Description
Cranberry balsamic roast brings festive flavors to your holiday table with a perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Succulent meat mingles with rich balsamic glaze and bright cranberry notes, creating a memorable centerpiece that will delight dinner guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 (2-3 pounds) beef chuck roast
Herbs and Aromatics:
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 whole garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 yellow onions, cut into quarters
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut
- Salt and fresh black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a heavy-bottomed pot with hot oil, creating a sizzling surface for searing the beef. Generously season the meat with salt and pepper, then carefully brown each side until a rich, golden crust develops. Transfer the meat to a separate plate.
- Sauté quartered onions in the same pot until they become translucent and soft. Incorporate tomato paste, minced garlic, and a blend of fresh herbs, stirring until the mixture becomes wonderfully aromatic.
- Create a flavorful braising liquid by combining broth, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Add whole cranberries and chopped carrots, mixing thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Gently return the seared meat to the pot, nestling it into the liquid and vegetable mixture. Cover securely and slow-cook in a preheated oven at 325°F for approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, allowing the beef to become incredibly tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Once the meat reaches perfect tenderness, carefully remove it from the pot. Whisk cornstarch with a small amount of water to create a smooth slurry, then stir into the cooking liquid. Simmer the sauce until it thickens to a glossy, rich consistency. Slice the beef and generously drizzle with the reduced sauce before serving.
Notes
- Select lean cuts like chuck roast for tender, juicy results that absorb flavors beautifully.
- Swap sugar with honey or maple syrup for a more complex, natural sweetness in the sauce.
- Allow extra marinating time to intensify balsamic and herb flavors deep into the meat’s texture.
- Create gluten-free version by using tamari instead of traditional soy sauce and checking Worcestershire sauce ingredients.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg