History

Bollito misto is the Northern Italian Sunday-lunch tradition that runs from Piedmont through Lombardy and Emilia, with the Veronese variation distinguished by the obligatory pearà sauce on the side. Verona's bollito-and-pearà is October-through-March season only, the cool-weather slow-cook tradition that closes with the Lenten Easter break.

Common allergens: Gluten (in pearà and mostarda)

Make it at home

Yield 6Hands-on 45 minTotal 4 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 1 kg beef brisket
  • 1 veal tongue (about 1.2 kg)
  • 1 cotechino sausage (about 500g)
  • 1 capon or chicken (1.8 kg)
  • 500g beef cheek
  • 2 onions, halved
  • 3 carrots
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • Salt
  • To serve: pearà sauce (see separate recipe), mostarda di Mantova, salsa verde

Method

  1. Bring a very large pot (or two pots) of salted water to the boil with the onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves and peppercorns.
  2. Add the brisket and beef cheek first; simmer 2 hours.
  3. Add the veal tongue and continue cooking 1 hour.
  4. Add the capon and cook 45 minutes.
  5. Cook the cotechino in a separate pot of plain water for 2.5 to 3 hours (it should be pricked and cooked separately so the fat doesn't cloud the broth).
  6. Once the tongue is fork-tender, remove it, peel off the rough outer skin while hot, and return to the broth to keep warm.
  7. Carve all the meats just before serving: brisket and beef cheek in 1cm slices, tongue in thin slices, cotechino in 1cm rounds, capon jointed.
  8. Serve on a large warm platter with pearà sauce in a separate bowl, plus mostarda and salsa verde. Strain the broth and serve as a starter brodo.

Tip from the editors. Save the strained broth (about 2 litres) for the pearà sauce or for tortellini in brodo; nothing in a bollito is wasted.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat bollito misto

Bollito misto in Verona

Trattoria Tre Marchetti ★ 4.4

Italian€€Until Opera nights to 23:30 (later by booking)

Trattoria Tre Marchetti in Verona stays open late on Arena opera nights for the post-show 22:30 dining crowd. A 2026 TableJourney editor pick.

Try: Pastissada de caval and tagliata

Tip: On opera nights (mid-June to early September) ask for the 22:30 booking; standard close 22:30 otherwise.

Trattoria al Pompiere ★ 4.6

Historic Veronese With 35-salumi Board€€€Citta Antica

Trattoria al Pompiere has run a historic Veronese kitchen since the early 20th century in Vicolo Regina d'Ungheria. A 2026 TableJourney editor pick.

Signature: Risotto all'Amarone, Guancia di manzo all'Amarone, Salumi e formaggi (35 cured meats)

Tip: Book the cured-meat-and-cheese board 24 hours out for the full 35-salumi spread; the risotto all'Amarone and tiramisu are the must-orders alongside.

Trattoria I Masenini ★ 4.4

Refined Veronese, Signature Pearà€€€A la carte €50-85Citta AnticaMon-Sat lunch 12:30-14:30, dinner 19:30-22:30. Closed Sun.Book One week ahead

Trattoria I Masenini brings polished plating to traditional Veronese plates on Via Roma between the Arena and Castelvecchio. A 2026 editor pick.

Tip: The Sunday-only pearà bollito (October to March) needs a 24-hour pre-order; pair it with a glass of Bardolino Chiaretto rather than Amarone.

San Basilio alla Pergola ★ 4.3

Italian€€

San Basilio alla Pergola on Via Pisano in Borgo Venezia is the vine-shaded courtyard trattoria plating Veronese classics on a pergola May-September.

Why locals love it: Vine-shaded courtyard in Borgo Venezia outside the historic walls; classic Veronese plates the way you'd eat at a friend's grandmother's house.

Tip: Order the pearà bollito on Sunday (October to March) and the bigoli con l'arna any day; book the pergola for May-September.

Osteria da Ugo ★ 4.4

Italian€€

Osteria da Ugo is a italian room in Verona. Book the pearà bollito Sunday slot 48 hours out (October to March); the exposed-beam rooms seat 35.

Why locals love it: Tucked 200 metres from Juliet's House on a quiet alley; tourists walk past the entrance every day.

Tip: Book the pearà bollito Sunday slot 48 hours out (October to March); the exposed-beam rooms seat 35.

More cities are in research. Want bollito misto covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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