Brociolone or falsomagro: the Sicilian meat roll for important occasions

Do you know how to cook the traditional Sicilian brociolone? This is an extraordinary dish that Sicilians prepare for important events or festivities because it takes a bit of time, but it's very delicious. We also called it in Sicilian "falsu magru", literally meaning "false slim" (ital. falsomagro).

In ancient times probably meat was not particularly nice and tender so the Chefs of Nobles, the famous Monsù, created new fillings to stuff the meat. Every Sicilian family puts a different stuffing inside, because nowadays everyone has its own version. My favourite, which is one of the most traditional, is the one with omelette, caciocavallo, breadbrumbs and salame. It is not only very tasty but it is beautiful to see as well! 

To prepare this dish you will need:

- a big slice of beaten beef (about 800 gr & it must have the thickness of half of a cm)

- 150 gr of thin sliced salami

- 60 gr grated caciocavallo cheese

- 100 gr provola or fresh caciocavallo cheese in small cubes

- 3 eggs

- 5-6 tablespoons of breadcrumbs

- 1 large onion

- 3/4 of a glass of red wine

- 1 glass of water
- olive oil 

- salt & pepper

Preparation:

1. Cut the onion in half and chop it. On a low heat put a pan with a drizzle of olive oil and half of the onion and the spoons of breadcrumbs. Adjust with salt and pepper.
2. Remove from heat, let the mix cool down and add the cheeses (both grated and in cubes).
3. With the 3 eggs make an omelette, but careful because it has to be very thin and a bit smaller than the size of the beef, otherwise it will come out of the meat.

4. Take the beef and oil it inside, than put the ingredients in the order that you prefer, for example:  the thin slices of salami, then the omelette and finally the mix of breadcrumbs. You have to cover all the space making three different layers of stuffing.

5. Roll it out very carefully and make sure that the filling do not fall from the sides, then using a kitchen string tie the roll very well and firmly.

6. Now it's time to brown the meat roll in the appropriate pan. Again put some oil, the other half chopped onion, salt & pepper on a minimum heat. Put the roll inside the pan and let it cooked well, turning it every 4-5 minutes. 

7. When the beef has become finally brown add just less than a full glass of red wine and let it evaporate completely. Then add a full glass of water and cover the pan with the lit. 

8. Let it cooked for another half an hour, checking every 10 minutes and turning the meat so that it can cook on every side. After 30 minutes ckeck the cooking point sticking a fork inside the roll, if it comes out easily means that the beef is also cooked on the inside, otherwise leave it for another 10 minutes and check again later.

9. As soon as it is cooked remove it from the pan and once it has cooled down cut the roll in slices, thick not more than 1cm. 

10. Place it on an oval serving dish or a tray and put the sauce that has remained in the pan, on top of the slices. If the sauce is too dense or concentrated add a little bit of hot water and mix with the fork. Then cover the roll slices with this delicious sauce and serve hot! 

This dish is perfect on Easter day, which is so close now. You will definetely enjoy it!