From The Bear · 2022-2026 · Reconstructed
Mikey's Braciole
Serve when
Serve this as the long-simmered family dish: sliced, sauced, and generous.
In the series
Season 1
- S1E6 · ~00:06:00 In a flashback, Mikey and Carmy work through braciole together, turning a slow family dish into a memory
- S1E8 · ~00:23:00 The season finale is named for braciole and lets the family sauce, the money cans, and the future of the restaurant collide
Hosting notes
Braciole is slow, but it is friendly to a host. The sauce can be made up to a week ahead, and the whole roll can be cooked earlier in the day, then rewarmed gently in sauce before slicing.
In the series
Braciole works because it looks like family labor: pounding, stuffing, rolling, tying, braising, waiting. It is not a quick restaurant pickup. It is a memory dish, which is why it belongs to Mikey and why the finale can use the title without needing to explain it twice.
Ingredients
- For the sauce:
- For the braciole:
Method
- Start the sauce. Warm olive oil with sliced garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant, then add the tomatoes, onion, Parmesan rind, and salt. Simmer gently while you build the braciole.
- Lay the pounded beef flat with the grain running side to side. Mix breadcrumbs, Pecorino, Parmigiano, parsley, minced garlic, and pine nuts.
- Layer prosciutto over the beef, scatter the breadcrumb mixture on top, and press it down lightly.
- Roll the beef tightly against the grain so the finished slices will be tender. Tie with kitchen twine every 2 inches, or secure with toothpicks.
- Sear the roll in a little olive oil until browned all over. Nestle it into the sauce, cover, and simmer gently until tender, about 2 hours.
- Rest the braciole for 10 minutes, remove twine or toothpicks, and slice into thick spirals. Spoon sauce over the top and serve with pasta or bread.
Substitutions
- Flank steak: Ask the butcher to butterfly and pound it if you can. Top round is a very good substitute and often cheaper. Pork loin works for a lighter roll but cooks a little faster.
- Prosciutto: Use thin ham if prosciutto is expensive or unavailable. The result is milder and less salty, so season the breadcrumb filling a little more.
- Pine nuts: Toasted walnuts or no nuts at all both work. Pine nuts add richness, but the dish still reads correctly from the rolled meat, herbs, cheese, and sauce.
- Parmesan rind: Skip it or add a small splash of soy sauce for depth. Do not add enough soy sauce to make the tomato sauce taste like soy.