Saucy Italian Roast Recipes

ITALIAN POT ROAST (STRACOTTO ALLA FIORENTINA)

Steps:

• Trim some of the fat from the meat. Using a sharp knife, make cuts all over the meat and insert the garlic slices inside. Season generously with salt and pepper. If you like, you can tie the beef with kitchen strin, to help it keep it shape during cooking.
• In a large dutch oven pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the meat and brown on all sides until a nice brown crust develops, about 5 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and reserve.
• Lower the heat to medium low. Add the veggies and cook until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Then, add the wine and cook until it reduces slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Add the marinara sauce and stir to combine. Then, add back the chuck roast and the basil leaves. Cover, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, turning the roast at least once, until fork tender. If you think the sauce is drying out, you can add some water of beef broth.
• When done, remove the basil leaves and discard. Transfer the meat to a chopping board, remove the kitchen string (if used) and cut into smaller pieces. The sauce should be thick enough, but if it's not, you can continue boiling over medium-high heat, uncovered, until it reaches the desired thickness. Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
• Serve the roast over creamy polenta (or mashed potatoes), garnished with chopped parsley.

ITALIAN ROAST BEEF

Steps:

• Poke holes all over the roast. Slice 4 large cloves of garlic. Stick the garlic into the holes. Liberally season the meat all over with salt and black pepper, to taste. Heat the extra-virgin olive oil, 4 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. When the oil smokes, add the meat and brown on all sides. Remove the meat to a plate. Crush the remaining garlic and add it to the pot along with the onions, bay leaves, carrots, celery and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover the pot with a lid and sweat the vegetables for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomato paste and wine, and let reduce for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the stock-in-a-box. Return the meat to the pot and cover with a lid. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 2 1/2 hours.
• When meat is about done, bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat for the pasta.
• Remove the meat to a cutting board and cool 15 minutes. Slice the roast and arrange half of the meat on a platter.
• Cook the pasta to al dente while the meat is resting. Drain the pasta and add it to a serving bowl. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon and arrange them alongside the meat. Spoon a few juices over the top. Melt the butter in small pan over low heat and add the sage leaves. Add the sage butter to the bowl with the pasta and toss together. Season with salt. Ladle the remainder of the juices over the pasta. Serve the meat and veggies with pasta alongside. Cool and store the remainder of the meat in the refrigerator.

TOP-RATED ITALIAN POT ROAST

Steps:

• Place cinnamon stick, peppercorns, cloves and allspice on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose spices; tie securely with string., In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides; transfer to a 4-qt. slow cooker. Add celery, carrots and spice bag., Add onion to same skillet; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add sherry, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until liquid is reduced to 2/3 cup. Stir in tomatoes and salt; pour over roast and vegetables., Cook, covered, on low 6-7 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Remove roast from slow cooker; keep warm. Discard spice bag; skim fat from sauce. Serve roast and sauce with noodles and parsley if desired., Freeze option: Place sliced pot roast in freezer containers; top with sauce. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, stirring gently and adding a little broth if necessary.

ITALIAN POT ROAST

Steps:

• Cut roast in half. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, onion, wine, salt, basil, oregano, garlic and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender. , Remove meat to a serving platter; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices; transfer to a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with meat.

SAUCY ITALIAN ROAST

Steps:

• 1. Cut roast in half. Combine the salt, garlic powder and pepper, rub over roast. Place in 5 qt. slow cooker. Top with mushrooms and onion. Combine the spaghetti sauce and wine, pour over meat.
• 2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender. Slice roast, serve with pasta and pan juices.