How to Make Brasato al Barolo (Braised Chuck Roast in Red Wine) - A Step-by-Step Guide

There are few dishes as comforting and satisfying as a perfectly braised chuck roast, especially when it's been simmered in a rich red wine sauce. One of the most iconic braised beef dishes in Italian cuisine is Brasato al Barolo, a dish that hails from the Piedmont region and showcases the bold flavors of Barolo wine.

Brasato al Barolo, or Braised Chuck Roast in Red Wine, is a dish that exemplifies the rustic elegance of Italian cooking. The star of the show is the chuck roast, a tou...

Read more

Ingredients

  • 1 (2 pound) beef chuck roast
  • 1 onion, cut into 8 pieces, layers separated
  • 2 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 10 whole black peppercorns
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 (750 milliliter) bottle Barolo (dry Italian) red wine
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Information

  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs 50 mins
  • Additional Time: 12 hrs
  • Total Time: 15 hrs 35 mins
  • Servings: 5

  • Place chuck roast, onion, carrots, celery, peppercorns, cloves, garlic, cinnamon stick, rosemary, and bay leaves into a stockpot. Pour wine over meat and vegetable mixture to cover entirely. Cover and marinate for 6 hours in the refrigerator. Turn meat in marinade to make sure it is completely covered, then return to the refrigerator and marinate for 6 more hours.
  • Transfer chuck roast to a plate to rest; pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Pour marinade through a strainer and into a bowl to separate vegetable mixture from wine, reserving both separately.
  • Heat olive oil in the stockpot over medium-high heat. Brown chuck roast for 4 to 6 minutes per side. Reduce the heat to medium and add strained vegetable mixture; cook until fragrant, adding more oil as necessary to prevent burning, about 8 minutes.
  • Pour reserved wine back into the stockpot and add salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer without removing the cover for 2 hours. Uncover, stir, and cook until meat easily shreds with a fork, 10 minutes to 1 hour longer. Transfer meat from the cooking liquid to a serving platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
  • Return cooking liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until reduced to a sauce consistency, 20 to 30 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick, rosemary, and bay leaves. Season with salt; purée mixture with a handheld immersion blender until smooth. Pour sauce over meat to serve.
  • Nutrition

    517 cal.

    • Total Fat: 29g
    • Saturated Fat: 9g
    • Cholesterol: 83mg
    • Sodium: 568mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 14g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 23g
    • Vitamin C: 7mg
    • Calcium: 74mg
    • Iron: 4mg
    • Potassium: 629mg