Romanian Pot Roast Recipes

CLASSIC POT ROAST RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Toss together the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and black pepper. Pat the beef dry with paper towel and season the beef on all sides with the spice mixture.
• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven and sear the roast to form a mice crust. Remove the meat and add the last tablespoon of olive oil to the pot. Sear the other side until crusted. About 5 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a rimmed dish.

POT ROAST

Steps:

• Pat beef dry with paper towels. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper all over.
• Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Brown aggressively all over - a deep dark brown crust is essential for flavour base! Should take about 7 minutes.
• Transfer beef to slow cooker.
• In the same skillet, add onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes until onion is browned.
• Add wine, reduce by half. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Mix together flour and about 1 cup of the broth. Lumps is fine. Pour into slow cooker.
• Add remaining broth, carrots, celery, rosemary and thyme into slow cooker.
• Cover and slow cook on LOW for 5 hours. (45 min pressure cook on HIGH, Note 3a for Oven and Stove)
• Add potato, slow cook on LOW for 3 hours. (10 min pressure cooker on HIGH, Note 3b)
• Remove beef. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thickly.
• Adjust salt and pepper of Sauce to taste.
• Serve beef with vegetables and plenty of sauce! Bread also terrific for mopping up sauce - try these No Knead Dinner Rolls, No Yeast Irish Soda Bread or these fabulous Cheese Muffins.

PERFECT POT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
• Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate.
• Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions.
• If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.
• With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway.
• Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs.
• Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it's fall-apart tender.

THE BEST POT ROAST

Steps:

• Sprinkle the roast with 3 tablespoons of the salt, rubbing into the grain and covering all sides. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours and up to 3 days.
• Arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 275 degrees F.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Cook the meat, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium-high and heat the remaining 4 tablespoons oil in the pot. Cook the onions and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt, stirring occasionally, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes (it's ok if the onion wedges break apart). Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the paste is brick red and the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and bay leaves and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot, until slightly reduced and you can no longer smell the alcohol, about 4 minutes. Add the flour, stir to coat the onions and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the broth and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Nestle the meat and any accumulated juices into the onions. Arrange the carrots, celery and potatoes around the roast, pushing them into the onions and surrounding the beef. Cover and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is very tender but still holds its shape and is not falling apart, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Let rest, covered, at least 45 minutes before serving.
• Transfer the roast to a cutting board and remove the twine with scissors, if necessary. Slice against the grain.
• Divide the vegetables among plates and arrange the sliced beef over top. Spoon sauce over the top garnish with parsley and chives.

INSTANT POT® POT ROAST

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function.
• Combine salt, marjoram, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. Rub mixture all over roast to coat all sides.
• Drizzle oil into the preheated pot. Wait 30 seconds, then place roast into the pot; do not move the meat, allowing it to sear for 3 or 4 minutes. Turn the roast and sear again, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat until all sides are browned, about 15 minutes total.
• Add potatoes, carrots, and onion to the pot. Pour in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Close and lock the lid; set vent to sealing. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 60 minutes for a 3-pound roast or 80 minutes for a 5-pound roast. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions for 10 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Transfer roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions to a platter for serving.

PERFECT POT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325ºF.
• Combine the salt, pepper, and ground fennel in a small bowl. Generously season the roast with the spice mixture.
• Add enough oil to a large Dutch oven to coat the bottom. Heat it over medium-high heat, add the roast, and sear 8 to 10 minutes total, turning to brown all sides. Transfer the roast to a bowl.
• Add the carrots, onions, and garlic and season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté the vegetables until browned, 5 to 8 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Remove the vegetables and place in a clean bowl.
• Deglaze the pot with 1 cup of the cider. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat. Add 2 cups of the broth and bring it to a boil again.
• Add 4 sprigs of the thyme, the rosemary, bay leaf, and roast to the pot (reserving the vegetables in the bowl). Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
• Cover the pot, place it in the oven, and roast for 2 hours. Add the reserved vegetables and roast for 1 more hour, until the roast is fork-tender but not mushy.
• Remove the roast and vegetables to a large bowl or platter and cover to keep warm. Let the braising liquid cool slightly, then strain the liquid into a bowl (discard the solids).
• Skim off any fat that has risen to the top.
• Purée the braising liquid in a blender.
• To make the sauce, heat 2 tablespoons oil in the Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine with the oil. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup cider and the tomato paste and mix well.
• Return the braising liquid to the pot along with the remaining 1 1/2 cups beef broth and the remaining 2 thyme sprigs. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.
• Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the thyme sprigs.
• To serve, slice the pot roast, arrange the vegetables around it, and pour the sauce over the top.
• Variations: Tipsy Pot Roast
• In many pot roast recipes, there is an element of alcohol. In mine, I use hard cider, but you can also try red wine, a heavy beer, or-for your Irish friends-Guinness. The booze gives the meat an extra dimension but won't get the family hammered.

ULTIMATE POT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Pat roast dry with a paper towel; tie at 2-in. intervals with kitchen string. Sprinkle roast with pepper and 1-1/2 teaspoons salt. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides. Remove from pan., Add onions, celery and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the same pan; cook and stir over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until onions are browned. Add garlic, tomato paste, thyme and bay leaves; cook and stir 1 minute longer., Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan; stir in broth. Return roast to pan. Arrange potatoes, parsnips and carrots around roast; bring to a boil. Bake, covered, until meat is fork-tender, 2-2-1/2 hours., Remove roast and vegetables from pan; keep warm. Discard bay leaves; skim fat from cooking juices. On stovetop, bring juices to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half (about 1-1/2 cups), 10-12 minutes. Stir in vinegar and parsley; season with salt and pepper to taste., Remove string from roast. Serve with vegetables and sauce.

ROMANIAN POT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Mix: 1 Tablespoon of butter, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 Tablespoon of chopped parsley with 1/4 teaspoons each of salt & pepper.
• Poke holes in roast and put the above mixture into holes.
• Place roast into a shallow roasting pan with a small amount of water fat side up.
• Place the cut up vegetables around the roast.
• Bake 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat registers 130°F to 135°F for medium-rare doneness.
• Remove from oven.
• Cover and let stand 20 minute before carving.

EASIEST POT ROAST EVER

Steps:

• Cut up potatoes, onions, and celery in to fairly large chunks and place in a slow cooker. Put roast on top of vegetables. Place 3 bouillon cubes randomly on top of roast and pour in water.
• Cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 4 to 5 hours.

POT-ROAST BEEF WITH FRENCH ONION GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Rub the meat with 1 tsp of the oil and plenty of seasoning. Heat a large flameproof casserole dish and brown the meat all over for about 10 mins. Meanwhile, add 2 tsp oil to a frying pan and fry the carrots and celery for 10 mins until turning golden.
• Lift the beef onto a plate, splash the wine into the hot casserole and boil for 2 mins. Pour in the stock, return the beef, then tuck in the carrots, celery and bay leaves, trying not to submerge the carrots too much. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hrs. (I like to turn the beef halfway through cooking.)
• Meanwhile, thinly slice the onions. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and stir in the onions, thyme and some seasoning. Cover and cook gently for 20 mins until the onions are softened but not coloured. Remove the lid, turn up the heat, add the butter and sugar, then let the onions caramelise to a dark golden brown, stirring often. Remove the thyme sprigs, then set aside.
• When the beef is ready, it will be tender and easy to pull apart at the edges. Remove it from the casserole and snip off the strings. Reheat the onion pan, stir in the flour and cook for 1 min. Whisk the floury onions into the beefy juices in the casserole, to make a thick onion gravy. Taste for seasoning. Add the beef and carrots back to the casserole, or slice the beef and bring to the table on a platter, with the carrots to the side and the gravy spooned over.