Ways to perfect the braise

Easy steps to perfectly braise lamb and beef

• The first and most important step is to brown the meat. In order to do so, preheat the oven to 165ºC. Trim the meat of excess fat.
• Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Add the meat to the hot oil (it should sizzle on impact). Brown the meat for a minute or two on all sides. Don’t let it cook all the way through.
• Next, use about ¾ of a cup of liquid. For this, you may choose between lamb, beef or vegetable broth, apple juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, or a mixture. To this, add about 1 teaspoon (dried) or 1 tablespoon (fresh) of dried basil, Italian seasoning, oregano or thyme.
• To enhance flavour, consider adding about a tablespoon of barbecue sauce, Dijon-style mustard, soy sauce, steak sauce or Worcestershire sauce.
• Close the lid and place the pot in the oven. Braise until tender. For a 1-2 kilogram roast, we recommend cooking at about 165ºC for 2-3 hours.

Make it a meal

Transform your braised beef into a meal by adding potatoes and other vegetables about 30-45 minutes before the meat is done. Veggies you could consider including are butternut squash, celery, mushrooms, and onions. Make sure that you cover the pan tightly after adding any additional ingredients!

Best cuts for braising

Forequarter, shank, leg and rack

Chuck, round, blade, topside and short ribs