pot roast - this will see your family turn up in time for dinner
Last Saturday my new pot got another work out, the fourth since I bought it.
Such a handy pot!
Still shiny.
I'd decided to cook a Pot Roast, I hadn't done one since before I met L.
That's a heck of a long time ago!
I'd bought a nice blade roast, just about a kilo, enough for one for several meals.
Almost no fat, just how I like it. Not too much trimming to do.
If I was roasting this in the oven, I'd leave the fat on and trim it off after cooking, but not for a pot roast.
A pair of meat forks are great for lifting large pieces of meat in and out of pots and roasting pans, handy for the barbecue too. Really, any large forks will do as long as you have two of them. One to lift, one to balance.
Start with roughly chopping up onions and carrots. Nice sized chunks, not the fine chopping I do for soups.
Damn! How many times has this happened to you?
Slice the top off what appears to be a perfectly good onion....
.....only to find an inner layer soggy with mould.
Luckily I had more onions.
Heat some oil in the pot and brown those chunky little carrot and onion pieces, then remove them into another bowl and set them aside for now.
Heat a little extra oil and brown the meat on all sides. Here is where the meat forks come in handy for turning the meat. It's wise to wear an apron for this part because browning meat will spit at you.
Once the meat is browned on all sides, put the veggies back in, add enough hot water to cover and toss in a couple of bay leaves.
The water needs to be hot so the meat doesn't cool down at all.
Turn the heat down to a slow simmer, put the lid on the pot and leave it alone for about four hours.
Well, not entirely alone, turn the meat now and again. With a slow simmer you shouldn't need to top up the water at all.
When you notice the meat beginning to fall apart as you turn it over, remove it from the pot onto a plate.
See? Falling apart tender. Mmmm, tasty.
Can you tell I've been tasting it?
Scoop out the bayleaves and toss them away.
Use what ever method you'd normally use to thicken the cooking liquid into a gravy.
I use gravox powder, mixed with a little water to a runny paste. (the traditional kind not the instant kind)
I had too much liquid in the pot for just me, so I scooped out enough to fill two 500g tubs and cool them ready to freeze for another day's gravy.
I most often serve pot roast with mashed potatoes (because of the yummy gravy) and greens.
Usually brussels sprouts or green beans, sometimes broccoli.
The shredded meat is also nice, hot or cold, in a sandwich.
Such a handy pot!
I'd decided to cook a Pot Roast, I hadn't done one since before I met L.
That's a heck of a long time ago!
If I was roasting this in the oven, I'd leave the fat on and trim it off after cooking, but not for a pot roast.
Start with roughly chopping up onions and carrots. Nice sized chunks, not the fine chopping I do for soups.
Slice the top off what appears to be a perfectly good onion....
Luckily I had more onions.
The water needs to be hot so the meat doesn't cool down at all.
Turn the heat down to a slow simmer, put the lid on the pot and leave it alone for about four hours.
Well, not entirely alone, turn the meat now and again. With a slow simmer you shouldn't need to top up the water at all.
When you notice the meat beginning to fall apart as you turn it over, remove it from the pot onto a plate.
Can you tell I've been tasting it?
Scoop out the bayleaves and toss them away.
Use what ever method you'd normally use to thicken the cooking liquid into a gravy.
I use gravox powder, mixed with a little water to a runny paste. (the traditional kind not the instant kind)
I had too much liquid in the pot for just me, so I scooped out enough to fill two 500g tubs and cool them ready to freeze for another day's gravy.
I most often serve pot roast with mashed potatoes (because of the yummy gravy) and greens.
Usually brussels sprouts or green beans, sometimes broccoli.
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OMG does that EVER look good.
ReplyDeleteHi River,
ReplyDeleteSuch a delight to read, to look at the photos and wish my food ended up looking that good. Although, my onions often look like the ones you displayed :)
Of course, silly me, tried to roast a pot, once:)
Hope you had a peaceful, positive Easter and thank you for your thoughtful comment on my site.
With respect and kind wishes, Gary
Our onions turn up like that far too often. Frustrating.
ReplyDeleteEven when I ate meat I cannot remember doing a pot roast. I might have to think about it for himself when he is feeling better.
Now that looks like something I will have to try!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourites is a pumped leg of lamb[or mutton], but it's no longer in supermarkets, and too hard to organise from a real butcher. [Found some brine recipes on the net, but all for soaking].
This looks a very appetising alternative!
Delores; and the smell....so mouthwatering!
ReplyDeleteklahanie; roasting pots is never a good idea, they don't taste nice anyway. Far too often onions these days supermarket look like this.
EC; try it, meat cooked to falling apart point is much more easily digested, which is why I do it. Regular oven-roasted beef is too hard for me to digest, but I can eat this with no later consequences.
FruitCake; it's very easy, once the browning is done, you can do other things for four hours or so, then quickly prepare some veg, make the gravy and dinner is ready. I don't like lamb.
I have never cooked roast like that before... might have to try it.
ReplyDeletex
Kelley; the meat is very tender when done like this. Blade roast is best, topside can be dry. Once it's simmering you have about four hours to do whatever else you want.
ReplyDelete