There’s nothing more satisfying on a bone-chilling night than a heaping plate of warm comfort food like braised pot roast. Seared over a mighty flame, then braised in savory broth, this recipe transforms an inexpensive cut of beef into a king’s feast. The key to this dish is temperature control: Aim for a light simmer rather than a rolling boil, and maintain the indirect heat by adding a handful of fresh coals every half-hour, along with some extra stock when the liquid level gets too low.
Barbecue Braised Beef Pot Roast
6 to 8 servings
3 lbs. boneless round top roast, divided into 3 equal pieces
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 slices bacon, chopped
2 cups beef stock, divided
5 cloves garlic, chopped
½ Tbsp. kosher salt
½ Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. dried thyme
2 Tbsp. flour
Chopped parsley for garnish
Sour cream for serving
• Prepare a charcoal grill for high, indirect heat. When the coals are calm and light gray, about 20 minutes, sear the beef on all sides, turning occasionally to prevent charring, about 10 minutes. Remove from the grill.
• Place a large cast-iron Dutch oven directly on top of coals. Add the vegetable oil and saute the onion, celery and bacon until the vegetables are translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the beef, 1 cup stock, the garlic, salt, pepper and thyme. Cover the Dutch oven and move it to the cool side of the grill. Cover the grill and cook 30 minutes, undisturbed.
• Check the level of the broth, adding more as needed to maintain 1 inch of liquid in the Dutch oven. Add 5 to 6 pieces of fresh charcoal to maintain the heat level. Cover the grill and cook 2 more hours, checking the broth level and adding 5 to 6 of pieces fresh charcoal every 30 minutes.
• Remove the Dutch oven from the grill, remove the meat and let rest. Add the flour to the braising liquid and whisk to thicken. Let cool slightly.
• To serve, slice the roast and garnish with sauce, parsley and sour cream.
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This article appears in December 2016.