Crock Pot Beef Roulades Recipe
🕒 Prep Time: 45 minutes
🕒 Cook Time: 8 hours
🕒 Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 12
🥩 Category: Steak
🔑 Keywords: Meat, Weeknight
Description:
A delightful twist on a traditional German recipe passed down from my grandmother, these Crock Pot Beef Roulades offer a fusion of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Inspired by her use of dill pickle spears, I’ve opted for fragrant basil leaves and tangy balsamic vinegar, creating a savory symphony that elevates this dish to new heights. While my estimated prep time may vary from yours, the end result is certainly worth the effort. Gather your ingredients and embark on a culinary journey that serves up to 12 lucky individuals, each savoring a sumptuous portion.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 onions
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 12 slices bacon
- 2 pounds beef steak (cut into 12 equal pieces)
- 2 cups Burgundy wine
- 2 packets brown gravy mix
Instructions:
-
Prepare Basil Mixture:
In a small bowl, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil leaves, raisins, onions, garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix them together until they form a cohesive paste-like consistency. Set the mixture aside for now; its aromatic blend will infuse our roulades with irresistible flavor. -
Prepare the Beef:
Take your beef steak and slice it into 12 near-equal pieces. Using a meat mallet, gently pound each piece until it becomes uniformly flat. This step not only tenderizes the meat but also ensures even cooking and optimal flavor absorption. -
Assembly:
Spread approximately 2 teaspoons of the basil mixture onto each flattened beef piece, ensuring a generous coating of flavor. Next, place half a slice of bacon atop the basil mixture on each piece of beef. Carefully roll up each beef piece, encasing the flavorful filling within, and secure them tightly with butcher’s string to maintain their shape during cooking. -
Sear the Roulades:
Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place it over medium heat. Once heated, add 3-4 roulades at a time, allowing them to brown evenly on all sides. This initial searing locks in the juices and imparts a delectable crust, enhancing the overall texture and flavor of our dish. -
Transfer to Crock Pot:
Once browned to perfection, remove the roulades from the skillet and transfer them to a crock pot. Repeat the searing process with the remaining roulades until they are all beautifully browned and nestled snugly in the crock pot, ready to be bathed in a savory sauce. -
Deglaze the Pan:
In the same skillet used for searing, pour in the Burgundy wine and simmer for approximately 3 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly and release any flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. This process, known as deglazing, adds depth and complexity to our sauce, elevating its taste to new heights. -
Prepare the Sauce:
Add the brown gravy mix to the simmering wine, stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This rich and savory sauce will envelop our roulades, infusing them with layers of irresistible flavor as they simmer to perfection in the crock pot. -
Crock Pot Magic:
Pour the prepared sauce over the roulades in the crock pot, ensuring that each one is generously coated. Cover the crock pot with its lid and set it to cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, allowing ample time for the flavors to meld together and the beef to become tender and succulent. -
Final Touches:
Once the cooking time has elapsed, carefully remove the roulades from the crock pot and transfer them to a serving dish. Take a moment to marvel at their tender perfection before gently removing the butcher’s string from each one. Ladle the rich sauce over the roulades, allowing it to cascade over them like a velvety blanket of flavor. -
Serving Suggestions:
Pair these delectable Crock Pot Beef Roulades with creamy mashed potatoes or wide noodles for a hearty and satisfying meal that is sure to impress even the most discerning palates. Gather your loved ones around the table and savor each delicious bite, as you bask in the warm glow of shared culinary delight. Enjoy!
