Continuing our new series on cooking with coffee, we’re zippin’ up that old pot-roast recipe with a little coffee gravy.  Just as in cooking with wine, make sure it’s a quality brew that you would drink on it’s own.  Naturally, we like the roasts from Village Coffee Roastery...who doesn’t?

 

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (4 to 5-1/2 pounds) beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups freshly brewed Sumatra coffee
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/4 cup whiskey (optional)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Mix together flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Lay the roast on a cutting board and dust lightly with the seasoned flour. Heat the oil in a large, heavy ovenproof skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the roast and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes each side. Remove the roast from the skillet and set aside.

Add onions to the drippings in the skillet and saute over medium heat until they are softened. Return the roast to the skillet; add bay leaves, thyme, water and coffee. Bring to a simmer, stirring and turning to combine the seasonings with the roast. Cover and place the skillet in the oven. Bake for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until fork tender. Remove the roast from the skillet, discard any bones or gristle and set aside, loosely covered with aluminum foil.

Gravy:

 

Pour off the drippings into a bowl, let sit and skim off fat.  Add water, if necessary, to equal about 2-1/2 cups liquid. Reheat the skillet to medium high and add the flour and butter (roux) and cook about 5 minutes, whisking constantly, until the mixture is light brown in color and has a nutty smell. Whisk in the liquid, add the whiskey and season with salt and pepper. Return the roast to the skillet to warm in the gravy, then serve.

I like to serve this with egg noodles or garlic grits!

 

*Recommended Coffee

Sumatra

Sumatra is noted for its lush, sultry earthiness. The coffee is full bodied, complex and delivers a smooth finish.