This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (2024)

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Enjoy the flavors of North Africa with this flavor-packed beef pot roast recipe braised with coriander, turmeric, ginger, and cumin.

By

Sally Vargas

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (1)

Sally Vargas

Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. She also is a food photographer.

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Updated September 30, 2023

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (2)

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What Is Aleppo Pepper?FEATURED IN:

Pot roast is such a comforting, all-American dish; you almost don’t want to mess with it.

Almost.

When you add North African ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, cumin, and coriander, along with pomegranate juice (for a little sweetness), you end up with something new, flavorful, and altogether fantastic!

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (4)

As the cold weather wears on, we want comforting, cozy meals but we also want to mix things up a bit so we don’t get bored. Here’s a chance to do that.

Why Braise Pot Roast?

Slow braising, like we're doing for this pot roast, means cooking foods in a small amount of liquid in a pot at a steady, moderate temperature. This transforms tough cuts of beef, like chuck or brisket, into something so tender you can pull it apart with a fork.

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (5)

Low and steady heat breaks down the collagen (the connective tissue that holds the muscle fibers in meat together) and allows the meat fibers to soften and separate more easily.

The sauce resulting from this process won't be thick, but it will be full of flavor. Serve the pot roast with couscous, and then spoon this broth over top of the meat. Let the meat and couscous soak up every drop of that the soupy goodness!

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (6)

Tips for Pot Roast Success

Don't worry if your meat still seems tough partway through cooking. It takes time for the collagen to break down and for the meat to become tender. When done, it should easily pull apart with a fork – cook it a little longer if you need to. The extra time won't hurt!

Pot Roast with North African Spices

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time2 hrs 50 mins

Servings6 servings

Aleppo pepper from Syria is bright red, slightly chocolaty, fruity, and medium hot. Maras pepper is from Turkey and is slightly hotter than Aleppo, yet still mild, with smokey overtones. Both are a fun addition to your spice cabinet. Sprinkle the deep red flakes on hummus, or perk up roasted vegetables with them. Look for the pepper in specialty food shops or Middle Eastern grocery stores.

Ingredients

For the spice mix

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons crushed coriander seed

  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (to taste) crushed red pepper flakes (or if available, Marash or Aleppo pepper)

For the beef

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 (3-pound or 1.35 kg) beef chuck roast

  • 1 medium onion, quartered

  • 3 carrots, cut into 2-inch chunks

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 1 cup (235 ml) water

  • 1 cup (235 ml) pomegranate juice

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup loosely-packed chopped fresh parsley

Method

  1. Make the spice mix:

    In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, paprika and pepper.

    This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (7)

  2. Heat the oven:

    Set an oven rack near the bottom of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325°F (or 160°C).

  3. Season and sear the meat, then add vegetables, spices:

    Sprinkle the roast all over with salt and pepper.

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    In a large Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot with a lid, heat the oil. Add the beef and brown it on all sides, about 4 minutes per side.

    Add the onion, carrots and bay leaves to the pot. Stir in the spice mix.

  4. Braise the meat:

    Add the water and pomegranate juice to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot and place in a 325°F (or 160°C) oven for 2 1/2 hours, turning once halfway through the cooking time.

    This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (9)

    This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (10)

    When the meat is fork tender, remove it from the oven. (If it is not tender enough, leave it in a little longer.)

  5. If serving with couscous and glazed carrots:

    Prepare these when the pot roast is close to being done.

  6. Finish the sauce:

    Transfer the meat to a platter and cover loosely with foil.

    Set a strainer over a bowl and pour the sauce through. Press on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and skim off the fat from the liquid. Add the lemon juice and taste. Add more salt and pepper, if you like.

  7. Serve the pot roast:

    Slice the meat and serve in shallow bowls on top of the couscous and carrots. Ladle the sauce over the meat and sprinkle with parsley.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
627Calories
40g Fat
12g Carbs
57g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories627
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g51%
Saturated Fat 15g76%
Cholesterol 188mg63%
Sodium 288mg13%
Total Carbohydrate 12g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 57g
Vitamin C 7mg33%
Calcium 80mg6%
Iron 6mg35%
Potassium 951mg20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

This Pot Roast Recipe with North African Spices Will Wow You (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to pot roast for more flavor? ›

I opt for basil, thyme, paprika, dried bay leaves, and black pepper. These add a lovely, almost Italian-inspired flavor to this pot roast recipe. Veggies. Including onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes (all of which are also in my beef stew!).

What not to do to pot roast? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Pot Roast
  1. Using the wrong roast.
  2. Not browning the roast.
  3. Deglazing with just broth.
  4. Cooking the vegetables too long.
  5. Not thickening the gravy.
Mar 29, 2017

What is the most flavorful roast? ›

The Rib-Eye Roast is the boneless center cut of the rib section. Very well-marbled, tender and flavorful, it is the most desirable and the most expensive of the roasts.

What makes pot roast better? ›

The best meat for pot roast is a beef cut with abundant connective tissue, like chuck roast, beef brisket or bottom round roast. This connective tissue called collagen is what makes pot roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.

How would you enhance the flavor of a roast? ›

Here are some simple ways to add a lot of flavor to your next rib roast. Use mesquite, cherry or apple woods to enhance the beef by adding savory aromas and flavors. Season the outside of the roast with salt and pepper and a little olive oil. Or coat with any other seasonings that you enjoy.

What Herbs and spices go best with roast beef? ›

Dried Herbs for Beef. Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, and Bay leaves are the best dried herbs to use when cooking beef. To use dried herbs with beef, you should consider which ones you want to include in your recipe and when you should add them.

What is the best liquid for pot roast? ›

Wine and broth: Use a cup or so of beef broth or stock and add a slurp or two of a dry wine. Cream of Mushroom soup: We called it cream of crap soup. Mix soup with a can of broth or water and pour over the roast and veggies. Onion Soup Mix: Mix an envelope of this with water or broth and pour it in.

Should pot roast be submerged in liquid? ›

Ultimately, it depends on your preferences and the flavor profile you're aiming to build in your roast, so have fun with it, and don't be afraid to be bold. Just remember there is no need to fully submerge your roast in liquid -- a little goes a long way to making a moist and fork-tender pot roast.

Does pot roast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Yes, pot roast absolutely becomes more tender the longer it cooks.

What spices go well with beef? ›

Spices Inc., an organization devoted to promoting the use and sale of spices, has a broad list of its favorite flavorings for beef: basil, bay, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, dry mustard powder, garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

What is the best seasoning for beef? ›

The following spices taste great with beef:
  • Cumin.
  • Cinnamon.
  • Dark chilis.
  • Red pepper flakes.
  • Cayenne pepper.
  • Curry powder.
  • Mustard powder.
Aug 22, 2017

Why does my roast have no flavor? ›

You could try infusing flavour into the meat with a syringe, or making sure to sear the entire outside very well prior to placing the roast into the slow cooker. Also, proper seasoning (salt and pepper) goes a long ways to bringing out natural flavour in meat.

Is roast better in oven or crockpot? ›

It's delicious both ways. If you want to give your crock-pot a whirl, here's a slow cooker pot roast recipe for you. But pot roast is plenty easy to make in the oven! You do all the browning and roasting all in the same pot and it requires less time than in a slow cooker roast.

What thickens a pot roast? ›

Some of the most common methods include: Flour: Mix flour with a little cold water to form a paste, and then slowly stir it into the stew or pot roast. Be sure to cook the stew or pot roast for an additional 5-10 minutes after adding the flour mixture to allow it to thicken.

Is stock or broth better for pot roast? ›

In general it's better to use stock but for pot roast a considerable amount of the liquid is going to be released from the meat and vegetables so the amount of liquid and flavor from the broth would be modest. I usually use a beef bullion cube or two and no added liquid for pot roast.

How do you make a pot roast less bland? ›

Instead of deglazing the pan with broth or water after browning the meat, use an acidic liquid to bring out the richness of the beef and give the meal a more complex taste. If you do use broth to deglaze the pan, or add a little for some additional cooking liquid, use a low-sodium option and salt the meal to taste.

How to spice up a pot roast? ›

Pot Roast Seasoning Ingredients
  1. Brown Sugar.
  2. Garlic Powder.
  3. Onion Powder.
  4. Dried Oregano.
  5. Dried Thyme.
  6. Dried Parsley.
  7. Coarse Salt.
  8. Pepper.

What should I season my roast with? ›

A basic roast beef rub can include a combination of the following ingredients:
  1. Salt.
  2. Pepper (freshly cracked is best)
  3. Garlic powder or minced garlic.
  4. Onion powder.
  5. Dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
  6. Olive oil or melted butter for basting.

How do you spice up a roast? ›

Add some more zing to your favorite cut with a paste rub, by combining your dry rub with a small amount of liquid. You can use water, oil, or a more flavorful ingredient such as lemon juice, tomatoes, soy sauce or apple cider. Apply rub to the beef's surface just before roasting.

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