Braised Italian Beef Stew

Submitted by SkinnyMinnie

"This is another one that might take a little while to prepare, but the work and wait are WELL worth the effort! If you can't find a 5 lb. boneless beef chuck roast, 2 smaller ones will work just fine!"

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 5 lbs boneless beef chuck roast (shoulder and blade will work too)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 large garlic cloves, minced (about 2 Tbsp)
• 2 cups red wine or 2 cups beef broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 bay leaf

directions

1. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper.
2. Place it in a wide, deep baking pan (like a turkey roaster).
3. Preheat the broiler, and put the rack 4" from the heat, or enough room to allow for the pan.
4. Put the meat under the broiler and leave the door ajar so the element stays lit.
5. Broil for about 15 min, or until a deep brown.
6. Turn it over, and broil for 5 min more.
7. As the meat cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
8. Add the onion, celery, and carrot.
9. Increase the heat to high and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 min, or until softened. If the vegetables begin to burn or stick, turn the heat down.
10. Add the garlic to the softened vegetables.
11. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minute.
12. Scrape the softened vegetables into the pan with the browned meat.
13. Add the wine (or beef broth), tomatoes, thyme, and bay leaf.
14. Heat oven to 300ºF.
15. Cover the pan with foil, and crimp it tightly.
16. Bake for 3 hours.
17. Remove the pan from the oven, and remove the meat to a serving platter.
18. Remove and discard the bay leaf from the sauce.
19. Put the sauce into a blender (or use a hand held immersion blender) to blend the liquid and vegetables into a smooth sauce.
20. Cover the meat with the sauce and serve.
21. Serve with mashed potatoes. Leftovers freeze well.
22. **NOTE: For a GREAT leftover dish. Shred the leftover roast in a skillet with the leftover sauce (like BBQ pork/beef) with two forks. It is easier to do when the roast is warmed. Serve this over the pasta of your choice, we like fettuccine.

Reviews

[muyfeliz]

This was delicious. I made this as a freezer meal and it was just beautiful. I used a smaller roast (approx 3.5 lbs) because my butcher didn't have a 5 pounder and I didn't have celery so I didn't use it. The result was wonderful! I served it over creamy polenta for a hearty winter supper. This is not difficult to make at all and most of the work is done by the oven - don't be scared, try it! It's lovely.