Beef Braised with Onions

By John, 7 March, 2021
Region
Italy
Description

Beef Braised with OnionsHere's a basic boiled-beef recipe, called a brasato in Italian.

There are many brasati, with regional specialties and differences for the seasons and holidays. This is an everyday recipe that's good for any season. The beef is cooked with onions, which provide the braising liquid and ultimately become a sauce for the beef.

Yield
6 Servings
Preparation time
3 hours
Ingredients
2 T Olive oil
1 oz Pancetta (diced)
2 lb onions (thickly sliced)
3 lb Beef Eye Round
Instructions
  1. In a heavy braising pan or a dutch oven, cook the pancetta in the oil until it gives up its fat.
  2. Add the onions and cook until soft.
  3. Put the beef on top and cover it with a heavy lid. Simmer for about an hour.
  4. After an hour, turn the beef over and stir the onions with the juices from the meat. Cover again and cook for another hour, or until the interior temperature is satisfactory.
  5. When the beef is done, remove it to a carving board and let it rest.
  6. Put all of the pan juices and onions into a food processor or a blender and puree it. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  7. Carve the beef thinly and dress it with the sauce. Serve hot.
Notes
If you have the time, it's good to rub the beef with kosher salt a couple of hours before cooking, while it comes to room temperature. A little time or crumbled bay leaf is good, too. Then rinse it off and dry the roast before starting the recipe.