Chef John's Beef Braciole Recipe

Place steaks between 2 pieces of heavy plastic; pound meat about 1/4-inch thick using a meat pounder. If a piece of meat breaks off use it to patch a thinner area.

Place bread crumbs into a mixing bowl and stir in garlic 2 tablespoons olive oil raisins Parmesan cheese salt black pepper oregano and egg until thoroughly combined.

Season steak with salt and pepper; place half the bread crumb stuffing onto the bottom 2/3 of a steak leaving the top third of the steak without stuffing. Lightly press the stuffing onto the meat and roll the steak up into a tight roll starting from the stuffed end. Tie 3 to 4 pieces of kitchen string around the roll to hold it together. Trim ends of string. Repeat with remaining steak and stuffing.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the steak rolls in the hot oil until well browned on all sides 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in water and dissolve pan juices and browned bits of food in the water.

Season steak rolls with salt and pepper; add red pepper flakes and bay leaf to the water. Spread tomato sauce onto rolls. Pan liquid should cover the rolls about halfway up.

Bring to a boil reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 10 minutes; turn rolls over and cook covered about 10 more minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read at least 145 degrees F (65 degrees C). Remove from pan transfer to a platter and let them rest for 10 minutes.

Raise heat to medium bring sauce to a boil and cook stirring often until sauce has reduced by half about 10 minutes. Slice the rolls crosswise. Serve arranged on a little sauce and drizzle more sauce on top.