Sweet and Sour Beef Rolls

I have some thinly sliced steak and I am thinking of rolling it up.  My nonna’s version and every Italian version is the bracciole.  This isn’t an original idea, but I will put a little Asian twist on a steak roll.  Sweet and Sour Beef Rolls will be interesting and find a place in our Italian house.

We use fettina which refers to thinly sliced beef, veal or chicken in many dishes. Today I am using beef fettina. Cooking beef at our house is a treat, as we get older, we don’t eat it as much; and so, the thinly sliced fettina makes a good alternative to many meat dishes for two. This is a nice alternative to a stir fry and you can choose extra vegetables to throw into the dish.

Of course our famous Italian fettina dish is bracciole and check out our Calabrese version https://recipesatmytable.com/calabrese-sunday-sauce/

For more on cuts of beef and how to use them go to https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/cuts

Ingredients for Sweet and Sour Beef Rolls

• 5 pieces thinly sliced beef ( cut in half)
• salt
• Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 large carrot julienned
• 1 bunch asparagus spears
• 3 Tbsp canola oil for frying

Sauce for beef

• 1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp water
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch ( if you want it thicker increase to 2 tbsp)
• A cup of beef broth

Wash the asparagus and carrots.  Cut the carrots into matchsticks.  Snap the asparagus.

Use thinly sliced beef or veal.  I always go to the local butcher shop for this. 

Lay the asparagus and carrot stick on the diagonal. Season the meat with a sprinkling of Italian seasoning , salt and pepper. 

Roll them up tightly and place them seam side down.  Now you could place a toothpick in them to secure them, but not needed. Ensure that you roll them up tightly.  

I place 3 tbsp of canola oil in a large pan and place the bundles seam side down.  Make sure the pan is nice and hot so that the seam seals.

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This is what it looks like when you flip them.  Everything is intact. 

Now whisk the rice vinegar, water, soy sauce, cornstarch and sugar.

Pour in the soy sauce mixture and the beef broth into the pan.  Cover and cook on low for 20 minutes.  This will tenderize the beef.

Remove the lid and add the remaining asparagus and carrots into the pan.  You can also add other vegetables at this time.  I added broccoli. 

We served it with rice tonight.  So good!!