Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast #ItalianPotRoast

Ok I have a confession to make. My sister and I don’t like turkey. So, we did an Italian pot roast in a slow cooker on Thanksgiving day. She swears by the 12 hour rule, but we did a 4.25 pound roast on low for 6 hours and then high for 2 hours. Was absolutely perfect!

Ingredients

½ cup quality flour
Salt & pepper or your favorite Italian seasoning
1 3-4 pound beef chuck roast, boneless
Olive oil
2 to 3 ounces pancetta, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup beef broth, low sodium
1 large 24oz can organic crushed tomatoes
2 to 3 medium carrots, chopped
2 to 3 celery ribs, chopped
1 to 2 pound white or brown mushrooms, sliced thick|
1 bay leaf, 1 sprig fresh oregano, 1 fresh sprig rosemary
Fresh oregano for garnish

Directions

Combine flour with salt & pepper or your favorite Italian seasoning blend. Spread the mixture over meat well. Sprinkle additional Italian seasoning and press in to meat.

In a large, heavy skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Place meat in large slow cooker. Add the pancetta and onion to skillet; reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until onion is tender. Stir in the garlic. Add the wine and bring it to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan and mixing well.

Pour the mixture from the skillet over the beef. Add the tomatoes, broth, carrots, celery, oregano sprig, rosemary sprig and bay leaf on top and around meat. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours (3 lb) or 7 hours (4 lb), or until meat is tender. Or, you can cook the roast on low for 6 hours and change to high for 2 hours. Depends on your schedule, right?

When time is closer to being done, make a simple roux with 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoon of flour in large pan. Skim about 1 cup of sauce in cooker, depending on the amount of mushrooms, and add to pan over medium heat. Mix well, then add mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes. Set aside. Sprinkler with fresh chopped oregano

When meat is ready, remove the bay leaf, oregano & rosemary springs, and the roast from slow cooker. Slice or tear into serving portions. Mix mushrooms in thickened juice with slow cooker mixture, blend together well. Serve meat and vegetables together on platter and garnish with fresh oregano.

Bon Appétit!

#SlowCooker #CrockPot #SlowCookerItalianPotRoast #PotRoast