Beef olives are a delicious and hearty dish that can be cooked in a pan with just a few simple steps. These savory rolls of beef are filled with sausage or haggis and then cooked to perfection in a flavorful sauce.
Whether you’re looking for a new dinner recipe or just want to try something different, cooking beef olives in a pan is a great way to add some variety to your meals.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of cooking beef olives in a pan and share some tips for making them even more delicious.
So grab your skillet and let’s get cooking!
How Do You Cook Beef Olives In A Pan?
To cook beef olives in a pan, start by seasoning your beef with salt and pepper to taste. Then, prepare your filling by combining sausage meat or haggis with breadcrumbs, sage, onion, garlic, and more salt and pepper in a food processor. Roll the mixture into sausage shapes and place them on top of two of the seasoned steaks.
Roll up each steak tightly to completely enclose the filling and tie each steak parcel securely using food-safe twine. Heat a little oil in a frying pan on medium heat and brown the beef olives for about 2 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and set them aside.
Add chopped onions and carrots to the pan and fry until softened. Sprinkle over some flour and stir well to combine. Gradually add wine and beef stock, stirring as you go. Add some seasoning to taste, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let the sauce cook for another 5 minutes.
Transfer the sauce to a baking dish, then place the beef olives on top. Bake in the oven for 1 hour at 170C/325F/150 FAN/Gas 3. Pour the brown sauce over the beef, cover the dish with foil, and bake for another 40-60 minutes.
Check the beef with a carving fork after 40 minutes to see if it’s tender. Depending on the thickness of the rolls, they may need a longer cooking time. Leave the stuffed beef rolls to rest for a few minutes then snip the string before serving over a bed of creamy mash with the onion gravy spooned over the top.
Ingredients For Beef Olives
To make beef olives, you’ll need thinly sliced beef, any cut will do. For the filling, you’ll need sausage meat or haggis, breadcrumbs, sage, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. You’ll also need some food-safe twine to tie up the beef rolls. Additionally, you’ll need onions and carrots for the brown sauce, as well as flour, wine, and beef stock. Finally, don’t forget to season with flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Preparing The Beef Olives
To prepare the beef olives, start by pounding the steak to about 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Next, add the sausage or haggis filling on top of two of the seasoned steaks, rolling them into a sausage shape about the width of your steaks.
For the other two steaks, you can choose to use Stilton cheese or another type of filling that pairs well with beef. Roll up each steak tightly to completely enclose the filling and secure with kitchen twine.
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat and brown the beef olives on all sides. Remove them from the pan and set them aside. Fry onions, carrots, and any other desired vegetables until softened. Add beef broth, red wine, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil and cover, then reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook on stovetop or in a 325° F oven for 2-1/2 to 3 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove beef olives from Dutch oven and strain liquid in a wire strainer set over a bowl. Press as much liquid as possible from vegetables.
Pour reserved liquid into fat separator and return liquid to Dutch oven. To thicken, add some Bisto mixed with beef broth to desired consistency. Return beef olives to sauce and heat for 5 minutes or more until heated through.
Cooking The Beef Olives In A Pan
Cooking beef olives in a pan is a quick and easy way to enjoy this delicious dish. To start, pound the steak to about 1/4-inch thickness and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place sausage in the middle of each steak, roll up, and secure with kitchen twine. Lightly dust with all-purpose flour.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat, then brown the beef olives on all sides. Remove them from the pan and set aside. Add onions and carrots to the pan and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add beef broth, red wine, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook on the stovetop or in a 325° F oven for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is fork-tender. Remove beef olives from the pan and strain the liquid in a wire strainer set over a bowl. Press as much liquid as possible from vegetables.
Pour reserved liquid into a fat separator and return liquid to the pan. To thicken, add some Bisto mixed with beef broth to desired consistency. Return beef olives to sauce and heat for 5 minutes or more until beef olives are heated through.
Once cooked, remove the beef olives from the pan, snip the string, and serve them over a bed of creamy mash with the onion gravy spooned over the top. This delicious dish is perfect for a cozy dinner at home or for impressing guests at a dinner party.
Making The Flavorful Sauce
The flavorful sauce for beef olives is an essential component of this dish. To make it, start by deglazing the pan with wine and beef stock after removing the browned beef olives. Stir to loosen the brown bits of residue left by the meat browning and let the sauce reduce for about 5 minutes. Next, add onions and carrots to the pan and cook until they are softened. Sprinkle over some flour and stir well to combine.
Gradually add the wine and beef stock to the pan, stirring as you go. Add some seasoning to taste, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let the sauce cook for another 5 minutes until it thickens slightly. If you prefer a smooth sauce, you could transfer the juices and vegetables into a pan using a sieve. Push as many of the vegetables through the sieve as possible. Reheat and reduce to the amount of gravy required.
Once the beef olives are cooked, remove them from the pan and keep them warm. Bring the sauce to a boil, season with salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the beef olives before serving. This savory sauce pairs perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes or tagliatelle.
Serving And Enjoying Beef Olives
Once your beef olives are cooked to perfection, it’s time to serve and enjoy them. You can pair them with a variety of sides, such as creamy mashed potatoes or buttery tagliatelle. The rich and savory onion gravy that accompanies the beef olives is perfect for pouring over the top of your dish.
When serving, be sure to remove the twine from your beef olives before slicing them into rounds. This will reveal the delicious filling inside and make it easier to eat. You can also garnish your dish with fresh parsley or other herbs for added flavor and presentation.
Beef olives are a great dish to serve for a special occasion or when you want to impress guests with a unique and flavorful meal. They are also a great option for meal prepping or leftovers, as they can be easily reheated in the oven or microwave.
Tips And Variations For Cooking Beef Olives In A Pan
Cooking beef olives in a pan can be a bit tricky, but with these tips and variations, you can achieve perfectly cooked and delicious beef olives every time.
1. Use a non-stick pan or skillet to prevent the beef olives from sticking to the pan and breaking apart.
2. Make sure to brown the beef olives on all sides before adding them to the sauce. This will give them a nice crispy exterior and add more flavor to the dish.
3. For a variation, you can use different types of filling for your beef olives. Instead of sausage meat or haggis, try using minced beef, veal, breadcrumbs, or even Stilton cheese for a unique flavor.
4. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add some Bisto mixed with beef broth to desired consistency.
5. To add more depth of flavor to your sauce, you can also add some red wine vinegar or Worcestershire sauce.
6. Don’t forget to season your beef olives with salt and pepper to taste before cooking them in the pan.
By following these tips and variations, you can elevate your beef olives dish and impress your family and friends with your cooking skills.
