Betty Wason's Basic Pot Roast

By jann

Ingredients

• Serves 6 to 8
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 5 pounds rump of beef (or other roast suitable for slow-cooking, such as chuck)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons fat or oil
• 2 onions, sliced, or 10 to 12 small onions, peeled
• 1 to 2 carrots, scraped and cubed
• Herbs and seasonings, as desired (we used bay leaf and thyme)
• 1 cup liquid (wine, bouillon, tomatoes, vegetable broth, etc.)
• Other vegetables, as desired (we used baby red potatoes)

Preparation

Step 1

1. Season the flour with the salt and pepper and pound the mixture into the meat with the edge of a plate.

2. Brown meat on all sides in the hot fat or oil. Add the onions, cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes. Add the carrots, herbs, seasonings and liquid. Cover tightly and simmer 3 1/2 - 5 hours, until meat is fork tender. Add desired vegetables during the last 20 or 30 minutes.

3. Slow-cooker variation: After browning the meat, transfer to a slow cooker. Pour off excess fat from the pan. Saute onions in the same pan until softened slightly, then add to the slow-cooker. Pour liquid into the pan, scraping up the browned bits. Pour liquid and loosened bits into the slow-cooker, and add carrots and herbs. Cook on low 8 hours or more, adding desired vegetables during the last 20 or 30 minutes.