Fusilli al Ragu (Braciole al Ragu)
From
Savoring
Italy with
photographs by Robert Freson, chapter text by Paola
Pettini.
2 pounds of top or bottom round roast, cut into 8 thin
slices
3 teaspoons peeled and finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 cups peeled and finely chopped onion
2 cups peeled and finely chopped carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup grated pecorino or provolone cheese
1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon of salt
2 teaspoons of black pepper
Flour
3 ounces lean pancetta, chopped to yield 3/4 cup
One 28-ounce can of plum tomatoes, drained, and finely
chopped or put through a food mill.
1 cup dry red or white wine
1 pound of fusilli
Pound the meat slices between pieces of wax paper to make
them even thinner and more tender.
In a bowl, mix together half of the chopped garlic and
onion (saving the other half of each for the sauce), and
the carrot, parsley, cheese, breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon
each of the salt and pepper. Sprinkle each slice of meat
with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper, and
put 3 tablespoons of the stuffing mixture in the middle of
each slice of meat. Roll each slice from one corner to its
opposite corner on the diagonal, making as long a roll as
possible, then fold over the ends, one at a time, toward
the middle of the roll until they slightly overlap, making
a packet that you can either skewer with a toothpick or tie
with cotton thread to hold shut during cooking. (Some cooks
like to dust the packets with flour at this stage.
In a large skillet, sauté the packets (involtini) in the
olive oil, turning them until they are brown all over. When
they are done, remove them from the oil, but leave the oil
in the pan.
Sauté the chopped pancetta in the oil with the remaining
onion and garlic over low heat until the onion is soft,
stir frequently and be careful not to burn the garlic. Add
the tomatoes and the wine, and put the involtini back in.
The liquid in the pan should just cover the meat; if it
does not, add some hot water. Bring to a boil, cover and
reduce the heat and simmer for two hours, stirring
occasionally, until the sauce has been reduced and
concentrated, and the meat is very tender.
When the meat is about done, cook the fusilli in plenty of
boiling salted water until al dente, and then drain. Dress
the fusilli with the meat sauce, but save a little of the
sauce to go with the involtini, which are served as a
second course. Remember to remove the thread, if you used
it, before serving the meat, two involtini per serving.
Serves 4.