Foster Family’s Pot Roast with Herb-Roasted Vegetables
I grew up on this everyday pot roast, which each member of my family makes with his or her own special twist. My mom swears simple is best, with nothing more than meat and vegetables to flavor the dish. I, on the other hand, add wine, broth, and herbs to maximize the flavor of the meat, and I roast most of the vegetables separately so they get nice and caramelized on the outside and soft and sweet in the center.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
Herb-Roasted Vegetables
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Step 2
Generously season the roast on all sides with salt and pepper.
Step 3
Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until sizzling hot (see Know-how, page 100). Add the roast and sear to a rich brown color, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Place the onion and carrots around the roast in the skillet and cook and stir while the roast is searing.
Step 4
Add the wine, thyme, and rosemary and cook and stir for about 1 minute, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add enough broth to cover three-quarters of the roast. Reduce the heat to medium and bring the liquid to a low boil.
Step 5
Cover the pot tightly with a lid or aluminum foil and roast in the oven, undisturbed, for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the meat is fork-tender (see Know-how, page 172).
Step 6
Remove the roast from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon the Herb-Roasted Vegetables and onions around the meat and cover loosely to keep warm. Remove the herb stems and carrots from the skillet. Use a large spoon to skim the fat off the top of the cooking liquid. Place the skillet over high heat and reduce the liquid by half. Pour over the roast and serve warm with the roasted vegetables scattered around the platter.
Herb-Roasted Vegetables
Step 7
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Step 8
Place the potatoes and squash on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter and toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Spread evenly in a single layer and season with 2 tablespoons of the rosemary, 2 tablespoons of the thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring several times while cooking, until soft when pierced with the tip of a small knife and light brown around the edges.
Step 9
While the potatoes and squash are roasting, place the onion, carrots, and parsnips on a separate rimmed baking sheet with the remaining 2 tablespoons rosemary, 2 tablespoons thyme, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir the vegetables to coat evenly, and spread in a single layer. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from the oven, arrange on a platter with the other vegetables around the pot roast, and serve warm.
