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Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs

Experience the warmth of Italian home cooking with Giada's Braciole, a delightful dish that encapsulates comfort and tradition

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Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs
Chef profile

JUE

Enjoy home-cooked meals made with love and shared from a family kitchen.

Chef's Essential Tips

Essential Ingredients Selection

Creating Your Masterpiece

Slicing and Serving:
Slicing the braciole reveals layers of filling and creates an impressive presentation. Cut the braciole into thick slices and serve with a generous spoonful of the sauce over the top. This not only enhances the dish visually but also enriches each bite.
Resting the Meat:
Letting the braciole rest after cooking is vital for retaining its juices. This step allows the fibers to relax, making it easier to slice without losing valuable moisture. Always rest meat for a few minutes before cutting into it to preserve tenderness.
Oven-Baking:
Baking the braciole in the oven allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Covering the skillet retains moisture, ensuring that the meat becomes tender. The low and slow cooking method is essential for breaking down the fibers in the steak, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Building the Sauce:
A well-made sauce is crucial for complementing the braciole. Sauté the onion until it’s translucent, then add the crushed tomatoes and spices. Allowing the sauce to simmer helps marry the flavors together, ensuring a rich and savory accompaniment to the meat.
Searing for Flavor:
Searing the braciole enhances its flavor through the Maillard reaction, creating a rich crust. Ensure your skillet is hot before adding the braciole, and don’t overcrowd the pan. This step creates a delicious layer of flavor that penetrates the meat while it cooks.
Rolling the Braciole:
Carefully roll the steak from one end to the other, ensuring that the filling is tightly packed inside. Secure with kitchen twine at regular intervals. This technique not only keeps the filling intact during cooking but also shapes the braciole for even cooking.
Making the Filling:
Creating a well-balanced filling is key to a flavorful braciole. Combine the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and garlic in a bowl, ensuring that all components are well mixed. Taste and adjust the seasoning to achieve the perfect blend that complements the meat.
Pounding the Steak:
Pounding the flank steak ensures that it is tender and uniformly thin, allowing for even cooking. Use a meat mallet to gently pound the steak to about 1/4 inch thick without tearing the meat. This technique is essential for making the rolling process easier and ensures that the meat cooks evenly.
Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs

The Complete Guide to Mastering Giada's Braciole

Slicing and Serving:
Slicing the braciole reveals layers of filling and creates an impressive presentation. Cut the braciole into thick slices and serve with a generous spoonful of the sauce over the top. This not only enhances the dish visually but also enriches each bite.
Resting the Meat:
Letting the braciole rest after cooking is vital for retaining its juices. This step allows the fibers to relax, making it easier to slice without losing valuable moisture. Always rest meat for a few minutes before cutting into it to preserve tenderness.
Oven-Baking:
Baking the braciole in the oven allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Covering the skillet retains moisture, ensuring that the meat becomes tender. The low and slow cooking method is essential for breaking down the fibers in the steak, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Building the Sauce:
A well-made sauce is crucial for complementing the braciole. Sauté the onion until it’s translucent, then add the crushed tomatoes and spices. Allowing the sauce to simmer helps marry the flavors together, ensuring a rich and savory accompaniment to the meat.
Searing for Flavor:
Searing the braciole enhances its flavor through the Maillard reaction, creating a rich crust. Ensure your skillet is hot before adding the braciole, and don’t overcrowd the pan. This step creates a delicious layer of flavor that penetrates the meat while it cooks.
Rolling the Braciole:
Carefully roll the steak from one end to the other, ensuring that the filling is tightly packed inside. Secure with kitchen twine at regular intervals. This technique not only keeps the filling intact during cooking but also shapes the braciole for even cooking.
Making the Filling:
Creating a well-balanced filling is key to a flavorful braciole. Combine the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and garlic in a bowl, ensuring that all components are well mixed. Taste and adjust the seasoning to achieve the perfect blend that complements the meat.
Pounding the Steak:
Pounding the flank steak ensures that it is tender and uniformly thin, allowing for even cooking. Use a meat mallet to gently pound the steak to about 1/4 inch thick without tearing the meat. This technique is essential for making the rolling process easier and ensures that the meat cooks evenly.
Master Your Recipe
Pair with crusty Italian bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Adding shaved Parmesan on top before serving adds an extra layer of flavor.
Leftover braciole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Gently reheat in a skillet over low heat to maintain the meat's tenderness.
Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs

Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs

Experience the warmth of Italian home cooking with Giada's Braciole, a delightful dish that encapsulates comfort and tradition. This indulgent meal features tender beef rolled with ricotta cheese, fragrant garlic, and earthy parsley, simmered in a robust tomato sauce. The flavors blend harmoniously, creating a savory and slightly tangy profile, while the textures vary from the juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat to the creamy cheese filling. Perfect for family gatherings, special occasions, or an impressive dinner party, Braciole brings people together around the dinner table. Each slice reveals a delicious surprise, evoking feelings of love and nostalgia as you savor every bite. Treat your loved ones to this unforgettable meal and create cherished memories that linger long after the last plate is cleared.

Savory Italian Braciole with Rich Tomato Sauce and Fresh Herbs
Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
120 Minutes
Total Time
150 Minutes
Chef
JUE
Category
Main Course
Difficulty
Medium
Cuisine
Italian
Yield
4 servings
Dietary
Gluten-Free
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
0% Complete

Ingredients

For the Braciole:
01
1 pound beef flank steak, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
02
1 cup ricotta cheese, at room temperature
03
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
05
3 cloves garlic, minced
06
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Sauce:
07
2 tablespoons olive oil
08
1 onion, finely chopped
09
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
10
1 teaspoon dried oregano
11
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12
Salt and pepper to taste
13
Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

01
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the braciole.
02
Step 2: In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, minced garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well until smooth.
03
Step 3: Lay the pounded flank steak flat on a clean surface and spread the cheese mixture evenly over the meat.
04
Step 4: Starting from one end, carefully roll the steak tightly into a log shape, securing the filling inside. Tie the roll with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals to hold the shape.
05
Step 5: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Sear the braciole on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
06
Step 6: In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
07
Step 7: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
08
Step 8: Return the braciole to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Bring to a simmer.
09
Step 9: Cover the skillet and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour, until the beef is tender.
10
Step 10: Remove the braciole from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with sauce and garnish with fresh basil.