Slow Cooker Braised Beef - Serves 4 (easy, all day)

Slow Cooker Braised Beef - Serves 4 

Adapted from the WashingtonPost

TIME: 7-8 hours

INGREDIENTS

• 1 to 1.5 lb boneless chuck roast, preferably tied in a roll
• 1/2 tsp fine salt, plus more as needed
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
• 14 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand, with their juices (OR chopped, or crushed tomatoes with their juices)
• 1/2 garlic head's worth of unpeeled cloves
• Optional herbs in the sauce: sage, rosemary, and/or thyme
• Optional garnish: Chopped parsley
• Cooked polenta or rice, for serving

EQUIPMENT

• 3 to 6-qt Slow cooker or Crockpot 

DIRECTIONS

1. Season the beef all over with salt and pepper
2. Add the tomatoes, along with their juices, and scatter the garlic cloves around. Add any optional herbs.
3. Cover, slow cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (depending on the cooker; ours is probably 6.5). The meat should be very tender, and a sharp paring knife should easily slide in. Taste the sauce and a morsel of meat, and season with more salt and pepper if needed
4. Carefully transfer the meat to a cutting board. If it has been tied, cut and discard the string
5. Cut the roast into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slides. 
6. Serve in shallow bowls over polenta or rice, with the sauce and garlic cloves (should be able to squeeze out of their skins)
7. Garnish with parsley (optional), and serve
8. Set it inside the insert Pre-heat oven to 375F.
9. Slice the onion and fennel bulb into 1/4" thick rings

NOTES:

Before serving the meat, you can squeeze the cloves out of their skins and into the sauce, then use an immersion blender to process the whole thing.

If braising in the oven, position a rack in the middle and preheat to 300 deg. Use an ovenproof 3-5 qt havy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Follow assembly instructions above. Braise for 3-4 hours, or until tender.