How to cook Bife à Rolê (Stuffed Beef Brisket Rolls), Braciola

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: pork belly

Turkey bacon reduces fat content while maintaining flavor.

beef

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: pork

Chicken provides a leaner option, while pork is often less expensive.

Begin by introducing the dish as a Brazilian recipe called beefy holley.

Use 300 grams of thin sliced beef, asking the butcher to cut it that way.

Pound the beef thinner with a kitchen hammer if needed.

Season both sides of the beef with salt and black pepper.

Peel and wash the carrot and celery, then cut the carrot into smaller pieces.

Cut the celery into small pieces as well.

Prepare cocktail sticks for securing the rolls.

If the beef pieces are too large, cut them in half.

On each piece of beef, place a slice of bacon, a piece of carrot, and a piece of celery, then roll it up tightly and secure with cocktail sticks.

Dice the garlic and shallots after peeling them.

Heat a pot until very hot and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

Fry the meat rolls in batches until browned on the outside, not fully cooked.

Remove the browned meat and set aside.

In the same pot, add shallots and cook until fragrant, then add garlic and cook briefly.

Pour in half a glass of red wine and let it simmer.

Add the dissolved beef stock and Italian passata, stirring to combine.

Add 1-2 cups of hot water to the pot, adjusting as needed.

Return the meat rolls to the pot, ensuring they are submerged in the liquid, and add a cinnamon stick.

Cover the pot and cook on low heat for about 1.5 hours, checking occasionally.

After 15 minutes, add an additional half teaspoon of salt and a pinch of black pepper to taste.

Check the meat for tenderness; it should start to shred after about 1.5 hours of cooking.

Remove the cinnamon stick and prepare to thicken the sauce.

In a separate pan, melt a slice of butter and add 2-3 tablespoons of plain flour to create a roux, cooking briefly.

Gradually add the roux to the sauce to thicken it, mixing well until desired consistency is reached.

Remove the cocktail sticks from the meat rolls and return them to the sauce, cooking for an additional 5 minutes.

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: