Beef Involtini
Thin beef rolls stuffed with breadcrumbs, braised in tomato.
Ingredients
- 600 g Beef flank steak
- 80 g Breadcrumbs
- 50 g Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 500 ml Tomato passata
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Pound the beef between sheets of plastic into thin, even slices.
- Mix the breadcrumbs, parmesan, minced garlic, and chopped parsley into a filling.
- Spread the filling over each slice, roll up tightly, and secure with toothpicks into involtini.
- Brown the rolls in the olive oil over medium-high heat, turning, until coloured all over, then lift them out.
- Add the passata and salt to the pan, return the rolls, cover, and braise gently until the beef is tender, about 35 minutes.
- Serve the rolls with the sauce spooned over.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Beef Involtini
Beef involtini are thin rolls of meat wrapped around a savory stuffing and braised in tomato, a preparation found throughout southern Italy where cooks stretch a modest amount of beef into a rich, satisfying main. The word involtini simply describes anything rolled, and these follow the classic pattern: pounded slices of beef filled, secured, browned, then simmered slowly in passata until fork-tender. It is Sunday-lunch cooking, the kind of dish that fills the kitchen with the smell of long braising.
The stuffing here is a Southern Italian signature of breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley, which keeps the interior moist and adds a savory backbone as the rolls cook. Browning the involtini first builds color and depth before the tomato goes in, and the gentle braise both tenderizes the flank steak and enriches the sauce with meaty flavor. Serve the rolls with that sauce spooned over, alongside bread, polenta, or pasta dressed in the same tomato, for a hearty and generous plate.
Beef Involtini: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Beef Involtini?
A serving has about 501 calories — 38.7g protein, 21g carbs, 29.3g fat, 2.6g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 38.7g of protein, roughly 31% of its calories.
Is Beef Involtini gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Breadcrumbs. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Beef Involtini dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Parmigiano-Reggiano. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Beef Involtini take to make?
About 70 minutes start to finish, but only around 28 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Beef Involtini?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out parsley — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Beef Involtini make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.