Roast Beef Focaccia, Herbs Pesto and Parmesan

With the arrival of the good weather, who doesn’t want to have a picnic? This is our suggestion to impress your family and friends.

It is one of the preparations with more rooting in the gastronomy of Great Britain, the roast beef substitutes the Spanish paella in the English meals of Sundays (Sunday roast).

Its elaboration is simple, it is based on a good piece of veal that after spending a few minutes on the frying pan, is finished in a strong oven so that inside the meat is pink and juicy.

Nothing has to be said of the pesto, a word that comes from the genovese «pestare» mentioning that all the ingredients – basil, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, pecorino cheese, parmesan, and salt – are crushed in a mortar. There are some variants such as red pesto or also called «sicialiano», replacing the basil with dried tomatoes and red pepper.

Without leaving the Italian cuisine, focaccia bears a similarity with pizza, although this bread, is finished with olive oil and herbs.

Take a seat, Italy and Britain are at the table.

How to make a «Roast Beef Focaccia, Herbs Pesto and Parmesan»

Ingredients

• 1 kg round veal
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• Salt and pepper

For the dough (10 round units)

• 500 gr. of wheat flour
• 50 ml. of olive oil
• 20 gr. fresh yeast
• 250 ml of warm water
• 10 gr. of salt
• Aromatics (sage, thyme, rosemary, dried tomato)

For pesto

• 50 g fresh basil
• 25 g chervil
• ½ garlic clove
• 15 gr of pine nuts
• 30 gr parmesan cheese
• 80 ml extra virgin olive oil

Also

• Basil leaves
• Parmesan cheese in chips
• Golden sesame

Step by step elaboration

For the Veal

1. Heat the frying pan until it is very hot. Once hot, add a drizzle of olive oil along with two cloves of garlic and a rosemary branch. Then, season the veal round on all sides and seal the meat until it is well browned.
2. Remove the meat from the pan and place it on a rack that will have placed under a baking dish. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and bake the entire piece.
3. The cooking time will depend on how cooked we want the meat. If we opt for a pink interior, 18 minutes, while, if we like it more done, the time will be around 20-25 minutes at 200 degrees temperature and always with the oven preheated.
4. Also, it should be noted that letting the meat rest is very important. Once the roast beef has been baked we will leave it to cool outside the oven and once it has lost its temperature, we will keep the piece in the fridge.
5. At the end of the resting period and cooling, cut the meat into thin slices.

For the Herbal Dough

1. Mix the flour, extra virgin olive oil and salt with the help of a kitchen robot (we can also make the dough by hand). Dissolve the yeast in hot water and add it little by little to the previous dough. Knead well, make a ball and let it ferment for one hour at room temperature covered with a fine rag.
2. After time, stretch the dough with a kneading stick. The coca must have a height of half a centimeter.
3. With a round pasta cutter, cut circles of dough. Then press the dough with your finger forming small holes. Finish by placing on top of it the herbs along with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
4. Bake at 180 degrees for 12-16 minutes.

For the Pesto

1. Boil a pot of water and soak the basil leaves for 5 seconds. Drain and cool in a bowl of ice water.
2. Peel the garlic, cut it in half and extract the central piece.
3. Cut the basil into small pieces and grind together with the pine nuts, garlic clove and olive oil.
4. Gradually add the cheese until finely mashed. Put salt to taste and reserve in cold.

Finishing and presentation

To finish, spread the pesto on each one of the focaccias, put a few slices of roast beef and a leaf of basil, parmesan flakes and a touch of sesame on top.

Harmony in Flavors and Fragrances with Juan Muñoz

For these thin sheets of veal with an English touch nothing better than something alive, unctuous and at the same time rare.

Pago del Ama, a privately produced Pinot Noir in an almost urban vineyard of Toledo by the Muñoz Family, a unique expression of fruits and friendliness.

Next to it, nothing better than a water that is at the same level, a water that can accompany the deepest and most intense flavors and essences, providing creaminess and kindness with a fresh spark. That is S.Pellegrino, without a doubt.

Tricks

• The basil is scalded to avoid rusting and so the pesto remains green.
• To prevent the garlic from being too strong, put it in the microwave for 10 seconds at medium temperature, its taste will not be as strong.

Make it a perfect meal with our Wellington Turkey, here you can find the step by step recipe.

End this amazing meal with a Browny of Caramel and Toffee Sauce, click here to see the complete recipe.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.