Braciole With Orecchiette

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Total: 3 hr
  • Prep: 30 min
  • Cook: 2 hr 30 min
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Ingredients

2 cups stale 1/2-inch Italian bread cubes

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic (2 smashed; 2 minced)

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 28-ounce container strained tomatoes or tomato puree

2 bay leaves

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds beef bottom round, sliced into 12 thin pieces

12 thin slices prosciutto

3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup grated pecorino romano cheese, plus more for topping

6 ounces aged provolone cheese

Kosher salt

1 pound orecchiette

Directions

  1. Combine the bread and milk in a large bowl and let soak, 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Cook the olive oil, smashed garlic and red pepper flakes in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Add the strained tomatoes, bay leaves and 5 cups water; bring to a boil and cook 20 minutes. Place the beef slices between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a heavy skillet until 1/16 inch thick. Position the slices with the short sides facing you and lay a slice of prosciutto on top of each. Add 1/2 cup parsley, the pecorino and minced garlic to the soaked bread and mix with your hands, breaking up the bread; spread on top of the prosciutto. Cut the provolone into twelve 2-to-3-inch-long sticks, about 1/2 inch thick. Put a piece of cheese horizontally across the middle of each slice of beef and trim any overhanging cheese. Starting with a short end, tightly roll up the beef and secure with a toothpick. Transfer the braciole to the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer 1 hour. Uncover, stir and reduce the heat to low; continue simmering, uncovered, until the beef is tender and the sauce thickens, 1 more hour. (Add up to 1 cup water if the sauce gets too thick.) Discard the bay leaves. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup parsley and season with salt. About 20 minutes before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Remove the braciole from the sauce and transfer to a platter; remove the toothpicks. Pour half of the sauce on top. Drain the pasta and toss with the remaining sauce. Serve the braciole with the pasta; top with pecorino. Photograph by Anna Williams

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LAUREN D.

This was great for Christmas dinner. Made a lot more sauce than I expected, I would reduce the water next time. I was able to get the butcher to slice-to-order the beef, but twelve slices came out to 4 lbs! So mine were a bit thicker than called for but I pounded them out and was wanting a double-batch anyway.

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