New England Pot Roast and Gravy
- 2 Fresh raw Briskets** (about 22 pounds) preferably Certified Black Angus Beef (they come about 11 pounds each)
- 2 1/2 pounds onions
- 2 1/2 pounds carrots
- 2 pounds celery
- 3 gallons beef stock, approximately
- 2 teaspoons herb de Provence, seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme, or fresh if available
- 3 bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper (sprinkle generously unless using some form of bouillon for stock that is already salty)
- 1 gallon pot roast stock
- 1 cup beef fat
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch, for shine
- Garnish: Julienne carrots, celery and onion (just a few for presentation).
- Then simmer them in a little stock to soften slightly.
- Cool until needed.
- Dip in stock to reheat and arrange on top of gravy on the meat.
- Method: With a hot broiler, grill or frying pan, sear the briskets until they're well browned and crispy.
- Wash and cut the vegetables into a large, rough dice and place in the bottom of a large covered pan (squarehead).
- Add the beef, seasonings and stock.
- Cover and place in a preheated 375 to 400 degree oven and bake for about 6 hours.
- Check the meat with a meat fork.
- The briskets should be extremely fork tender (practically falling apart).
- When done lift from the stock with a fork and a spatula underneath to a holding pan to cool slightly.
- ** Bruce recommends Black Angus Briskets because of the higher meat yield and quality.
- Also Briskets are fatty with excellent flavor so when they're well done the fat cooks out and they stay moist and tender.
- Meanwhile -- into a large plastic food bucket, strain the vegetables and stock through a medium hole china cap (sieve).
- Using a mallet or ladle squeeze some of the vegetable pulp through into the stock for flavor and texture.
- Discard the squeezed veggies.
- Cool the stock so the fat will rise to the top.
- While the meat is still warm cut out the large pieces of meat separating it from the fat layer in the middle.
- Scrape off any excess soft fat and discard it.
- Keep the meat pieces (pot roast) to eat soon or refrigerate them.
- To Make Gravy: Heat the Pot Roast Stock separately.
- In a large heavy saucepan heat the beef fat, boiling out any water particles (takes a couple minutes).
- Make a roux by whisking in the flour and cornstarch stirring constantly -- cooking a few minutes.
- Continue stirring (it could burn) browning slightly is okay.
- It adds color to the gravy.
- Add some of the hot stock gradually.
- Stir swiftly to break up lumps and make a smooth paste.
- Add more stock to thin to the desired consistency.
- Let simmer 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Check for color, taste and thickness.
- Adjust color if desired with a few drops of Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet.
- Add salt and pepper and more stock if needed.
- Slowly reheat Pot Roast in hot stock.
- Remove from stock to a cutting board.
- Slice the meat thinly on the bias against the grain of the meat.
- Arrange on the plate, ladle on the gravy and garnish with the julienne vegetables, if desired.
- Serve with fresh mashed potatoes and a vegetable.
- This is a meal to enjoy.
raw briskets, onions, carrots, celery, beef stock, blend, thyme, bay leaves, salt, gallon, beef fat, flour, cornstarch
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/new-england-pot-roast-and-gravy-recipe.html (may not work)