What Is the Italian Dish With Slow Cooked Beef in Sauce

Italian Beef Braciole in a rich slowly simmered tomato sauce. This southern Italian dish is super comforting and delicious made with thin slices of beef stuffed with prosciutto, pecorino, garlic, and herbs. Toss the incredible tomato sauce with pasta and serve the braciole with your sides of choice!

Beef Braciole also known as involtini (rolled stuffed meat) is just such a homely and comforting meal perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon feast with the family.

This version, in particular, is traditionally served in Puglia, southern Italy although there are so many filling options you could try.

And don't worry it's also not an overly complicated dish to make either. A sharp knife (or your butcher) will ensure that the beef is cut into nice thin slices ready to be stuffed.

And the whole dish is simmered for just 2 hours, this really is rustic home cooking at it's finest!

Ingredients you need

This recipe is made with super simple ingredients all of which are pretty easy to find in most supermarkets; top or bottom round beef roast (also know as silverside), pecorino cheese, fresh basil and parsley, slices of prosciutto, garlic, strained tomatoes (passata), olive oil and salt and pepper.

See the photo below that shows all the ingredients you need.

Step by step recipe instructions

Cut the beef into ¼ inch (½ cm) thick slices. Pound them to half the thickness with a meat mallet or rolling pin (photos 1 & 2).

Sprinkle the inside of each slice of beef with a little salt and pepper then lay a slice of prosciutto on top. Sprinkle over a small amount of garlic, parsley and place a slice of pecorino in the middle (photo 3).

Roll up the slice of beef and secure each end with a toothpick, repeat with all slices of beef (photos 4 & 5).

Heat the olive oil in a large pot and brown the braciole on all sides. Once browned add the strained tomatoes (passata) and stir to combine. Cover with a lid and turn the heat down to low, simmer slowly for 2 hours (photos 6-10).

Once the braciole are cooked add the fresh basil to the sauce and stir to combine, serve.

How to serve it the Italian way

The traditional way to serve beef braciole is to first toss a little tomato sauce with cooked pasta and serve that as a first course, the portion should be small and not your average main sized portion (photos 11 & 12 show how some of the sauce can be used to toss with pasta).

The braciole are then served with a little remaining sauce with some sides such as sauteed green veggies, beans, grilled vegetables or roasted potatoes.

I absolutely love serving braciole this way because the starter and main course are all prepared in the one pot and while it cooks you can prepare your sides.

It's such a delicious, hearty and rustic home cooked meal that fills your home with the most incredible smell and brings the whole family together.

Filling options

The great thing about this recipe is that it's super versatile and you can stuff the braciole with whatever you like.

In Napoli the braciole are traditionally stuffed with pine nuts and raisins (no prosciutto) whereas this version is often found in Puglia.

You can get creative and choose your own fillings but one top tip to bear in mind is that less is more, don't go overboard and don't overcomplicate it.

Top tips and recipe FAQs

• Beef thickness - it's essential to pound the beef using a meat mallet or rolling pin to half of its thickness to tenderise the beef and make it easier to roll.

What cut of meat do I need?

The cut of beef you need is top round or a bottom round roast, either one will do. You'll want the beef to be cut into thin slices so a sharp knife is essential otherwise ask your butcher to cut the beef for you. The slices should be ¼ inch (½ cm) before pounding. Also if you're using top round the slices will be fairly large so cut them in half lengthways first.

Can I prepare this in advance?

Absolutely, you can stuff the braciole and store them in the fridge before cooking or you can cook the whole dish and store it in the fridge until you're ready to re-heat and serve.

How can I store leftovers?

Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for around 2-3 days or can be frozen in suitable containers. After freezing thaw the braciole completely then reheat until piping hot all the way through.

More Italian dinner recipes you might like

• Lasagne al Forno (beef lasagna)
• Ossobuco Milanese (Braised Veal Shanks)
• Steak Pizzaiola
• Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
• Florentine Steak (Bistecca alla Fiorentina)

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Italian Beef Braciole

Italian Beef Braciole in a rich slowly simmered tomato sauce. This southern Italian dish is super comforting and delicious made with thin slices of beef stuffed with prosciutto, pecorino, garlic, and herbs. Toss the incredible tomato sauce with pasta and serve the braciole with your sides of choice!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 386 kcal

• ▢ 1.3 lbs top or bottom round beef roast can also use sirloin or silverside (600g)
• ▢ 8-10 slices prosciutto
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
• ▢ 8-10 slices of pecorino cheese
• ▢ 3 cups crushed strained tomatoes passata
• ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Cut the beef into ¼ inch (½ cm) thick slices. Pound them to half the thickness with a meat mallet or rolling pin.

• Sprinkle the inside of each slice of beef with a little salt and pepper then lay a slice of prosciutto on top.

• Sprinkle over a small amount of garlic, parsley and place a slice of pecorino in the middle. Roll up the slice of beef and secure each end with a toothpick.

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot and brown the braciole on all sides. Once browned add the strained tomatoes and stir to combine. Cover with a lid and turn the heat down to low, simmer slowly for 2 hours.

• Once the braciole are cooked add the fresh basil to the sauce and stir to combine, serve.

How to serve it traditionally

• Once cooked remove the beef braciole and set aside or keep warm on a plate. Add the fresh basil to the sauce and serve the sauce with freshly cooked and drained pasta then serve the beef braciole as a second course with a little reserved tomato sauce and your sides of choice.

• Beef thickness - it's essential to pound the beef using a meat mallet or rolling pin to half of its thickness to tenderise the beef and make it easier to roll.
• leftovers & freezing - leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 2-3 days and can be reheated as needed alternatively you can freeze leftovers in suitable containers the thaw completely before reheating.

Calories: 386 kcal | Carbohydrates: 18 g | Protein: 39 g | Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 104 mg | Sodium: 266 mg | Potassium: 1368 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 9 g | Vitamin A: 1199 IU | Vitamin C: 23 mg | Calcium: 91 mg | Iron: 7 mg

• I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
• When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use this brand for the best results and flavour
• All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
• All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
• Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
• Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
• You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.

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Source: https://www.insidetherustickitchen.com/italian-beef-braciole/

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