In a Dutch Oven
Stracotto with Lemon Gremolata
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 (2-pound) beef chuck roast, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 red onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (8-ounce) package sliced small white mushrooms
1 (14½-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
1 cup dry red wine
½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 cups hot cooked whole wheat orzo
1 Mix together flour, salt, and pepper on sheet of wax paper; sprinkle all over chuck roast.
2 Heat oil in medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add beef and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes; transfer to plate. Add onions to pot and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add half of garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3 Add mushrooms, tomatoes, and wine to Dutch oven; cook, scraping browned bits from bottom of pot, about 3 minutes. Increase heat and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer until mushrooms are softened, about 10 minutes. Return beef and any accumulated juices to pot; reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally and turning beef every 30 minutes, until beef is fork-tender, about 1½ hours. Transfer beef to cutting board and keep warm.
4 Bring vegetable mixture to boil over medium-high heat; boil, stirring frequently at first and then almost constantly, until liquid is almost evaporated, about 12 minutes.
5 To make gremolata, stir together parsley, lemon zest, and remaining garlic in small bowl. Cut beef on diagonal into 12 slices. Serve sprinkled with gremolata and accompanied by vegetables and orzo.
PER SERVING (2 slices beef, generous ⅔ cup vegetables, 1½ tablespoons gremolata, and ⅓ cup orzo): 325 Cal, 9 g Total Fat, 3 g Sat Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 64 mg Chol, 407 mg Sod, 17 g Carb, 5 g Sugar, 3 g Fib, 35 g Prot, 48 mg Calc.
FYI Here’s how to test meat for “fork-tender” doneness. Take a dinner fork or carving fork and stick it into the thickest part of the meat, then pull it out. If the meat is fork-tender, the fork will go in and out without any resistance.