Benedettas Tuscan Pot Roast Recipes

Steps:

• On a cutting board, mince together rosemary and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Using a long sharp knife, make a hole right through the meat. Push the seasoning mixture into the meat with the handle of a wooden spoon.
• Add oil to a Dutch oven just large enough to hold the beef. Heat over high heat, and brown the meat on all sides, except where it has been cut by the butcher, about 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir mustard into wine, and add to the Dutch oven. Season with salt. Continue to cook, covered, over high heat, turning the meat often, so that each side of the meat is immersed in the boiling liquid. The exact time will be determined by the size of the meat, but the browning time plus 15 minutes of cooking in wine will probably be sufficient. The beef should be dark brown on the outside and pink on the inside.
• Remove the meat to a carving board or platter. If you want a thicker gravy, leave the liquid over high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until it becomes a bit thicker. If you want a thinner gravy, add stock. Adjust the seasoning. Slice, and serve with the gravy spooned over.

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the garlic, rosemary, oil and salt; cover and process until mixture becomes a paste. Rub over the roast; cover and let stand for 30 minutes. , Place roast fat side up on a greased baking rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let meat stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Cut the garlic into thin slivers. Pierce the meat in many places with the point of a knife and insert the garlic slivers into the holes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy 3- to 4-quart heatproof casserole. Add the meat and brown it well over medium heat. Remove it from the casserole. Add the remaining oil and the onions, carrots and celery. Saute them until moderately brown.
• Stir in the wine and cook for a few minutes, scraping the casserole. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and basil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and return the meat to the casserole.
• Cover tightly and cook over very low heat for at least three hours, until the meat is very tender. Turn the meat a few times during cooking.
• Remove the meat from the casserole. To serve immediately, skim the fat from the surface of the sauce, then puree the sauce in a food processor and reheat. Otherwise, refrigerate the meat and sauce overnight. Remove any congealed fat from the sauce and puree the sauce in a food processor. Reheat the meat in the sauce before serving.

Steps:

• Pour 1/2 inch of water into a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add salt and spinach, cover, and let cook for 1 minute. Uncover, stir with a wooden spoon, and boil for another minute. Drain thoroughly, leaving the spinach in the colander for about 10 minutes. Gently press out the excess water with the back of a fork, taking care not to damage the leaves.
• Using a very sharp knife gently cut the spinach into strips. Be sure not to mince the spinach, which will be quite fragile.
• In a medium nonstick skillet, heat oil, garlic, and chile pepper over medium heat, stirring so the garlic doesn't burn as the oil heats. When oil begins to sizzle, add the cut spinach, and cook for about 5 minutes. Occasionally turn the spinach gently with a wooden spoon to combine. Taste, adjust for salt, and serve hot.