Company Pot Roast

As we get deeper into fall, the temperatures continue to slip downward. When that happens, there is nothing better than the comfort foods that remind us all of warm, comfy evenings curled up by a fire or just curled up with a good book!!

Even though it is Thanksgiving tomorrow, Barefoot Bloggers all will be publishing their experiences with Ina Garten's Company Pot Roast. Like most of you, I have three of four different pot roast recipes. They all bring a different palate of flavors yet they are all prepared using basically the same process. Tomorrow's recipe, which I am posting today, comes from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics.

This was a delicious recipe! I had never tried it before because I have so many other "favorites" but one can never have too many pot roast recipes, can one? What appealed to me in this recipe were the leeks and Cognac. None of the other recipes that I have use leeks. I love the mild flavor that they bring to a dish. Cognac was a different ingredient for pot roast also. This was an all around great pot roast that I would make again without thinking twice!

Company Pot Roast

1 (4 to 5-pound) prime boneless beef chuck roast, tied (mine was not tied)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour
Good olive oil
2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
2 cups chopped celery (4 stalks)
2 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (2 to 4 leeks)
5 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 cups good red wine, such as Burgundy
2 tablespoons Cognac or brandy
1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes in puree
1 cup chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 chicken bouillon cube
3 branches fresh thyme
2 branches fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Pat the beef dry with a paper towel. Season the roast all over with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Dredge the whole roast in flour, including the ends. In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the roast and sear for 4 to 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Turn and sear the other side and then turn and sear the ends. This should take 4 to 5 minutes for each side. Remove the roast to a large plate.

Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the Dutch oven. Add the carrots, onions, celery, leeks, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper and cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned. Add the wine and Cognac and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, bouillon cube, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Tie the thyme and rosemary together with kitchen string and add to the pot. Put the roast back into the pot, bring to a boil, and cover. Place in the oven for 2 1/2 hours, until the meat is fork tender or about 160 degrees F internally. Turn the heat down to 250 degrees F after about an hour to keep the sauce at a simmer.

Remove the roast to a cutting board. Remove the herb bundle and discard. Skim off as much fat as possible from the sauce. Transfer half the sauce and vegetables to a blender or a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree until smooth. Pour the puree back into the pot, place on the stovetop over low heat, and return the sauce to a simmer. Place 2 tablespoons flour and the butter in a small bowl and mash them together with a fork. Stir into the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring until thickened. Taste for seasonings. Remove the strings from the roast, and slice the meat. Serve warm with the sauce spooned over it.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Delicious!

This recipe was selected by Barefoot Blogger Lisa at Lime in the Coconut. Stop by her blog and take a look at all of the great recipes that she has shared!

If you enjoy Ina Garten's many recipes you may wish to join the Barefoot Bloggers as we prepare wonderful dishes from each of her cookbooks!