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Beef Braised in Barolo

This beef braised in Barolo is braised chuck roasted in an aromatic mix of Barolo wine, garlic, tomato paste, thyme, and rosemary. Perfect for entertaining.

Prep Time
1 hr 40 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs 40 mins
Total Time
5 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Calories: 794 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • One (3 1/2- to 4-pound) boneless beef chuck eye roast pulled apart into 2 pieces, trimmed, and tied with kitchen string
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 ounces pancetta* cut into 1/4-inch (6-mm) chunks
  • 2 medium onions chopped
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 2 medium garlic cloves minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves plus more for garnish, if desired
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon store-bought or homemade tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • One bottle Barolo wine*
  • One can diced tomatoes drained
  • Cooked polenta (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and adjust an oven rack to the lower third position.
  2. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Brown the beef on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes, reducing the heat if the beef begins to scorch. Transfer the beef to a large plate.
  3. Pour off almost all the fat in the pot, add the pancetta, and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until browned and crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in the garlic, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, and the rosemary and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the flour, tomato paste, and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the wine, scraping up any browned bits, until smooth. Stir in the tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
  5. Add the beef, along with any juices that accumulated on the plate, to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cover, place the pot in the oven, and cook until the meat is very tender and a fork inserted into it meets very little resistance, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning the beef every hour.
  6. Transfer the beef to a cutting board and tent loosely with foil.
  7. Meanwhile, strain the braising liquid into a fat separator or bowl, discarding the solids. Defat the braising liquid by pouring off the fat, skimming the fat with a ladle, or refrigerating the whole shebang overnight so that the solidified fat can be lifted from the surface.
  8. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon thyme to the defatted braising liquid, bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until thickened, saucy, and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 15 to 20 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Remove the kitchen string, slice the beef against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices, and transfer to a serving platter with polenta, if desired. Spoon the sauce over the beef, garnish with thyme, if desired, and serve.

Notes

  • Barolo is obviously the wine of choice for this stew; however, an inexpensive bottle of it may require some searching. You may substitute a Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.
  • Pancetta can commonly be found thinly sliced and prepackaged…but don’t use that here. Instead, look for pancetta at the deli counter or in an Italian market where it can be sliced 1/4 inch thick to order. If pancetta isn’t available, substitute an equal amount of salt pork (find the meatiest piece possible), cut it into 1/4-inch cubes, and boil it in 3 cups water for 2 minutes to remove excess salt.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 794kcal (40%) Carbohydrates 14g (5%) Protein 62g (124%) Fat 45g (69%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Monounsaturated Fat 21g Trans Fat 2g Cholesterol 221mg (74%) Sodium 426mg (18%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 6g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6to 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 794

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 794kcal 40%
Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Protein 62g 124%
Fat 45g 69%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Monounsaturated Fat 21g 105%
Trans Fat 2g 100%
Cholesterol 221mg 74%
Sodium 426mg 18%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 6g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.