If you are looking for a comforting and hearty meal that is packed with flavor, then beef olives in gravy cooked in a slow cooker is the perfect dish for you. Beef olives are tender slices of beef, stuffed with a delicious filling and simmered in a rich gravy until they are melt-in-your-mouth tender. This dish is sure to impress your family and friends and is perfect for a cozy night in or a special occasion.
To make beef olives in gravy in a slow cooker, you will need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. You will need slices of beef, such as topside or rump steak, which will be rolled up and filled with a flavorful stuffing made with breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices. The beef olives are then secured with toothpicks or string, and placed in a slow cooker along with a rich and savory gravy made from onions, beef stock, and Worcestershire sauce.
The beauty of cooking beef olives in a slow cooker is that the meat becomes incredibly tender and the flavors have plenty of time to develop. You can leave the slow cooker to work its magic while you go about your day, and come home to a delicious and comforting meal that is ready to be enjoyed. Serve the beef olives and gravy with creamy mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal. Get ready to impress your taste buds with this mouthwatering dish!
What are Beef Olives?
Beef olives are a traditional British dish made from thin slices of beef that are filled with a mixture of ingredients and then rolled up and cooked. The name “beef olives” comes from the way the meat is rolled, resembling an olive shape.
The filling for beef olives can vary, but it often includes a combination of vegetables, herbs, and sometimes bacon or sausage. Some popular fillings include onions, carrots, mushrooms, and parsley. The filling adds flavor and moisture to the beef, resulting in a delicious and tender dish.
To make beef olives, the beef slices are first pounded to make them thinner and more pliable. Then the filling is placed on each slice, and the beef is rolled up and secured with toothpicks or kitchen twine. The rolled beef is then cooked in a flavorful gravy, which adds another layer of flavor to the dish.
Traditionally, beef olives are cooked slowly in the oven or on the stovetop, but they can also be cooked in a slow cooker for a convenient and hands-off approach. Slow cooking allows the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld together, resulting in a comforting and satisfying dish.
Beef olives are often served with mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes and steamed vegetables. The rich and flavorful gravy from the slow cooker can be spooned over the beef and potatoes for extra deliciousness.
In conclusion, beef olives are a tasty and comforting British dish made from rolled beef slices filled with a flavorful mixture and cooked in a savory gravy. They are a delicious option for a hearty meal and are sure to impress your family and friends!
Why use a Slow Cooker?
Convenience: One of the main reasons to use a slow cooker is the convenience it offers. With a slow cooker, you can simply prepare your ingredients, set the cooking time, and let the machine do the work. This means that you can go about your day, running errands or working, while your delicious meal cooks slowly and evenly.
Tender and Juicy Meat: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize even the toughest cuts of meat. The low and slow cooking process breaks down the connective tissue in the meat, resulting in tender, juicy, and flavorful dishes.
Enhanced Flavors: Slow cooking allows flavors to blend and develop over time. As the ingredients simmer together at a low temperature, the flavors of herbs, spices, and other ingredients intensify, creating a rich and flavorful dish.
Efficiency: Slow cookers are energy efficient. They use less electricity compared to traditional ovens or stovetops. Slow cooking also requires less supervision, allowing you to save time and energy in the kitchen.
Hands-off Cooking: Unlike other cooking methods that require constant monitoring and stirring, slow cookers require minimal attention. Once you set the cooking time and temperature, you can leave the slow cooker to do its job, freeing you up to focus on other tasks or relax.
Versatility: Slow cookers are incredibly versatile and can be used to prepare a wide range of dishes, from soups and stews to roasts and desserts. You can experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques, making it a great tool for culinary creativity.
Overall, a slow cooker is an essential kitchen appliance that offers convenience, tender and flavorful results, energy efficiency, hands-off cooking, and versatility. It’s a must-have for busy individuals and anyone who enjoys flavorful and easy-to-make meals.
Ingredients
To make beef olives in gravy in a slow cooker, you will need the following ingredients:
For the beef olives:
- 6 thinly sliced beef steaks, such as sirloin or rump
- 6 bacon rashers
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Toothpicks or kitchen twine, for securing the beef
For the gravy:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening the gravy)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
These ingredients will give you a delicious and flavorful beef olives dish with a rich gravy. Make sure to gather everything before you start cooking.
Beef Olives
Beef olives are a classic dish that is often prepared using thinly sliced beef and various fillings. The meat is rolled around the filling and then cooked to perfection. The result is a tender and flavorful dish that is perfect for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
- Thinly sliced beef
- Filling of your choice (e.g. bacon, onions, garlic, herbs)
- Beef stock
- Flour
- Salt and pepper
- Oil
Instructions
- Start by preparing the filling. Cook bacon, onions, garlic, and herbs until they are soft and fragrant.
- Lay out the thinly sliced beef and sprinkle each slice with salt and pepper.
- Place a small amount of the filling onto each slice of beef.
- Roll up the beef, securing it with toothpicks or cooking twine if needed.
- Heat oil in a pan and brown the beef olives on all sides.
- Transfer the beef olives to a slow cooker.
- In the same pan, whisk together flour and beef stock to make a gravy.
- Pour the gravy over the beef olives in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender.
- Once cooked, remove the toothpicks or cooking twine before serving.
Beef olives are best served with mashed potatoes, vegetables, or crusty bread. Enjoy this comforting and delicious dish!
Gravy
The delicious gravy is what brings all the flavors together in this slow-cooked beef olives dish. It’s rich, savory, and pairs perfectly with the tender beef and stuffing.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until the mixture turns golden brown.
- Slowly pour in the beef broth while whisking continuously.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the gravy to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens.
- Once the beef olives are cooked in the slow cooker, transfer them to a serving platter and pour the gravy over the top.
This rich and flavorful gravy will elevate your beef olives to a whole new level. Pour it generously over the stuffed beef rolls and serve immediately. The combination of the juicy meat, stuffing, and the delicious gravy will surely impress your family and guests!
Other Ingredients
In addition to the beef and gravy, you will need a few other ingredients to make this delicious slow cooker recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients | Amount |
---|---|
Olive Oil | 1 tablespoon |
Bacon | 4 slices, finely chopped |
Onion | 1 medium-sized, finely chopped |
Garlic | 2 cloves, minced |
Breadcrumbs | 1/2 cup |
Parsley | 2 tablespoons, finely chopped |
Egg | 1, beaten |
Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
Black Pepper | 1/4 teaspoon |
Beef Stock | 2 cups |
Worcestershire Sauce | 1 tablespoon |
Cornstarch | 1 tablespoon |
Cold Water | 1 tablespoon |
Make sure to gather all of these ingredients before you begin cooking the beef olives in the slow cooker. They will enhance the flavors and add depth to the dish. Enjoy your meal!
Questions and answers
What are beef olives?
Beef olives are a traditional British dish made by rolling up thin slices of beef around a stuffing mixture, usually containing breadcrumbs, herbs, and sometimes bacon. The rolls are then typically cooked slowly in a rich gravy.
Can I make beef olives in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can definitely make beef olives in a slow cooker. In fact, using a slow cooker is a great way to achieve tender and flavorful beef olives, as the low and slow cooking method helps to break down the meat and infuse the flavors.
What type of beef should I use for beef olives?
The best cut of beef to use for beef olives is usually a thin slice of round or topside steak, as these cuts are more tender and easy to roll. However, you can also use other cuts of beef, such as sirloin or rump, if you prefer.