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A traditional Italian Stracotto transforms a humble cut of beef into a masterpiece of tender meat and rich sauce through the magic of slow cooking. This Sunday dinner classic fills your home with an aroma that draws everyone to the kitchen, promising a meal where each bite delivers layers of deep, developed flavors.
I discovered this recipe while traveling through Tuscany, where every family seemed to have their own special version. After countless attempts to recreate that memorable meal, I've found the perfect balance of ingredients and technique.
Essential Ingredients
- Chuck roast: Look for well-marbled meat with a bright red color. The fat running through it melts during cooking, creating incredible tenderness.
- San Marzano tomatoes: Their sweet flavor and low acidity make the perfect sauce base. Crush them by hand for the best texture.
- Red wine: Choose one you'd enjoy drinking. The wine's character becomes concentrated during cooking.
- Fresh herbs: Bundle them together for easy removal. Fresh herbs provide brighter flavor than dried.
- Sweet onions: They practically melt into the sauce, creating natural sweetness.
- Garlic: Whole cloves inserted into the meat infuse flavor from within.
Creating Your Italian Feast
- Step 1:
- Start by letting your meat come to room temperature - about an hour on the counter.
- Step 2:
- Pat the beef completely dry to ensure proper browning.
- Step 3:
- Make your slits for garlic deep enough to hold the slivers securely.
- Step 4:
- When browning, resist the urge to move the meat - let it develop a deep crust.
- Step 5:
- Take your time with the vegetables - their slow cooking creates the sauce's foundation.
- Step 6:
- Scrape up every browned bit when deglazing - that's pure flavor.
- Step 7:
- Keep the wine at a gentle simmer to cook off the alcohol while preserving its character.
- Step 8:
- Position the meat so it's partially submerged, allowing the top to create additional flavor.
- Step 9:
- Check periodically to ensure the liquid maintains a gentle bubble.
- Step 10:
- Let the meat rest while finishing the sauce - it will be juicier.
- Step 11:
- For the smoothest sauce, use an immersion blender.
- Step 12:
- Taste and adjust seasonings only at the end - the flavors concentrate during cooking.
- Step 13:
- Slice against the grain for the most tender bites.
In my kitchen, this dish signals a special occasion. There's something magical about the transformation that happens during those hours of slow cooking.
Creating the Perfect Sauce
- Let the vegetables caramelize slowly for natural sweetness.
- Keep the simmer gentle to prevent the sauce from reducing too much.
- Adjust the thickness by reducing or adding stock at the end.
Some of my favorite memories involve sharing this meal with friends, everyone quiet at first bite before the chorus of appreciation begins.
This Stracotto reminds me that great Italian cooking is about patience and respect for ingredients. When you give them time to develop their flavors, they reward you with something truly spectacular.