When we got an email from Bertolli about braising beef and Into the Heart of Italy, I was immediately excited. I have been wanting to braise beef for a while now and they were going to send us a home braising “kit” and a coupon for a Bertolli meal. They said we didn’t have to actually braise the beef since it would take a while and Bertolli meals are super easy. But you know me; I obviously wanted to braise the beef (and eat the Bertolli meal, too. ha!). And I was super excited when I opened the beef braising “kit” and found a 5.5 quart Martha Stewart casserole dish (dutch oven), a Crate and Barrel bamboo cutting board and bamboo utensils, and some Crate and Barrel ceramic bowls.
After trying to decide just how to cook my beef, I settled on a recipe from Mark Bittman for Coconut-Braised Beef. I was having my sister and Adam over for a little bit of a birthday dinner for Adam and since we all love Indian food, I thought this Malaysian-style dish might hit the spot.
Coconut-Braised Beef (serves 4):
- 2 hot dried red chiles (I used 3 fresh… and wish I used more. Or hotter!)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 T chili powder
- Juice and zest of 2 limes (or 2 T rice or other mild vinegar)
- 2 T corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil
- 1 1/2 lb. beef, preferably chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 C coconut milk (I used half regular and half light)
- Salt to taste
Lime, chiles, ginger, and garlic. Does it get any better than that? I think not! Except when you put them on a pretty C&B bamboo cutting board!
After you chop garlic and ginger, put them in the food processor, along with the chilies, chili powder, and lime juice. I used a little bit extra of everything since I had a bit more than 1 1/2 lbs. beef.
Process until minced. If you don’t have a food processor, you can always do this by hand.
Check out the Martha Stewart casserole dish Betolli sent. Swoooon. It is the prettiest color red ever! And I was SO excited to use it (keep reading and maybe, just maybe, one could be yours too!).
I chopped the beef into 1-inch cubes.
Heat the oil over medium-high in the skillet (make sure it can later be covered). Add the spice paste and cook, stirring occasionally until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally until browned and covered in sauce.
Pour in the coconut milk and bring the mixture to a boil. It was here that I put the cover on the dish and popped it in the oven at 250 degrees for about 2 hours. And then uncovered it and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes. You could also just turn the heat to low and continue cooking on the stove for 1-2 hours.
A meal like this is best served with loved ones. We poured some wine and sat down to a feast.
I also roasted some carrots and cooked some spinach with garlic.
And I served the beef over brown rice.
Whoa, this was good! The meat was so, so tender and incredibly flavorful. Braising beef, I think I’m in love with you. Sure, it was a little bit time-consuming, but it was super duper easy! It just had to sit in the oven for quite a while, getting all tender and melding flavors and all that fun stuff. And I just had to sit there waiting. And drooling.
This was also the evening we had the mint oreo ice cream, making it an all-around awesome food night.
Bertolli Beef Braising Giveaway:
Want to braise your own beef? Trust me, you do. Bertolli is going to send one of our readers a home braising kit, just like they sent us. It’s valued at $125 and is oh, so pretty.
The giveaway is in honor of episode 6 of Into the Heart of Italy. After watching the episode, I had such a huge craving to braise my own beef. I also really wanted to try Bertolli’s Tuscan-Style Braised Beef, but none of my nearby grocery stores carried it. I did try the chicken parmesan and it was quite delicious for those evenings when you just want to collapse and can’t even think about cooking.
If you want to win your own beef braising kit, simply watch the episode (below). I mean, it features Rocco DiSpirito and Marisa Tomei, so you know it’s going to be pretty good. Watch it and let us know what your favorite part is 
Leave your comments by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. and you’ll be entered to win the Bertolli home braising kit.
Oh, and if you tweet about it and/or blog about it, you’ll be given extra entries, just make sure you tell us about it!!
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Great episode – I love the part when they come into the shop and Dario is smiling, tossing knives, and simultaneously rambling off loud-Italian instructions! All while having his red wine. What a multi-tasker!
Oh my gosh, that was too fun to watch! I definitely loved when they first entered the butcher shop and watched him yell in Italian wile tossing knives like a juggler
NICE WORK with your meal – WOW! That is impressive!
Meeting the cowgirl and cowboys (and the sweet horse!)
WOW! Your meal turned out amazing! I bet your dinner guests were very impressed. The dutch oven is gorgeous. i don’t have one and want one so bad! My favorite part of the episode is just the views of the countryside. I have never been over there but would love to visit!
I loved Julia, the cowgirl! I love seeing women in unconventional roles, and she was awesome!
I also loved the where he is throwing knives, yelling & most importantly, drinking wine!!! A true italian-getting his wine in while taking care of everything else!
Gotta be the knife tossing…a knife tossing man always get my vote lol!
Ha! I loved the knife tossing too. Wish I could do that!
I never mind watching Rocco!
Yum. That looks fanastic. I have to admit Rocco is not usually my cup of tea, but I did enjoy the knife tossing as well. Sooo amusing.
loved the part where marissa was all like i dont understand what youre saying to me…or something of that sort. lol.
The knife tossing was awesome!
I like watching them all peel potatoes!
Another knife tossing vote!
I liked the part at the butcher shop, especially the brief shot of the bronze cow statue outside of the place.
My favorite part was seeing what Dario actually looks like. I read Heat by Bill Buford and he is such a crazy personality. It’s nice to a put a face to all the stories.
The knife tossing!! Definitely
Awesome giveaway…thanks.
knife throwing!
another vote for knife throwing! I just loved the authentic italian feel when they first walked into the butcher shop – and rocco’s not bad to look at either!
i think that the part where they all sit to enjoy the meal great! And yes another vote for the knife tossing that was pretty funny.
Have just loved Marisa forever…since My Cousin Vinny…
That meal looks delicious! I’ve always wanted to try braising beef, but it sounded so intimidating. You’ve changed my mind!
loved the cowgirl – when i grow up, i want to wear a cowboy hat and ride around italy on a horsie all day.
Knife tossing my favorite! That is one good lookin meal you made ladies! I’ve gotta try this!
I loved hearing the Italian language and accent in this video! Makes me want to visit
Dario is by far my favorite part of this video.
I was VERY excited to see Dario in person, who I’ve just read about in Bill Buford’s book Heat. He is as crazy as Buford makes him out to be! And seeing his shop! Love it!
I love the knife tossing…and of course Marisa Tomei!
Wow, what a great clip! Makes you want to be there. You can almost smell the food and wine. My favorite part was the wine pouring with the stack of glasses and he would fill one and pass it off.
“to beef or not to beef!” its dinner time and now i’m really hungry. i choose BEEF!
i love the potato prep, they’re just so funny and man it looks tasty!
I loved seeing them enjoy the meal with different people they had met during the process of making Into the Heart of Italy – seeing Dario and Rocco give each other a kiss was cute too.
I like the way that the food looked! Yum!
One more…I vote for knife-tossing plus the billion of other things going on at the same time is my favorite part too! Gorgeous pot, by the way!!
the knife tossing!! such a good vid.
I love seeing them cook.
I loved it when the horse dipped his head down to make it easier to put the bridle on. What a gentle giant. I’ve never braised meat before but I promise I will if I win.
Such a cool giveaway! I have to say, I have a small crush on Dario – love how they cook in the butcher shop and he’s excitedly explaining the process in Italian (and I love how he doesn’t speak English!). Fun episode – now I want to go to Italy
Loved the knife tossing!
I know we were supposed to be focusing on the food, but I was too distracted by all the beautiful scenery! Loved it!
I loved how Dario was just yelling in Italian with a huge grin on his face the whole time! Is he always that happy?!
I’m craving a big hunk of braised meat now.
What a fabulous meal your prepared (and a great giveaway!)! I enjoyed the knife tossing!
Awesome video. I loved the passion and artistry of Dario and seeing him in action. I also loved meeting the cowpeople and how the horse helped them put the bridle on. So awesome!
Dario looks like a hoot! I would love to have a dinner with him. But how delicious did that meat look! Gosh *mouth watering* .. good stuff!
My favorite part is when they first met Dario in the butcher’s shop
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
Tweeted the giveaway
Blogged about the giveaway
Love the martha stewart dutch oven in red!
With respect to your coconut beef recipe, looks divine, and I plan to cook it, but don’t forget you are spooning a week’s allotment of cholesterol with every serving. But, like bacon, once in a while its worth it.
Your dinner looks delish! The video was great. I think Dario was my favorite part. He is so boisterous and loves food so much! He’s an absolute delight!
Love love love it when he says “To beef or not to beef, that is the question.” Too cute.
The knife tossing was great, but my favorite part was when they had to bridle and saddle the horse.
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/15995877988
I loved the video! I especially loved Dario. His enthusiasm and passion are contagious! I am on my way to the store to buy some beef and do some braising for Sunday supper tomorrow. My other favorite part of the epsiode were the cowboys. I am a Texas girl and have lived the cowgirl life for most of my many years. I am going to share this link with my Facebbook friends. Bravissimo!
That special stick is interesting, and I love her accent. Didn’t catch what it was called, though!
Great video! Another vote for knife tossing!
tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/16007173652
http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/06/giveaway-we-are-not-martha.html
that was funny kind of with the guy throwing his knives and giving instructions cool video
tweeted
http://twitter.com/SWAGBUCKSIGNUP/status/16016585902
blogged
http://tiffanybethgetsextraentries.blogspot.com/2010/06/bertolli-giveaway.html
The entire video was wonderful. I wish I had been invited to go with them. I particularly loved the scenery.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Sounds delicious!
Definitely the knife tossing!! I love braising!!
Tweeted about the giveaway today.
http://twitter.com/KBunn/status/16041140044
It is 7:00 AM and I now want a plate of beef! Great video (although long!) to introduce us to braising and Italy.
Italy is such a colorful place and the culture is one of such personableness warmth. I loved the scenery!
I thoroughly enjoyed that video. I loved that outspoken chef and the trip to see the Italian cowboys to get the stick (which I won’t try to pronounce). What a wonderful giveaway from Bertolli! That braised beef looks so tender and delicious.
My favorite part was seeing how they prepared the braised beef. It seems so easy! I really want to try it now. Now if only I could get this sweet casserole dish from the giveaway…
wow! who knew there was a ‘rock star’ of the butcher world? LOL the knife tossing was so cool!
My favorite part was getting to drool over Rocco… he is a hunk!
My favorite part was the feast they shared with all the friends they had made along the way. Sharing the fruits of their labor and the joy of friendship! I also really loved Dario! His love of his craft and zest for life are infectious and he surely must put a smile on the face of everyone who meets him!