Italian Pot Roast Stracotto Alla Fiorentina Recipes

ITALIAN POT ROAST (STRACOTTO)

Steps:

• Cut the garlic into thin slivers. Pierce the meat in many places with the point of a knife and insert the garlic slivers into the holes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy 3- to 4-quart heatproof casserole. Add the meat and brown it well over medium heat. Remove it from the casserole. Add the remaining oil and the onions, carrots and celery. Saute them until moderately brown.
• Stir in the wine and cook for a few minutes, scraping the casserole. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and basil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and return the meat to the casserole.
• Cover tightly and cook over very low heat for at least three hours, until the meat is very tender. Turn the meat a few times during cooking.
• Remove the meat from the casserole. To serve immediately, skim the fat from the surface of the sauce, then puree the sauce in a food processor and reheat. Otherwise, refrigerate the meat and sauce overnight. Remove any congealed fat from the sauce and puree the sauce in a food processor. Reheat the meat in the sauce before serving.

STRACOTTO-ITALIAN POT ROAST (PRESSURE COOKER)

Steps:

• 1. In a 6-quart pressure cooker, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the roast and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and season with salt and pepper.
• 2. Pour off fat in pressure cooker. Add remaining oil and heat over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Saute about 2 minutes, stirring. Add wine and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add tomatoes and their juices.
• 3. Return meat to pan along with any juices that have collected. Lock lid in place. Bring to pressure over high heat.
• 4. Adjust heat to maintain the pressure. Cook for 1 1/4 hours.
• 5. Remove from heat and quick-release the pressure. Open lid. Place meat on platter and let rest 10 minutes.
• 6. Skim any fat from the surface of the sauce. Slice meat and serve with sauce.

STRACOTTO

Steps:

• Place the meat in a fairly snug-fitting casserole pan on a medium-low heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, turning with tongs, while you peel the onions, carrots and garlic, trim the celery and fennel, then roughly chop it all to make a soffritto--it cooks low and slow so there's no need to be too precise. Stir into the pan, tie the rosemary and sage together and add, then season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, or until starting to caramelize, stirring the veg and turning the meat occasionally.
• Turn the heat up to high, pour in the wine, stir in the tomato puree, and let the wine cook away. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil, then place a double layer of scrunched-up wet parchment paper on the surface. Reduce to a low heat and cook for around 3 hours, or until the meat is meltingly tender, turning and basting occasionally. Season to perfection.
• Lift the meat out on to a board, carve it into thin slices, and spoon over enough of that incredible sauce to keep the meat nice and juicy. Toss the rest of the sauce (reduce on the stove, if needed) with freshly cooked tagliatelle, and finely grate over a little Parmesan, to serve. Double win.