Braciole di Manzo al Sugo (Beef Rolls in Tomato Sauce)
Thin slices of beef rolled around garlic, parsley and parmesan, then simmered slowly in tomato sauce until meltingly tender.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Soffritto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.56 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
Lay the beef slices between two sheets of baking paper and beat with a rolling pin until about 3 mm thick. Season with the salt.
- 2
Mix the parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic and parsley. Divide among the slices, spreading it over each and leaving a 1 cm border.
- 3
Roll each slice up tightly and tie with kitchen string, or secure with cocktail sticks.
- 4
Heat the oil in a wide casserole over a medium high heat. Brown the rolls on all sides for 8 minutes in total, then lift out.
8 min - 5
Add your ready made soffritto (see the base recipe) and cook for 3 minutes. Pour in the wine and let it bubble for 2 minutes.
5 min - 6
Stir in the basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe) and return the rolls. Cover with a lid ajar and simmer gently for 1 hour 15 minutes, turning once, until tender.
75 min - 7
Remove the string and serve the rolls with the sauce, over polenta, pasta or mashed potato.
Tips
- Ask your butcher to cut the beef thin for you. Rump or topside both work.
- Do not overfill. Overstuffed rolls burst and the filling leaks into the sauce.
- Add a little pecorino for a sharper flavour, or a few raisins for the Sicilian version.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 90 minutes. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in the sauce for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is braciole?
In southern Italy, braciole are thin slices of meat rolled around a savoury filling and braised in tomato sauce. The sauce is often used for pasta, too.
Can I use pork?
Yes. Thin pork escalopes work well and need about 45 minutes of simmering.
Is this gluten free?
Yes, as long as you use gluten free breadcrumbs. Everything else is naturally gluten 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.