How to make beef olives
If you’re looking to impress your dinner guests with a hearty and flavorful dish, look no further than beef olives. These tasty morsels are made by rolling thinly sliced beef around a delicious stuffing and then baked in a rich sauce until tender and succulent.
Beef olives are a classic British dish that originated in Scotland and have since become a favorite throughout the United Kingdom. Despite their name, beef olives don’t actually contain any olives. Instead, they get their name from the way the thinly sliced beef is rolled up like a little olive.
There are many variations of beef olives, but the most common filling includes a mixture of breadcrumbs, onions, herbs, and sometimes other ingredients like mushrooms or cheese. The beef is rolled around the filling and secured with toothpicks or kitchen twine before being cooked in a flavorsome sauce.
Once the beef olives are in the oven, the delicious smell of the roasting meat and the rich aroma of the sauce will fill your kitchen and make your mouth water. When they are done, the beef will be tender, the filling will be juicy, and the sauce will be packed with flavor. Serve the beef olives with mashed potatoes or crusty bread to soak up every last drop of sauce.
Step-by-step guide to make delicious beef olives
Beef olives, also known as Italian beef braciole, are a scrumptious dish made with thin slices of beef, rolled up with a flavorful stuffing, and braised to perfection. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make mouthwatering beef olives at home.
- Ingredients:
- 8 thin slices of beef, preferably flank steak or round steak
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- A handful of parsley, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
- 2 cups of your favorite marinara sauce
- Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, minced garlic, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper to form a stuffing mixture.
- Lay the beef slices on a flat surface and season them with salt and pepper.
- Place a spoonful of the stuffing mixture on each beef slice and spread it evenly.
- Roll up the beef slices tightly, making sure the stuffing is secured inside.
- Secure each beef roll with toothpicks to hold its shape.
- Heat some olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Carefully place the beef rolls in the pan and cook them until browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the beef rolls from the pan and set them aside.
- In the same pan, pour in the marinara sauce and bring it to a simmer.
- Return the beef rolls to the pan and spoon some of the marinara sauce over them.
- Cover the pan and let the beef olives simmer in the sauce for about 1-2 hours, until the beef is tender.
- Remove the toothpicks before serving. Serve the delicious beef olives with extra marinara sauce on top, if desired.
Enjoy your homemade beef olives with your favorite side dishes and relish the rich flavors that will surely impress your family and friends!
Preparing the ingredients
Before you can start making beef olives, you need to gather and prepare the necessary ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
1. Beef
Choose a tender cut of beef, such as sirloin or rump, that will be easy to stuff and roll. Trim the excess fat and slice the beef into thin, even pieces.
2. Filling
Create a flavorful filling by mixing together ingredients like breadcrumbs, herbs (such as parsley or thyme), minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Customize the filling to your taste preferences.
3. Stuffing
Take a slice of beef and place a spoonful of the filling mixture onto one end. Roll the beef tightly, tucking in the sides as you go, to create a neat package. Secure the beef olive with cooking twine or toothpicks so it doesn’t come apart during cooking.
By preparing the ingredients correctly, you’ll set yourself up for success when it comes to making delicious beef olives.
Rolling up the beef olives
Once you have prepared the sausage stuffing and tenderized the beef slices, it’s time to roll up the beef olives. This step is essential for creating the desired shape and ensuring the stuffing stays inside the beef.
Follow these simple steps to roll up the beef olives:
Step 1: Place the stuffing on the beef slices
Lay out the beef slices on a flat surface and evenly distribute the sausage stuffing on top of each slice. Make sure to leave a small border around the edges to prevent the stuffing from spilling out during cooking.
Step 2: Roll up the beef slices
Carefully roll up each beef slice, starting from one end. Keep the roll tight and secure it with toothpicks or kitchen twine to hold its shape. Make sure the stuffing stays inside the roll as you roll it up.
| Tip: | If the beef slices are too thin and fragile, you can double them up or use overlapping slices to create a stronger roll. |
|---|---|
| Alternative option: | You can also fold the beef slices in half over the stuffing and secure them with toothpicks, creating a pocket instead of a roll. This method works well if you prefer a different presentation or if the beef slices are too small for rolling. |
Once you have rolled up all the beef olives, they are ready to be cooked. The rolling process should ensure that the sausage stuffing is evenly distributed and that each beef olive maintains its shape during cooking.
Cooking the beef olives
Once you have prepared the beef olives, it’s time to cook them to perfection. Follow these steps to ensure a delicious and tender dish:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add some oil. Allow the oil to heat up before adding the beef olives.
- Carefully place the beef olives in the pan and cook them until they are browned on all sides. This should take about 4-5 minutes.
- Once the beef olives are browned, transfer them to a baking dish. You can use a glass or ceramic dish for this step.
- Pour in any remaining oil from the frying pan, along with some beef or vegetable stock. The stock will help to keep the beef olives moist during the cooking process.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven.
- Bake the beef olives for approximately 1 hour or until they are fully cooked and tender. You can check the doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the beef olives. The internal temperature should reach 63°C (145°F).
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
You can serve the beef olives with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a side salad. They make an impressive and delicious dinner option that your family and friends will love!
Serving and enjoying
Once your beef olives are cooked to perfection, it is time to serve and enjoy them. Here are a few suggestions on how to serve and enjoy your beef olives:
1. Presentation: Arrange the beef olives on a serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs, such as parsley or rosemary, for an attractive presentation.
2. Accompaniments: Serve your beef olives with a generous side of creamy mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables for a balanced and delicious meal.
3. Sauces: Beef olives pair well with a variety of sauces. Consider serving them with a rich red wine gravy, a tangy tomato sauce, or a creamy mushroom sauce.
4. Wine pairing: Beef olives go well with red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. The robust flavors of the wine complement the hearty and savory beef olives.
5. Enjoying: Take a moment to savor the flavors of the tender beef, the juicy filling, and the savory sauce. Relish each bite and enjoy the satisfying richness of the dish.
6. Leftovers: Any leftover beef olives can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Simply reheat them in the oven or on the stove for a quick and convenient meal.
Now that you know how to serve and enjoy your beef olives, gather your family and friends, sit down, and relish in the deliciousness of this classic dish.
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