Braciole (2024)

Published: by Carolyn Hetke · This post may contain affiliate links,

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Often Italian meats are served as scallopini but not Braciole. These beef rollups are Italian comfort food at its best!

What is Braciole you ask? The name Braciole comes from the old cooking technique of grilling meat over charcoal or 'alla brace' . Involtini is another name for thin slices of meat rolled up into 'little bundles' around cheese and bread crumbs. Braciole seems to have survived as the more common name.

This is by no means a new and innovative recipe - I am including my adventure cooking with it because it is new to me. And I am so glad I found it that I want to give you the chance to discover it too!

As I was researching Braciole recipes - in my head I was saying - Bra-chi-o-le with what I think of as an Italian swagger. Then a few days later in an older episode of the Sopranos one of the characters said ' I always loved her Brazola' really fast and slurred. I had a little chuckle when I realized he was talking about 'my' Bra-chi-o-le!

Thin slices of boneless top round beef, rolled up around prosciutto, lots of garlic, cheese and bread crumbs. All braised in tomato sauce until it is melt-in-your-mouth tender.

I am fortunate that in my German heritage city you can easily find the thin slices of top round already sliced. (It is called rouladen in the German version.)

You may have to ask your butcher to slice it for you. If you have really good knives you could buy a top round roast and slice it thinly yourself. You are aiming for ⅛" to ¼ slices. If they are too thick you can pound them with a meat mallet to flatten then further.

You can make this on your stove top, in your oven or in your slow cooker. I usually do the oven method but you can't beat a slow cooker set up for 'fix it and forget it'.

These go really well with these Foolproof Crispy Potatoes to soak up all of that delicious sauce.

Braciole (1)

Wine Pairing for Braciole

Apparently the inclusion of the proscitto in the Braciole makes this a Neapolitan dish. So if you want stay true to the region you may want to serve a Taurasi or other Aglianico based wine.

Having said that any dry red will work here. The beef and the sauce are robust enough you can go for a hearty red. Chianti, Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino or any Sangiovese, Primitivo or Negroamaro. Cabernet Sauvignon or even a Bordeaux blend would work here as well.

Ideally - you will serve the same wine variety that you used in the recipe. If I am planning to serve an expensive wine at the table then I would look for a cheaper but good wine of the same varietal.

Braciole (2)

Braciole

Italian comfort food at its best.

Author: Carolyn Hetke

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

  • Dutch oven

  • 12 toothpicks

Ingredients

  • 6 slices top round about ⅛th to ¼ " thick (called rouladen at my German butcher shop)
  • 6 slices prosciutto
  • 6 cloves garlic divided 3 minced + 3 sliced vertically
  • 2 Tbsps Italian style bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup parsley finely minced
  • ½ cup shredded, aged Italian cheese like Parmesan, Roman, Asiago, Pecorin
  • 2 Tbsps olive oil
  • 2 cups dry red wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tsps Italian seasoning
  • 2 Tbsps flour or 1 tablespoon cornstarch for gluten free
  • salt and pepper for seasoning

Instructions

  • If you were able to purchase thin top round slices you can use them as is. If not you may have to take thicker slices and pound them until they are between ⅛th and ¼ inch thick.

  • Season each slice of beef with salt and pepper and lay a piece of prosciutto over each slice of top round.

  • Combine the minced garlic, parsley, cheese and bread crumbs in a small bowl and mix well. Divide and spread mixture evenly over the prosciutto.

  • Gently roll the beef slices up length-wise. If one end of the slice is wider than the other start with the wider end. Fold any uneven sections of the outer edge inward as you roll. This will also help seal the ends of the roll. Secure the roll with 2 toothpicks. (If you use exactly 2 toothpicks per roll you will know later when you have pulled them all out.)

  • Preheat oven to 325°. (See Notes below for other cooking variations).

  • Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat and brown the beef rolls on all sides. Transfer to a platter.

  • Add the wine and the sliced garlic to the Dutch oven and heat. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the broth, tomatoes and Italian seasonings. Return the beef rolls to the pot. Bring pot back to a simmer.

  • Transfer Dutch oven to the oven and braise 3 hours uncovered. (See notes if not using the oven to cook.)

  • 30 minutes before the dish is done cooking, take ¼ cup of the hot tomato sauce and mix in the flour till it is dissolved. Return slurry to the pot and let it finish cooking the remaining 30 minutes.

  • Season sauce with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste) just before serving.

  • Garnish with additional grated cheese and parsley if desired.

  • Serve over rice, pasta or potatoes.

Notes

Note 1: For Slow Cooker - you can transfer the beef and sauce to your slow cooker after it returns to a simmer. Cook on low 7-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.

For Stove Top Cooking - After beef and sauce return to a simmer, continue simmering about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 498mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheWineLoverSki or tag #thewineloverski!

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  1. RALPH HETKE

    Braciole (7)
    the best

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Braciole (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is braciole made from? ›

We suggest deepening the savory flavor of the sauce with the addition of a Parmesan rind. The sauce can be made in advance to help save time. To make the braciole, you'll need flank steak that has been butterflied and pounded until it is 1/4-inch thick for the base of the braciole.

What does braciola mean in Italian? ›

Etymology. Italian, literally, slice of meat roasted over coals, from brace live coals, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Swedish brasa fire.

What is a braciole in English? ›

In Sicilian cuisine, Italian-American cuisine and Italian Australian cuisine, braciola ( pl. : braciole) are thin slices of meat (typically pork, chicken, beef, or swordfish) that are rolled as a roulade (this category of rolled food is known as involtini in Italian) with cheese and breadcrumbs and fried.

Why is my braciole tough? ›

Further, if you haven't pounded the meat thin enough, it can still be tough after cooking, so make sure to pound it to an even, thin slice. Lastly, the cooking time matters, as if you cook it too short it can be tough, so make sure to cook it slow and prolonged to get a more tender result.

What can I use instead of flank steak for braciole? ›

The other common way to make braciole is to use the top round cut of beef, which is a little less expensive than flank steak. Instead of being prepared as one long, thin roast, top round is sliced and pounded into multiple smaller steaks that are then rolled into individual bundles.

What nationality is Braciole? ›

Braciole (Brah-J “yoh- lah) in Italian, literally means slice of meat roasted over coals, from brace live coals. The Neapolitan-style Braciole recipe is a dish that ran the history of Southern-Italian cuisine!

What is a braciole slang? ›

braciole (n.) —1. a piece of Italian beef pan fried in its own juices. 2. a euphemism for male genitalia.

Can braciole be made ahead of time? ›

Make ahead: The uncooked braciole can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight. This dish gets better with time. If you can, make it in the morning or the night before, refrigerate, and reheat when you're ready to serve. Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What is the difference between braciole and involtini? ›

There is only one real difference in the actual techniques of braciole versus involtini. "Involtini" translates to "little bundles," and as such, it's used to refer to smaller and thinner cuts of meat.

What is tripe called in Italy? ›

Tripe (trippa in Italian) is a classic dish in regional Italian cuisine made from the edible lining of the stomachs of ruminants, primarily cows. In Lombardy, tripe may also be the first part of the small intestine of a veal calf or a steer. It is a simple dish, but it requires many hours of cooking time.

What is pig skin braciole in Italian? ›

Braciole (singular for braciola) can be found on Italian menus worldwide, but contenne, or pork skin, braciole is a rarity indeed.

What cut or type of meat is used for the popular Italian dish known as ossobuco? ›

Veal shanks are the traditional meat for osso buco, and probably what you're familiar with seeing on restaurant menus. But the shank portion of several animals can benefit from this same preparation. You'll want to use shanks for this; otherwise it's not osso bucco.

What cut of meat is Italian beef made from? ›

Italian Beef is chuck roast (the cut of meat used for pot roast) that is slowly cooked with savory Italian spices until it is soft and tender and easily shredded with a fork. To create the iconic sandwich, soft hoagie rolls are filled with this shredded meat, and then topped with sliced provolone and pickled peppers.

What cut is Capicola made from? ›

Capocollo (Italian: [kapoˈkɔllo]) or coppa ( Italian: [ˈkɔppa]) is a traditional Italian and French (Corsica) pork cold cut (salume) made from the dry-cured muscle running from the neck to the fourth or fifth rib of the pork shoulder or neck.

What do you call Italian raw thin slices of meat? ›

Carpaccio is an Italian appetizer of thinly sliced raw meat drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. It's traditionally made with beef, but can be made with fish (specifically salmon or tuna), veal, or venison.

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