This comes from La Cucina Italiana, one of my favorite cooking magazines and one which I recommend you subscribe too. Perfect to make ahead as this tastes better a day or two afterwards.
Best served with polenta.
Ingredients
- 1 (3- to 3½- pound) boneless beef chuck roast
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds
- 4 juniper berries (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups red wine, preferably chianti
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 ounces guanciale or pancetta, cubed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup water
- 1½ tablespoons tomato paste, preferably double concentrated
Instructions
Place meat, anise seeds, juniper berries and bay leaf in a large bowl; pour wine over the top. Marinate, refrigerated, turning occasionally, for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Remove meat from marinade; pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Dust with flour. Strain marinade into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve; discard solids.
Heat oil in a wide 4- to 5-quart pot over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown meat on all sides, about 10 minutes total, reducing heat if necessary to prevent scorching. Transfer meat to a plate and drain excess oil from pot.
Return pot to medium-high heat. Add guanciale, onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add reserved marinade, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by about half, about 5 minutes.
Stir in vegetable broth, water and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then return meat and any accumulated juices to pot. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until meat is very tender, about 3 hours.
Transfer meat to a cutting board, cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes, then cut across the grain into
½-inch pieces.
Purée half of sauce, then return to pot. Return meat to sauce. Gently reheat before serving.
Note: Beef improves in flavor if made 3 days ahead. Cool completely in sauce, uncovered, then chill in sauce, covered. Reheat, covered, in a preheated 350° oven until hot, 25 to 30 minutes, then slice meat.
Recipe Adapted from La Cucina Italiana
Remove meat from marinade; pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Dust with flour. Strain marinade into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve; discard solids.
Heat oil in a wide 4- to 5-quart pot over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown meat on all sides, about 10 minutes total, reducing heat if necessary to prevent scorching. Transfer meat to a plate and drain excess oil from pot.
Return pot to medium-high heat. Add guanciale, onion, carrot and celery. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add reserved marinade, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by about half, about 5 minutes.
Stir in vegetable broth, water and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then return meat and any accumulated juices to pot. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until meat is very tender, about 3 hours.
Transfer meat to a cutting board, cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes, then cut across the grain into
½-inch pieces.
Purée half of sauce, then return to pot. Return meat to sauce. Gently reheat before serving.
Note: Beef improves in flavor if made 3 days ahead. Cool completely in sauce, uncovered, then chill in sauce, covered. Reheat, covered, in a preheated 350° oven until hot, 25 to 30 minutes, then slice meat.
Recipe Adapted from La Cucina Italiana
This sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Italian foods and posted an Italian recipe just this evening. We always have Chianti on hand and I definitely want to try this recipe. It sounds like a winner.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn