My Grandmas Bracciole Zrazy Zawijane Food

ZRAZY ZAWIJANE (POLISH BEEF ROULADE IN SOUR CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a heavy skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
• Saute the mushrooms and onions until the liquid in the pan starts to evaporate (8-10 minutes) (Do NOT let the mushrooms brown).
• Stir in the bread crumbs and half of the salt and pepper; remove from heat.
• Cut the steak into 8 rectangular pieces 3-4" wide by 6-8" long, sprinkle both sides evenly with remaining salt and pepper.
• Spread a thin layer of the mustard on each slice of beef, and place 1/8 of the stuffing on the shorter end of each piece of steak.
• Roll the steaks into cyclinders, enclosing the stuffing, and tuck in the sides; secure each end with kitchen cord.
• Roll the zrazy in flour and vigorously shake off any excess.
• In a heavy skillet, melt remaining butter with oil over high heat, and brown the rolls, turning them often so they evenly turn a rich golden brown without burning (about 15 minutes).
• As they brown transfer them to a casserole dish large enough to hold them all in a single layer.
• Pour off all but a thin layer of fat from the skillet and replace it with the beef stock.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly (scraping the bottom and sides of the pan).
• Pour the broth over the rolls and cover tightly.
• Braise in the oven until the meat is so tender that it gives no resistance when pierced with the tip of a skewer or knife (45 minutes).
• Remove the zrazy from the casserole dish, cut the cord off and cover with tin foil to keep the rolls warm while you make the sauce.
• Skim off and discard as much of the fat as possible from the liquid remaining in the casserole dish.
• Return to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, and mix in the sour cream.
• Season to taste and serve over zrazy.

STUFFED BEEF ROLLS (ZRAZY ZAWIJANE)

Steps:

• For the beef rolls: Sprinkle salt and pepper over each side of the sliced beef. Then spread a thin layer of yellow mustard onto each piece. Divide the pickle strips, bacon and onions onto each steak. Fold in the sides and roll to secure the insides.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the rolls on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the rolls and set aside. Add the flour to the pan and cook until light brown to make a roux, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve the roux in the pan to make the sauce.
• Bring the water to a boil in a large stockpot. Wrap each beef roll in a 11-by-7-inch piece of aluminum foil and twist the ends to seal the rolls tightly inside. Place the rolls into the boiling water and bring down the heat to a high simmer. Cover and cook in the water for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Remove the rolls from the water with tongs and reserve the cooking liquid to prepare the sauce.
• For the sauce: Heat the pan with the roux over medium heat and add the cooking liquid, stock, tomato paste, red wine and paprika. Simmer until the liquid is a sauce consistency (coats a spoon). Season with salt and pepper. Yield: 4 cups.
• To serve, unwrap the beef rolls from the foil. Spoon the sauce over each beef roll and accompany with mashed potatoes or noodles covered in sauce and a vegetable.

BRACIOLE

Steps:

• Stir the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl to blend. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season mixture with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Lay the flank steak flat on the work surface. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly over the steak to cover the top evenly. Starting at 1 short end, roll up the steak as for a jelly roll to enclose the filling completely. Using butcher's twine, tie the steak roll to secure. Sprinkle the braciole with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the braciole and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir in the marinara sauce. Cover partially with foil and bake until the meat is almost tender, turning the braciole and basting with the sauce every 30 minutes. After 1 hour, uncover and continue baking until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes longer. The total cooking time should be about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the braciole from the sauce. Using a large sharp knife, cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon the sauce over and serve.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrot and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and taste for seasoning. If sauce tastes too acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, to round out the flavor.
• Pour half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and then pour 1 to 2 cup portions into plastic freezer bags. Freeze for up to 6 months.

ZRAZY ZAWIJANE (STUFFED ROLLS OF BEEF)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Slice the bread lengthwise into six pieces, each one as thick as an index finger. Slice the pickle lengthwise into six fingers. Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise.
• Place a steak slice between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound evenly until it is very thin. Distribute a few onion slices over center of meat, add a finger of bread, one of pickle and a half slice of bacon. Sprinkle a very little salt (the bacon will add salt) and some pepper over all. Wrap the steak slice around the stuffing and tie or fasten with toothpicks. Repeat with remaining steak slices.
• Bring the chicken or beef stock to a slow simmer and add the dried mushrooms. (If using Italian mushrooms, soak them first in warm water for 20 minutes, then rinse to rid them of sand.) Remove from heat and let mushrooms steep in hot stock for at least 20 minutes.
• Roll beef rolls in the flour.
• Heat one tablespoon of oil and one of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until butter foam subsides. Add remaining sliced onion and cook, stirring and tossing slices until onion is thoroughly browned; remove to an ovenproof dish. Add remaining butter and oil to the pan and brown the beef rolls evenly on all sides. When rolls are thoroughly browned and crisp on all sides, add to the dish with the onions. Distribute onions over and around beef rolls.
• Add stock and mushrooms, and bring to a gentle simmer on top of the stove. Place in oven and bake about two hours, or until the beef rolls are fork tender and the braising liquid has reduced to a syrupy gravy.