Pat: There is nothing like the smell of a pot roast cooking in the oven. My mother made a mean pot roast; her secret was using dried Italian seasoning on the meat, and it’s a technique I’ve incorporated into this recipe. The flavors of the dressing really permeate and tenderize the roast. A well-seasoned cast-iron Dutch oven (or an enamel-coated Dutch oven) is our favorite cooking vessel for this roast. Here we call for a boneless chuck roast, because the well-marbled cut keeps plenty moist, but you can also use a 4- to 6-pound bone-in roast (you’ll need to cook it for another 45 minutes). Gina: Ladies, this is also a great dish to make when your schedule is tight. You can sear the meat, then throw it and the remaining ingredients into a slow cooker and head off to work. Make some cornbread when you get home, and it’s a wrap.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
Roasted Vegetables
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over high heat. Season the pot roast generously with salt and pepper, then add it to the pot, and sear on all sides until nicely brown. Transfer the roast to a plate, then pour the beer into the Dutch oven, whisk to scrape up any browned bits, and whisk down the foam. Stir in the broth, Italian dressing mix, bay leaves, garlic, and onions. Put the roast back in the Dutch oven, and bake, covered, for 3 hours, or until tender, turning once. Remove the bay leaves, and serve with Roasted Vegetables (recipe follows).
Roasted Vegetables
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Step 4
Place the potatoes, carrots, and onions in a large bowl. Add the olive oil and thyme, and season generously with salt and pepper, then toss until the vegetables are evenly coated. Transfer the vegetables to a baking sheet or a large cast-iron skillet, and roast for 45 minutes, or until they are tender and well browned, using a metal spatula to flip them every 15 minutes or so. Remove the vegetables from the oven, cool for 10 minutes, then add the parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice, and toss to combine. Taste for seasonings, and add more salt or pepper, as desired.
