When I laid eyes upon the full-page photo attached to an article for Boozy Braises in a recent issue of Bon Appétit Magazine, I just knew it had to get on our short list. Here, the humble pot roast gets punched up with the familiar flavors of a Dark and Stormy cocktail. Piqued my interest!
Aged rum and ginger beer form the basis of the braise, with a bit of brown sugar and plenty of chopped fresh ginger playing backup. This potent combination reduces as the chuck cooks to tenderness, creating a complex sauce with just enough kick. And what’s a cocktail without a garnish? Mint and cilantro, along with some lime wedges, give this cozy dish a refreshing finishing touch.
As the article informed, pot roast isn’t a specific cut of meat but rather a method of preparation. And it’s a forgiving dish as long as you choose a cut of meat that can stand up to long cooking without drying out. Cheap, tough cuts are what you’re after, the ones that have a lot of connective tissue and little fat. Think chuck roasts, rounds, and briskets.
These cuts would be chewy if cooked like a steak but are ideal for gentle braising, which allows all those firm muscles and tissues to slowly become tender. A chuck roast is preferred, but rounds and briskets can be used to similar result. If unsure, ask your butcher: Tell them you’re making a pot roast and let them guide you.
We never thought of a pot roast dinner as company-worthy, but this recipe changed our viewpoint. It was hands-down delicious! Our pot roast was only 2 3/4 pounds, less than the 4-pound roast indicated under ingredients. It is often impossible to find one over 3 pounds, so if you are feeding more than four people, you may want to get two smaller chuck roasts. (Make sure they’ll fit in your braising pot.)
A perfect recipe to cook on a long, cold, lazy day in the Winter. Perhaps even enjoy a Dark & Stormy cocktail while the pot roast braises?
Do ahead: Roast can be cooked 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Skim fat from surface before reheating, covered, in a 350° oven, 20–30 minutes.
Dark and Stormy–Braised Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 4-lb. boneless beef chuck roast
- 2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
- 2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 small onions, finely chopped
- 2 small celery stalks, finely chopped
- 10 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 3″ piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup dark rum (such as Goslings)
- 2½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 cups ginger beer
- 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 1 lb. carrots, peeled, cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 lb. small yellow potatoes (15–20), scrubbed
- Mint and/or cilantro leaves with tender stems and/or lime wedges (for serving; optional)
Directions
- Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 300°. Sprinkle one 4-lb. boneless beef chuck roast all over with 2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal or 1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt and 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper.
- Heat ¼ cup vegetable oil in a large ovenproof Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Cook roast, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 15–20 minutes. Transfer to a large plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook 2 small onions, finely chopped, and 2 small celery stalks, finely chopped, in same pot, stirring often and scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom, until golden brown and softened, 9–13 minutes.
- Add 10 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and one 3” piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, 2–3 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, until combined, about 2 minutes. Gradually pour in ⅔ cup dark rum, stirring constantly to prevent clumping, then add 2½ cups low-sodium beef broth, 2 cups ginger beer, 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon light brown sugar. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced by about one third and thick enough to lightly coat a spoon (it should be the consistency of heavy cream), 15–20 minutes. Taste sauce and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove pot from heat and place roast in center of pot. Arrange 1 pound carrots, peeled, cut into 1” pieces, and 1 pound small yellow potatoes (15–20), scrubbed, around meat, cover, and braise in oven until meat is tender enough to shred in the center without much resistance, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- Uncover and turn meat over. Roast until meat is browned on top and sauce thickens slightly, 30–45 minutes. (If roast is browning too quickly, turn over and continue roasting until sauce thickens.)
- Skim as much fat from surface as possible; discard. Top with mint and/or cilantro leaves with tender stems (if using) and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over if desired.
Recipe by Jesse Szewczyk for Bon Appétit Magazine
Accounting for Taste 