Boliche (Cuban Pot Roast Stuffed with Chorizo in Tomato Sauce)
A beef joint stuffed with chorizo, slowly braised in tomato, garlic and wine until sliceable and juicy.
Made with Basic tomato sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time3 hr
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.96 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Using a long, thin knife, make a deep tunnel through the length of the beef and push in the chorizo strips. Stab the surface and tuck the garlic slivers into the cuts. Rub with the cumin, oregano and salt.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large casserole over a high heat. Brown the beef on all sides for 10 minutes, then lift out.
10 min - 3
Add the onion and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and let it bubble for 2 minutes.
7 min - 4
Return the beef, add your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe), the water and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook on a low heat for 2 hours 15 minutes, turning once, until tender.
135 min - 5
Lift the beef onto a board, cover with foil and rest for 15 minutes. Boil the sauce for 5 to 10 minutes if it needs thickening.
10 min - 6
Slice the beef across the grain, spoon over the sauce and scatter with coriander. Serve with rice and black beans.
Tips
- Rest the beef before slicing. It reabsorbs juices and slices cleanly.
- Use topside, silverside or eye of round. Lean joints suit long wet cooking.
- Slice thinly across the grain for the most tender result.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keep sliced beef in the sauce in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef, then cook on low for 8 hours with the same ingredients. The sauce may need reducing on the hob at the end.
Does boliche always have chorizo?
The classic Cuban version is stuffed with chorizo, and sometimes ham. You can skip it for a plainer pot roast.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, if your chorizo is labelled gluten free. The rest is naturally gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.