Beef olives are a delicious dish made with thin slices of beef, typically stuffed with a savory filling, rolled up, and then cooked to perfection. There are various ways to prepare beef olives, but I'll provide you with a classic recipe that you can follow:
Ingredients:
- Thinly sliced beef (around 6-8 slices, about 4x6 inches each)
- For the filling: breadcrumbs, chopped onions, garlic, parsley, grated cheese (such as Parmesan or Cheddar), and seasonings (salt, pepper, and any preferred herbs).
- Cooking twine or toothpicks to secure the rolls
- Olive oil or vegetable oil for cooking
- Beef or vegetable broth (around 2 cups)
- Red wine (around 1/2 cup - optional)
- Canned tomatoes or tomato sauce (around 1 cup)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the filling: In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, chopped onions, garlic, parsley, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and any other preferred herbs. Mix everything well until it forms a cohesive filling mixture.
Prepare the beef slices: Lay out the beef slices on a flat surface and lightly pound them with a meat tenderizer to ensure they are thin and easy to roll. Be gentle not to tear them.
Stuff and roll the beef olives: Place a small amount of the filling mixture onto each beef slice and spread it evenly. Roll up the beef slices tightly, securing the ends with toothpicks or tying them with cooking twine to keep the filling inside.
Sear the beef olives: In a large skillet or a pot, heat some olive oil or vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef olives and sear them on all sides until they are nicely browned. This step will help seal in the flavors.
Add the liquid and simmer: Once the beef olives are browned, pour in the beef or vegetable broth and the optional red wine if using. Add canned tomatoes or tomato sauce to the pan. The liquid should come about halfway up the sides of the beef olives.
Simmer and cook: Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet or pot, and let the beef olives simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours or until the meat is tender. Check the liquid level occasionally, and if it reduces too much, add a bit more broth or water.
Adjust seasoning and serve: Once the beef olives are cooked and tender, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Remove the toothpicks or cooking twine before serving.
Serving suggestions: Beef olives are delicious when served with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Remember that you can always customize the filling and seasoning according to your taste preferences. Enjoy your delicious beef olives!