Stuffed Braised Beef with Crushed Potato and Parmesan Gratin

The long slow cooking of the stuffed beef rolls results in an intensely flavoured, meltingly tender dish. The lining of the proscuitto inside the beef is especially important for the flavour of the dish.

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Ingredients

  • 1 thick slice white bread
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small carrot, finely chopped
  • 1/2 celery stick, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 x 4 oz slices of top round steak
  • 4 slices proscuitto
  • 4 tbsp white wine

CRUSHED POTATO & PARMESAN GRATIN

  • 1 lb waxy potatoes
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 2-3 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 thick slice white bread
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small carrot, finely chopped
  • 1/2 celery stick, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 x 4 oz slices of top round steak
  • 4 slices proscuitto
  • 4 tbsp white wine

CRUSHED POTATO & PARMESAN GRATIN

  • 1 lb waxy potatoes
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 2-3 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Soak the bread in water for 1 minute, then squeeze dry and finely chop. Tip into a bowl and add the onion, carrot, celery, parsley, Parmesan, egg and thyme. Season to taste and mix well to combine.

Step 2

Cover the steak slices with plastic wrap and flatten out with a steak mallet or rolling pin to 1/8 inch thickness. Place a piece of prosciutto on each slice of beef, trimming them down as necessary and then spread the stuffing on top. Roll each one in jelly roll shape and secure with toothpicks.

Step 3

Heat a heavy-based Dutch oven or pot that has a lid. Add the oil and quickly sear the beef rolls on all sides until lightly golden – you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your dish.

Step 4

Arrange all the beef rolls in the Dutch oven and pour in the wine. Add ¼ cup of water, then cover and cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the beef rolls are completely tender, adding a little more water if at any time it looks like the beef is going to cook dry.

Step 5

Meanwhile, preheat a separate oven to 400°F to make the gratin. Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain well and return to the pan, then roughly crush with a fork.

Step 6

Tip into a baking dish. Mix together the Parmesan and parsley and sprinkle over the potatoes, then drizzle the olive oil on top. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bubbling and lightly golden.

Step 7

Arrange the stuffed braised beef on warmed plates and spoon over a little of the remaining juices. Place the crushed potato and Parmesan gratin directly on the table and allow guests to help themselves.

Method:

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Soak the bread in water for 1 minute, then squeeze dry and finely chop. Tip into a bowl and add the onion, carrot, celery, parsley, Parmesan, egg and thyme. Season to taste and mix well to combine.

Step 2

Cover the steak slices with plastic wrap and flatten out with a steak mallet or rolling pin to 1/8 inch thickness. Place a piece of prosciutto on each slice of beef, trimming them down as necessary and then spread the stuffing on top. Roll each one in jelly roll shape and secure with toothpicks.

Step 3

Heat a heavy-based Dutch oven or pot that has a lid. Add the oil and quickly sear the beef rolls on all sides until lightly golden – you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your dish.

Step 4

Arrange all the beef rolls in the Dutch oven and pour in the wine. Add ¼ cup of water, then cover and cook in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the beef rolls are completely tender, adding a little more water if at any time it looks like the beef is going to cook dry.

Step 5

Meanwhile, preheat a separate oven to 400°F to make the gratin. Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain well and return to the pan, then roughly crush with a fork.

Step 6

Tip into a baking dish. Mix together the Parmesan and parsley and sprinkle over the potatoes, then drizzle the olive oil on top. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bubbling and lightly golden.

Step 7

Arrange the stuffed braised beef on warmed plates and spoon over a little of the remaining juices. Place the crushed potato and Parmesan gratin directly on the table and allow guests to help themselves.