French-Style Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

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French-Style Pot Roast Recipe (1) 1 Picture

Ingredients

  • 1 (4-to5-pound) bonless chuch-eye roast, pulled apart into 2 pieces and fat trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) medium-bodied red wine (such as Pinot Noir)
  • 10 sprigs fresh parsley plus 2 tablespoons minced leaves
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Pepper
  • 4 slices bacon, preferably thick-cut, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1 onion, minced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 4 carrots, peeled and cut on bias into 1 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 cups frozen pearl onions
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 cup water plus 1/4 cup cold water
  • 10 ounces white mushrooms, halved if small and quartered if large
  • Table salt
  • 1 tablespoon powdered unflavored gelatin

Details

Preparation

Step 1

1. Sprinkle the meat with the kosher salt, place on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet, and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, bring the wine to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Using kitchen twine, tie the parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves into a bundle.
3. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season generously with pepper. Tie three pieces of kitche twine around each piece of meat to keep from falling apart.
4. Adjust an oven rach to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 300 degrees. Cook the back in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper-lined plate and reserve. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat; return the Dutch oven to medium-high heat and heat until the fat begins to smoke. Add the beef to the pot and brown on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer the beef to a large plate; set aside.
5. Reduce the heat to medium; add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften 2 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic; flour, and reserved bacon; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the reduced wine, broth, and herb bundle, scraping the botton of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Return the roast and any accumulated juices to the pot; increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to a simmer, then place a large sheet of foil over the pot and cover with the lid. Set the pot in the oven and cook, using tongs to turn the beef every hour, until a fork slips easily in and out of the meat, 2 1/2 to 3 hours, adding the carrots after 2 hours.
6. While the meat cooks, bring the pearl onions, butter, sugar, and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook until the oions are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Uncover, return the heat to medium-high, and cook until all the liquid evaporates, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon table salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are browned and glazed, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside. Place the remaining 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top.
7. Transfer the beef to a cutting board, tent with foil to keep warm. Allow the braising liquid to settle about 5 minutes; then, using a wide, shallow spoon, skim the fat off the surface. Remove the herb bundle and stir in the onion-mushroom mixture. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook until the mixture is slightly thickened and reduced to 3 1/4 cups, 20 to 30 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Add the softened gelatin and stir until completely dissolved.
8. Remove the twine from the meat and discard. Using a chef's or carving knife, cut the meat against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Divide the meat amoung warmed bowls or transfer to a platter; arrange the vegetables around the meat, pour the sauce on top, and sprinkle with the minced parsley.

Serve with boiled potatoes, buttered noodles or steamed rice.

French-Style Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks in the oven? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks. Roasts are generally made from tougher cuts of meat, such as chuck or brisket, which contain a lot of collagen, connective tissue, and fat. These tougher tissues require a long cooking time to break down and for the collagen to converts into gelatin.

How do you keep a pot roast moist and tender? ›

Low and Slow is the Way to Go

Whether you cook your pot roast using a stovetop, oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker method, you'll always get the most tender and flavorful results if you use low temperatures over a long period of time.

What is the French name for pot roast? ›

Traditional French Pot-au-feu (Pot Roast)

What is French roast beef? ›

French roast is a classic and flavorful cut of beef that is perfect for any special occasion. It's a boneless roast that is taken from the beef's shoulder area and is typically around 2.5 pounds. This cut is marbled with just the right amount of fat to give it a juicy and tender texture.

Should pot roast be covered in liquid? ›

Some recipes call for liquid, some do not. It mainly comes down to the type of meat you use. Cuts like chuck roast will release more fat and moisture than leaner cuts, so they don't need any water. In addition, the slow cooker itself creates some moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy.

Why is my roast still tough after 8 hours? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

What not to do to pot roast? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Pot Roast
  1. Using the wrong roast.
  2. Not browning the roast.
  3. Deglazing with just broth.
  4. Cooking the vegetables too long.
  5. Not thickening the gravy.
Mar 29, 2017

What tenderizes pot roast? ›

Cook it low and slow with some liquid.

When it comes right down to it, it's the time spent simmering in that liquid that really matters. Simmering helps break down the connective tissue. Connective tissue breaks down to collagen. Collagen tenderizes, and adds flavor and juiciness to the roast.

Is it better to cook a pot roast covered or uncovered? ›

A surefire way to make a tender, juicy pot roast is through braising; that is, cooking the meat in a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pot at low temperature.

Is a French roast a chuck roast? ›

Chuck roast is often sold tied in a net and includes the Square Roast (top portion) and the French (or Brick) Roast (bottom portion). Since the chuck portion is very tough, it is often cubed and sold as stew meat as well.

Why is it called French roast? ›

Named after the region that created the roasting style, the name is now most associated with the roasting method, and coffee does not have to be roasted in France to earn the name. In fact, coffee roasters worldwide now use this traditional method to make their own French Roast coffee.

Why is it called Yankee pot roast? ›

That makes it a great recipe for busy weekdays and meal prep! A classic bit of Yankee wisdom is “Whatever's on hand is what works best.” Sometimes Pot roast is called Yankee pot roast, and whether that's a nod to the dish's American New England origins, or a joke about frugality is up for debate.

Why do people like French roast? ›

French roast coffee beans offer a distinct charcoal-like flavour that some find sweet and smoky. It's much darker than other light roast coffees, so the fundamental flavours of each bean are often disguised by the taste of its roast instead.

What is the difference between French roast and regular roast? ›

Roasted even longer than the typical Dark Roast, French Roast beans are in a league of their own. The roasting process takes the beans well into the second crack, where the natural sugars in the beans caramelize to near perfection, resulting in a smoky-sweet flavor profile that's robust yet surprisingly smooth.

What makes French roast different? ›

The longer roasting time and higher temperature used in French roast coffee production result in beans that are less acidic, less sweet, and less fruity than lighter roasts.

How long will it take to cook a roast at 250 degrees? ›

The cooking time for a beef roast at 250 degrees Fahrenheit will depend on the size and cut of the roast. As a general guideline, you can plan to cook it for approximately 20-30 minutes per pound.

Why is my pot roast still tough after 6 hours? ›

Here are some possible explanations:
  • Lean Cut of Meat: The cut of meat you used may have been too lean. ...
  • Insufficient Cooking Time: Six hours may not have been enough time to fully tenderize the meat. ...
  • Low Crock Pot Temperature: The temperature of your crock pot may have been too low.
Jan 19, 2024

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

Does roast beef get softer the longer you cook it? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low.

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