Maple Balsamic Braised Chuck Roast

It might be officially spring on the calendar, but it’s still cold and gray for a lot of us, and what better way to ward off the chilly rain than a big plate full of hearty comfort food?

Braising a chuck roast with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar gives the roast plenty of time to get fall-apart tender while all that flavor sinks deep into the meat. As a bonus, the braising liquid reduces to a thick, concentrated sauce to pour over the meat on your plate and add extra flavor to the vegetables as well.

The roasted vegetables here don’t necessarily have to go with the meat – you could make just the roast, or just the vegetables, but they make a delicious pairing and it’s always nice to have your whole dinner in one recipe. Adding a little bit of sweetener is optional, but it does give them a delicious caramelized flavor: if you haven’t tried this, it’s a simple way to make roast vegetables even more delicious. On the other hand, though, if you’re not big on sweeteners, don’t sweat it: the vegetables are delicious without and still a great side for the meat and the sauce.

Maple Balsamic Braised Chuck Roast Recipe

SERVES: 4 PREP: 25 min. COOK: 2h 30 min.

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Ingredients

• 2 to 3 lb. chuck roast
• 1 cup beef stock
• ⅓ cup maple syrup (optional)
• ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
• ⅓ cup coconut aminos
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, minced
• Cooking fat
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the caramelized vegetables

• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled, and diced
• 3 parsnips, peeled, and sliced
• 1 red onion, quartered
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. maple syrup or raw honey (optional)
• Fresh thyme sprig
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
2. In a bowl, combine the beef stock, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, coconut aminos, garlic, and minced onion.
3. Season the meat with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Melt some cooking fat in a Dutch oven placed over a medium high heat.
5. Brown the meat on all side for 2 to 3 minutes per side, and pour the sauce on top.
6. Place in the oven and cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
7. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the vegetables and season to taste.
8. Spread the vegetables out over a baking sheet, top with a sprig of fresh thyme, and cook in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes.
9. Serve the meat with the caramelized vegetables.