Italian Seared Beef Recipes

ITALIAN BEEF

Steps:

• For the dry rub: Mix together the basil, oregano, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.
• For the meat: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the beef stock and 1 quart water to a roasting pan. Place the beef roast on a perforated pan and set into the roasting pan. Coat the entire roast with the dry rub. Cover tightly with foil and place in the oven. Cook until the center of the roast reaches 140 degrees F, about 30 minutes per pound.
• Refrigerate the roast for at least 2 hours (the beef must be cold to slice properly). Slice as thinly as possible.
• For the gravy: While the beef is cooking, combine the beef base, black pepper, garlic, celery, bay leaves, onions and 1 gallon cold water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. (The longer the gravy simmers, the stronger it gets.) Strain and keep hot.
• To serve, drop a portion of sliced beef into the hot gravy; heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Place the beef on a hoagie roll, add some giardiniera and enjoy.

ITALIAN SEARED BEEF

Steps:

• Put a large non-stick frying pan on a high heat, toasting the pine nuts as it heats up, tossing regularly and removing when golden.
• Cut the fat off the rump, finely chop the fat and place in the pan to render and crisp up while you cut the sinew off the rump, then season it with sea salt and black pepper.
• Place between two sheets of greaseproof paper and bash to 1cm thick with a rolling pin, also tenderizing the meat.
• Scoop out and reserve the crispy bits of fat, then sear the steak in the hot pan for 1 minute on each side, until golden but still blushing in the middle. Remove to a board.
• Spread the pesto over a sharing platter. Thinly slice the steak at an angle, then plate up. Pile the rocket on top, then scatter over the pine nuts and reserved crispy fat, if you like.
• Mix the steak resting juices with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and drizzle over. Shave over the Parmesan, tossing before serving.

ITALIAN ROAST BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Combine all the seasoning ingredients in a medium jar.
• Trim all the fat from beef round. (I grind the trimmings), but you can cut them up into bite-size pieces and place on the bottom of a roasting pan. Sprinkle the trimmings with some of the seasoning mix. Place the roast beef on top of the trimmings and coat the beef well with more of the seasoning mix. Drizzle olive oil on top of the roast and pat the oil over the seasonings. Place into the preheated oven on lowest rack and roast approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours, uncovered, until the internal temperature registers *130 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from oven and let stand about 20 to 30 minutes before carving. This roast can be used for sandwiches, thinly cut or thickly cut and served with beef gravy, if desired.

SEARED BEEF WITH WILD MUSHROOMS & BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Rub the beef with 1 tbsp oil, rosemary and garlic, then leave in the fridge for at least 1 hr, or up to 24 hrs. Make sure the beef returns to room temperature before you cook it.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat a non-stick, ovenproof frying pan or roasting tin until very hot. Rub most of the garlic and rosemary from the beef, season with black pepper and flaky salt, then sear on all sides until dark brown and almost crusted - about 5 mins in total. Transfer the pan to the oven, then roast the beef for 10 mins for mediumrare. Leave to rest for a good 15 mins and keep any juices.
• While the meat rests, sauté the mushrooms. Heat 1 tbsp butter and the remaining oil in a large frying pan, then tip in the mushrooms with plenty of seasoning. Fry until golden and just softened, then tip into a bowl.
• Add the stock to the mushroom pan, then reduce by two-thirds. Tip in the mushrooms and balsamic, then add the remaining butter and let it melt. Tip in any meat juices, then season to taste and keep warm. Thickly slice the beef and spoon over the sauce. Serve with mash and spinach.