Meat Rolls in Tomato Sauce

Meat rolls in tomato sauce are a delicious dish that can be prepared in various ways. Here is a classic Italian recipe you can try:

Ingredients

• 8 slices of thin veal or beef (for example, slices for braciole)
• 8 slices of raw or cooked ham
• 8 sage leaves
• Grated cheese (Parmesan or Pecorino) to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove of garlic
• Half a glass of white wine
• 400 ml of tomato purée
• Vegetable or meat broth as needed

Preparation

1. Lay out the meat slices and flatten them with a meat mallet if necessary.
2. Place a slice of raw (or cooked) ham, a sage leaf, and sprinkle with grated cheese on each slice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Roll up each meat slice upon itself to form a roll and secure everything with a toothpick or kitchen string.
4. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of oil and sauté the garlic clove until it becomes golden, then remove it.
5. Add the rolls to the pan and brown them on all sides until they take on color.
6. Deglaze with white wine until it has evaporated.
7. Add the tomato purée and, if necessary, some broth to prevent the sauce from drying out too much.
8. Let it cook on low heat with the lid on for about 40 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the rolls are well cooked. Check occasionally and add broth if the sauce tends to dry out too much.
9. Adjust the salt and pepper at the end of cooking, if necessary.

Serve the rolls hot with some of their sauce and, if you like, accompany them with polenta, mashed potatoes, or simple homemade bread to do the “scarpetta.”

Curiosity

Meat rolls are a very versatile dish in Italy. There are many regional variations that include different types of fillings. For example, in Sicily, they prepare Palermo-style rolls called “braciolettine,” which can include pine nuts and raisins, sunken in a rich sauce with tomatoes and spices.