Almost. When you add North African ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, cumin, and coriander, along with pomegranate juice (for a little sweetness), you end up with something new, flavorful, and altogether fantastic! As the cold weather wears on, we want comforting, cozy meals but we also want to mix things up a bit so we don’t get bored. Here’s a chance to do that.
Why Braise Pot Roast?
Slow braising, like we’re doing for this pot roast, means cooking foods in a small amount of liquid in a pot at a steady, moderate temperature. This transforms tough cuts of beef, like chuck or brisket, into something so tender you can pull it apart with a fork. Low and steady heat breaks down the collagen (the connective tissue that holds the muscle fibers in meat together) and allows the meat fibers to soften and separate more easily. The sauce resulting from this process won’t be thick, but it will be full of flavor. Serve the pot roast with couscous, and then spoon this broth over top of the meat. Let the meat and couscous soak up every drop of that the soupy goodness!
Tips for Pot Roast Success
Don’t worry if your meat still seems tough partway through cooking. It takes time for the collagen to break down and for the meat to become tender. When done, it should easily pull apart with a fork – cook it a little longer if you need to. The extra time won’t hurt!
2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons crushed coriander seed 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (to taste) crushed red pepper flakes (or if available, Marash or Aleppo pepper)
For the beef
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 (3-pound or 1.35 kg) beef chuck roast 1 medium onion, quartered 3 carrots, cut into 2-inch chunks 2 bay leaves 1 cup (235 ml) water 1 cup (235 ml) pomegranate juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 cup loosely-packed chopped fresh parsley
In a large Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot with a lid, heat the oil. Add the beef and brown it on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Add the onion, carrots and bay leaves to the pot. Stir in the spice mix. When the meat is fork tender, remove it from the oven. (If it is not tender enough, leave it in a little longer.) Set a strainer over a bowl and pour the sauce through. Press on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and skim off the fat from the liquid. Add the lemon juice and taste. Add more salt and pepper, if you like.
