, use other types — but it will not be the same as how the locals prepare it.

    FAQs

    Can I cook it on the stove top instead?

    Yes, you can.

    Depending on the size of the cuts of beef, you might need to cook your peposo for a longer time.

    What do I serve with it?

    Tuscan bread goes excellently with peposo because it absorbs all the flavor of the peppery beef stew.

    You don’t even need to toast it, just take a chunk and dip it in the sauce.  Yum!

    Looks absolutely delicious right? Give peposo a try this weekend, and let me know what you think! 🙂

    Text for Roundup Sections
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Traditional Italian Recipes: Regional Italian Dishes post.
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Best Italian Street Food Recipes post.

    📖 Recipe

    Overhead shot of a serving of Tuscan beef stew, served with toasted bread.

    Peposo Recipe (Tuscan Beef Stew with Red Wine)

    Something to keep in mind when the weather cools down, Tuscan Peppery Beef Stew (locally known as 'Peposo') is a luscious, comfort dish that will tick all the boxes for cozy-up food. Enjoy!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Pyrex Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Le Creuset Dutch Oven (4.5 qt.)
    • Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 to 3/4 tbsp peppercorns
    • 2 lbs beef (chuck)
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 8 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup tomato sauce
    • bottle dry red wine

    Instructions

    • Start preparing peposo by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F).
    • Crush the peppercorns for this peppery beef stew — do not ground them.
    • In a Dutch oven, combine beef with the crushed peppercorns and salt.
    • Add garlic and tomato sauce.
    • Pour red wine into the beef.  (You might not need to use the entire bottle; it should be just enough to cover the meat).
    • Mix to combine all the ingredients then cover with the lid.
    • Place in the oven for 3 hours.
    • Take out of the oven, taste your peposo, and adjust seasoning if required.
    • Mix, place the lid back on, and return in the oven for another 30 minutes.
    • Transfer your peposo into bowls or plates.
    • Serve.

    Notes

    • Cook’s Tip #1:  You can also use mortar and pestle to crush the peppercorns, but make sure you don’t pound it so they don’t result in ground (finer) pepper.
    • Cook’s Tip #2:  If you are not a fan of garlic, keep them whole when you add them.  You can then pick and remove them later when you are adjusting the seasoning of your peposo sauce.
    • Cook’s Tip #3:  Do not pour the wine all at once. You should only use enough to cover the beef.  For your reference, I only used two cups of red wine in this peposo recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 283g | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.5g | Trans Fat: 0.514g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1134mg | Potassium: 811mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 4.98g | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4.14mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @foodandjourneys or tag #foodandjourneys!

    More Main Dish Recipes

    • A pan of Persian eggplant and tomato stew, garnished with fresh parsley.
      Persian Eggplant and Tomato Stew
    • A serving of Filipino chicken afritada, showing the chicken and vegetables in the sauce.
      Chicken Afritada (Filipino Chicken Stew)
    • Freshly baked Spanish stuffed eggplants, golden and perfect in color.
      Spanish Stuffed Eggplants (Berenjenas Rellenas)
    • A plate of traditional Pancit canton, highlighting the shrimp and vegetables.
      Pancit Canton

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Latest Pic, 2025 for food and journeys sidebar.

    Hej there!

    A smorgasbord of traditional and delicious international recipes awaits you, so feel free to look around and pick your favorites. No need to leave your kitchen to experience the real deal!

    More about me →

    Image for listing as-featured-on

    Feature of the Month: Filipino Cuisine

    Feature image for Filipino Recipes post, a serving of pancit bihon with a slice of lemon.

    Spring Favorites

    • Freshly-baked German leek pie, highlighting its golden color.
      German Leek Pie
    • Feature image for Roasted Fennel showing the dish straight out of the oven.
      Roasted Fennel (Creamy & Cheesy!)
    • Feature image for asparagus risotto, showing a serving of it, topped with grated parmigiano.
      Asparagus Risotto (Risotto agli Asparagi)
    • Feature image for German Leek Soup, highlighting the creaminess of the soup-
      German Leek Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • A closer shot of kanelbullar on a cooling rack, highlighting the filling of the buns.
      Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)
    • An overhead shot of a skillet of Spanish Garlic Chicken, straight out of the oven.
      Spanish Garlic Chicken (Pollo Al Ajillo)
    • Arroz de Tomate in a pan, ready for transferring to serving plates, with fresh cherry tomatoes next to it.
      Portuguese Tomato Rice (Arroz de Tomate)
    • Latest feature image for drommekage, highlighting the texture of the cake.
      Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage)
    • Three freshly-baked pasticciotti sprinkled with powdered sugar and served wiith espresso.
      Pasticciotto (Italian Cream Filled Pastry)
    • An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.
      Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
    • An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.
      Taralli (Italian Crackers)
    • Swedish Almond Tart
      Swedish Almond Tart
    • Latest feature image (Apr23) for Filipino picadillo showing the dish on a plate.
      Filipino Picadillo
    • Latest feature image for Salt and Pepper pork belly, showing the slices garnished with more chili.
      Salt and Pepper Pork Belly
    • A slice of cardamom sponge cake, served with a cup of coffee.
      Swedish Cardamom Cake

    Favorite Snacks

    • Fried panzerotti served with a glass of wine, for snack.
      Panzerotti (Panzarotti)
    • A collage of flammkuchen toppings to choose from.
      Classic Flammkuchen (+ More Flammkuchen Toppings!)
    • Freshly cooked panelle from Palermo, served with a dustingg of ground black pepper.
      Panelle (Sicilian Chickpea Fritters)
    • Chocolate balls served with coffee, for afternoon snack.
      Swedish Chocolate Balls (Chokladbollar)

    Sweet Treats

    • Traditional Swedish Cakes that you can easily make at home.
      Traditional Swedish Cakes: Make Them at Home!
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for fika post, showing some Swedish treats, and coffee and tea in the background.
      What is Fika? (Fika Meaning + Recipes)
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Italian Desserts and Pastries post.
      Easy Italian Desserts & Pastries Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) Feature image for Traditional German Desserts and Pastries.
      Traditional German Desserts and Pastries

    Popular Cuisines

    • Latest feature image for authentic Swedish recipes, showing västerbottenostpaj, a midsummer favorite.
      Authentic Swedish Recipes
    • Feature image for Italian recipes by region post.
      Italian Recipes by Region
    • Feature image for German Recipes post.
      Authentic German Recipes
    • Feature image for Portuguese Recipes, as part of recipes by country.
      Easy Portuguese Recipes
    • Feature image for Traditional Spanish Recipes, a pan of espinacas con garbanzos.
      Traditional Spanish Recipes
    • Feature image for Finnish Recipes post.
      Easy Finnish Recipes
    • Feature image for Greek Recipes post.
      Traditional Greek Recipes
    • Feature image for Lebanese Recipes post.
      Lebanese Recipes

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

    Copyright © 2025. FOOD AND JOURNEYS®

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required