Beef Braciole With Raisins And Pine Nuts

Beef braciole is Italian-American comfort food at its best!  Comprised of thinly sliced beef rolled with breadcrumbs, cheese, pine nuts, and raisins, this is truly a dish that you will crave every time you’re making a pot of sauce.

Editor’s Note: Originally Published May 16, 2018.  Updated with full process shots and expanded info.

The sauce takes on the flavor of the braciole as the beef slowly tenderizes during the braising process.  And for this braciole recipe you will definitely want to make a big pot of Sunday Sauce and Meatballs!

They just go so well together.  It’s rare that we don’t cook braciole and meatballs at the same time.  Don’t forget the pork chops and the Italian sausages.  Use a big pot!

This recipe has complete process shots down below with the added bonus of showing how to make pork braciole as well. 

Do not be intimidated by this dish –  it’s simply rolled Italian beef braised in sauce.  

Rolling beef or chicken is a great way to make an impressive-looking dish.

And before I go on, there are a million ways to make “authentic beef braciole”.  Recipes will differ from one part of NYC to the next, and most Italian-American families have a recipe for it, no doubt thinking theirs yields the best braciole.  This is my family’s recipe.  We love it, and hope you do too!

And if you do like this braciole recipe be sure to try these Sicilian meatballs with similar ingredients.

Ingredients shown above: 

• breadcrumbs – Italian seasoned or plain are both fine.  There’s so much flavor in the braciole filling that it really doesn’t matter.  If you do use seasoned breadcrumbs, extra salt will not be necessary.
• garlic 
• parsley
• pignoli nuts (pine nuts) – Gives a great flavor and texture.
• raisins – This is probably the most important ingredient to get that authentic braciole flavor.  It’s the way my family has made it for generations.
• kitchen twine – Helps to tie the braciole.  Toothpicks can also be used.  I use twine and then place a toothpick in “special requests”.  For example, if someone does not want raisins in their braciole, I will make one without raisins and the toothpick lets me know which one is raisin-free.
• beef – The beef (not shown) can be a variety of cuts.  Braciole (involtini) are typically made with cheap cuts of beef such as top round or bottom round, sliced thin.  Buy thin cuts to make the process easier for pounding the meat flat.  The whole beef preparation process is shown below.

How to make beef braciole

Note: Each number corresponds to the numbered pic in the process collage.

1. Start by toasting 3 Tablespoons of pine nuts in a pan on medium-low heat, being careful not to burn them.  This should take about 5-7 minutes.
2. Grate a 1/2 cup of parmigiano reggiano or good quality parmesan cheese.

3. Make a paste from 2 cloves of garlic with the back of your knife or by using a garlic press.
4. Mince a 1/2 cup of fresh parsley.
5. Shown are 4 pieces of top round steak sliced thin.
6. If any of the pieces are thicker than about 3/8″, pound them flat with a meat mallet.

7. Aim to get the pieces as flat as possible and to about a 1/4″ thick.  They do not have to be perfect!
8. Place kitchen twine beneath each piece of meat like shown.  Sprinkle each piece with a touch of salt and pepper and spread the garlic paste onto each piece.
9. Sprinkle a layer of breadcrumbs then layer the cheese.  Try to keep the ingredients a touch away from the meat’s edge to help in the rolling process.
10. Add the parsley, pignoli nuts and raisins.

11. Roll the braciole like shown and tie them off.
12. Trim the excess twine.
13. Heat a large pan coated with olive oil heat to medium heat.
14. After the pan is well coated and hot, add the braciole, making sure to not crowd them.  Sear the braciole meat on all sides until nicely browned (about 10-15 minutes).

15. Add the seared beef into the sauce and let them braise slowly with the lid slightly ajar.  Keep the sauce on a low simmer and make sure to turn the braciole every so often.
16. After about 2 hours (longer is better) they will be nice and tender.

Pork braciole – why not?

Making pork braciole is just as easy.  Only difference is to trim the fat and butterfly the boneless pork chops like shown in pic 1 below.  Pound them flat like pic 2 below, fill them, tie them and sear them.  Cook the pork braciole in the sauce for a minimum of 2 hours.

What to serve with beef braciole

Serve braciole with  Sunday Sauce, Meatballs, and the pasta of your choice.  Make it all together, the sauce is quite simple and just improves with the braciole addition.  All of these sides are great:

• The best green salad – Tower of lettuce with a sherry vinaigrette.
• Italian broccoli – Garlic and oil sauteed.
• Baked artichokes – Seasoned breadcrumbs with white wine and lemon.
• Sauteed green beans – Crisp beans with garlic and oil.
• Garlic spinach – Easy, fast, delicious side dish.

Top tips

• meat – Many cuts of beef can be used like top round, bottom round, eye of round or flank steak.  They should all be pounded flat to within a 1/4-3/8″ thick.  Larger cuts of meat (this recipe makes small braciole) can be used to make one large one.  For assistance in rolling out a large braciole, check out how it was done with plastic wrap in this Steak Pinwheel recipe.
• breadcrumbs – Seasoned or unseasoned are fine.  Use a good amount but don’t go too heavy as it could make it difficult to roll the braciole.
• cooking time – The longer the braciole braises, the better.  The meat goes from tough to tender as it cooks just like it does in this Brasato Al Barolo.   2-3 hours is a good amount of time, but longer will definitely not hurt.  Just keep the tomato sauce set to a very low simmer.
• leftovers – Italian beef braciole can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.  It will taste even better the next day.  Just reheat on a stovetop until completely heated through.  Freeze for up to 3 months.

Questions & concerns

1. How to properly cook braciole in sauce:  Braciole should be cooked low and slow in a pan deep enough to completely submerge the meat.  Ideally, cook braciole in a large pot of sauce/gravy.
2. Types of braciole fillings:  Braciole are filled with a variety of ingredients.  Variations include breadcrumbs, grated Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino, parsley, raisins, pignoli nuts, layered prosciutto, layered mortadella and hard boiled eggs.
3. Can you overcook braciole?  If the sauce is kept too high, yes, they could fall apart.  Keep the sauce real low.  Low and slow is the goal!

More beef dishes that you’ll love

• Steak pizzaiola – Sirloin steak with a pizza-style sauce.
• Italian stuffed peppers – Beef, sausage, and rice filled tender peppers.
• Italian meatloaf with mushrooms – Juicy meatloaf with onions, mushrooms, and red wine.
• Short rib ragu with pappardelle – The most popular dish on this site and our YouTube channel.
• Classic Italian-American lasagna – Meat ragu with Layers of pasta, herbed ricotta, and mozzarella.
• Pasta alla Genovese – Beef chuck braised in an onion-based sauce.

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This recipe was originally published on May 16, 2018.  It was completely updated on July 17, 2019.