Sicilian Beef Rolls with Pine Nuts and Raisins

Sicilian Stuffed Beef Rolls (Involtini alla Siciliana)
Category: Main Courses
Servings: 6

Sicilian Stuffed Beef Rolls, or Involtini alla Siciliana, are a classic Italian dish that brings together tender beef, flavorful cheese, pine nuts, and raisins, all expertly grilled to perfection. The dish has a rich history in Sicilian cuisine, with each bite offering a delightful mix of savory, sweet, and tangy notes. Whether served as skewers or individually plated, these beef rolls are sure to impress anyone at your dinner table.

Here’s how to make these delicious and aromatic Sicilian stuffed beef rolls.

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Prep the raisins and cheese
   Begin by soaking the raisins in a bowl of water for about 10 minutes to soften them. While the raisins are soaking, take the Caciocavallo cheese and finely chop or grate it.

2. Prepare the stuffing mixture
   In a mixing bowl, combine the grated cheese, breadcrumbs, and pine nuts. Drain the raisins and add them to the mixture, stirring to incorporate everything evenly.

3. Sauté the onions
   Finely chop one red onion. In a non-stick pan, heat 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Once ready, add the cooked onions to the breadcrumb mixture, and mix well. Add salt and black pepper to taste, ensuring the stuffing is flavorful but not overly salty. The consistency of the mixture should be slightly crumbly but not too compact, making it easier to stuff into the beef slices later.

4. Prepare the beef rolls
   Take the thin slices of beef and tenderize them with a meat mallet, making sure they are thin and even. Brush each slice lightly with extra virgin olive oil. Take a generous spoonful of the stuffing mixture and spread it along the shorter edge of the beef slice. Roll the beef slice tightly around the filling to form a neat little bundle. Repeat with all the slices of beef until all the stuffing is used up.

5. Assemble the skewers
   Cut the second red onion into quarters, making slices from the outer layers to form wedges. You will need 24 onion slices to construct the skewers. Prepare your skewers by threading them in this order: one bay leaf, followed by a slice of onion, a beef roll, another onion slice, and another bay leaf. Repeat this pattern to make as many skewers as needed. Brush the assembled skewers with a little extra virgin olive oil for a golden, crispy finish when grilling.

6. Grill the skewers
   Heat a grill or griddle pan over high heat. Once hot, add the skewers and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, ensuring that the beef rolls are browned on the outside while remaining juicy and tender inside. The beef should be fully cooked after 17-18 minutes of grilling. The goal is to achieve a nice char on the outside while maintaining the softness of the beef and the gooey stuffing on the inside.

7. Serve
   The Sicilian stuffed beef rolls can be served as skewers directly from the grill, or you can remove the rolls from the skewers and arrange them on a platter. Either way, they are a delicious treat that brings the flavors of Sicily straight to your table.

Tips & Variations

• If you don’t have Caciocavallo cheese, you can substitute it with another semi-soft cheese like provolone or mozzarella, but Caciocavallo adds an authentic touch.
• To make this dish even more Sicilian, you could use other ingredients like green olives or anchovies in the stuffing mix, giving the rolls an added depth of flavor.
• For a slight twist, you could cook the beef rolls in a tomato sauce after grilling to create a rich, flavorful dish reminiscent of involtini alla Siciliana simmered in sauce.

Enjoy this delicious and aromatic dish for your next family meal, barbecue, or special occasion. It’s a simple yet impressive way to bring a piece of Sicilian culinary heritage to your dining table.