Can This Recipe Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes, this is a great meat dish to make ahead of time. Italian beef braciole can be ahead of time. After filling the beef with the filling and wrapping it in butcher's twine, wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to make the braciole, take it out of the fridge and let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature before proceeding with cooking and baking instructions.

Why is my braciole tough?

The key to making tender braciole is the slow cooking method in the flavorful tomato sauce. Since the thin cut of beef meat is fairly lean it is important to sear it first to seal in the meat juices and then braise it for a long time (90 minutes to 3 hours).

What Cut Of Meat Is Best For This Dish?

The most common meats for making braciole (also known as braciola) are veal, pork, top round, skirt steak, or flank steak. Since braciole is cooked long and slow, you can turn a tough piece of meat into a tender sensation!

Braciole (Italian Stuffed Beef Recipe)

Name: Beef Braciole Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak; 1/2 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs; 1 garlic clove, minced; 2/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese; 1/3 cup grated provolone cheese; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian basil; 4 tablespoons olive oil; 4 slices of thinly sliced prosciutto; 1 cup red wine; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 4 cups Sugo al Pomodoro; 2 tablespoons pine nuts; 2 tablespoons raisins

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak

1/2 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
1 garlic clove, minced
2/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/3 cup grated provolone cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian basil
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 slices of thinly sliced prosciutto
1 cup red wine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups Sugo al Pomodoro

Optional add-ins to the breadcrumb mixture:

2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons raisins

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Instructions

Prepare the sugo al pomodoro sauce and set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together bread crumbs, garlic, cheese, parsley, and basil until combined. Add half the olive oil (2 tablespoons)—season the mixture with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay the flank steak flat on a wooden board or clean work surface. Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Place one piece between two sheets of parchment paper. With a rolling pin or meat mallet, pound the meat to flatten it to about 1/4 inch thickness— season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the steak to cover the meat. Add slices of prosciutto over the pounded beef and breadcrumb mixture to cover evenly.
Starting at the short end, roll up the steak (like a jelly roll) to seal the filling. Using butcher’s twine, tie the steak roll to secure it (I usually secure it in 4 spots).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large ovenproof skillet, or cast iron pan, over medium heat. Add the braciole to the pan and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes.
Add the wine to the pan and scrape all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring it to a boil for about 1 minute. Stir in the prepared tomato sauce. Cover partially with foil or an oven-safe lid, and bake until the meat is almost tender. Baste the braciole with the sauce every 30 minutes.
After 1 hour, uncover and continue baking until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes longer. The total cooking time should be about 90 minutes total. You can braise the meat for up to 3 hours. If cooking longer, ensure the sauce doesn’t reduce too much, and add a little beef broth if needed.
Let the braciole rest for 15 minutes. Remove the butcher’s twine from the braciole. Remove the braciole from the sauce. Cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices using a large sharp knife. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon the sauce over and serve. Enjoy with ciabatta bread to soak up the sauce.

Notes

Top tips

Sear the braciole on all sides before baking in the oven. The browned braciole layer will help seal the juices when baking it in the tomato sauce.
Use good quality butcher’s twine to secure the beef roll and ensure it doesn’t fall apart when braising in the oven.

Author: Elena Davis
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes
Category: Savory
Method: Italian
Cuisine: Italian