Sicilian Beef Braciole Recipe (No Sauce)

This Sicilian beef braciole recipe is not the typical recipe of large braciole cooked in tomato sauce, but a lighter version originated from the Strait of Sicily. These braciole are small bites of beef spiedini (braciolette), soft inside and crispy outside. They are filled with stringy cheese and coated with breadcrumbs flavored with Parmesan, garlic, and basil. They are baked in the oven without tomato sauce.

Jump to:

• Braciolette small braciole from Messina
• How to cook braciole without sauce
• Cut of beef for braciole
• Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• Step by step instructions with images
• What to serve with braciole
• Beef substitute
• Other recipes you may like
• 📋 Sicilian beef braciole recipe

Braciolette small braciole from Messina

This is not the usual braciole recipe but a smaller and lighter version of beef braciole spiedini cooked without tomato sauce.

The meat rolls are much smaller, that is why they are called braciolette, small braciole. They are fastened together with a skewer (spiedini) and broiled.

They are very tender with a soft center, and a crispy crust made with breadcrumbs flavored with plenty of basil, Parmesan, and a slight garlic taste.

They can also be made with chicken, pork, or swordfish. For a vegetarian version, you can also make them with thinly sliced zucchini or eggplants.

Often served at children's parties or buffets, they are so tender that children love them.

Since there is no sauce and the meat rolls are small, they can be easily eaten in one bite while standing.

How to cook braciole without sauce

These braciolette can be cooked in the oven or grilled. The meat is very thin and coated with breadcrumbs, so it remains very moist and crispy outside. The slices of beef are cut very thin and made even thinner by tenderizing them with a meat pounder.

They are then coated with olive oil to keep them moist and help the breadcrumbs stick to the meat.

There is also some parmesan and basil mixed with the breadcrumbs, and sometime a small piece of provola, scamorza or cacio cavallo is added in the middle of the wrap.

Provola, scamorza and cacio cavallo cheese are typical from the Calabria and Sicilian region. You can also use mozzarella or cheddar cheese.

Cut of beef for braciole

The best cut of beef to use is lean beef like rump cover or rump steak. You can ask your butcher to cut them very thin, like a carpaccio steak.

If you have to carve them yourself, I recommend using an electric knife.

If you want to find out more about cuts of beef and their use, you can read the article: Cuts of beef for barbecuing diagram in English, Italian and French

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Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

I always use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs in many of my recipes. That is why I usually prepare a large amount and keep it in the freezer. They don’t need to be defrosted ahead of time.

If you want to know more about it, you can read the article: Grated Parmesan and Breadcrumbs. also, check out the article: Once a Month Freezer Meal Prep to find out what else I keep in my freezer.

I always keep the stale bread aside, and when I have time, I prepare the breadcrumbs and freeze it. Here are the ingredients I use in proportion to 3 cups of grated stale bread:

• 3 cups of grated stale bread
• ½ cup of parmesan
• ½ cup of basil leaves or parsley
• 1 garlic cloves

If you are making it only for this recipe, use the amount listed on the recipe card below.

Step by step instructions with images

Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

1. Grate the parmesan in a shredder
2. Cut the stale bread into chunks small enough to fit in the shredder
3. Shredd the bread putting the garlic first, so the bread absorbs the flavor
4. Take a cup of shredded breadcrumbs and blend it with the basil leaves (used shredded bread as the bread is too hard for a blender and you risk breaking it)
5. Add the shredded parmesan to the breadcrumbs
6. Then the breadcrumbs mixed with the basil

Following this procedure will minimize waste (like basil being stuck in the side of the blender or parmesan left inside the shredder) and create a perfect combination of flavors (the breadcrumbs absorbing the garlic and the basil)

It is best if the breadcrumbs rest overnight to absorb all the flavors. If you freeze them, you don't have to worry about using them when needed.

Preparing the meat

1. Carve the beef into very thin slices
2. Hammer each slice with meat ponder until they are evenly flat
3. Cut them into small long stripes
4. Put them in a bowl and season them with salt and olive oil

Preparing the braciolette

1. Pour 1 cup of the breadcrumbs into a plate and coat each strip of beef with the breadcrumbs. Once the breadcrumbs are finished, add some more (Leftover breadcrumbs cannot be stored and reused at a later date as they have been in contact with raw meat. Best to add gradually)
2. Turn the beef into a small roll; you can put a small piece of cheese inside if you like. Tight the roll into your fist
3. Lay all the rolls on a tray
4. Insert the meat into the skewer, from 5 to 6 rolls of each skewer
5. Bake for 30 minutes at 355 F - 180 C
6. Turn them and bake for another 10 minutes

What to serve with braciole

Although these braciole are very filling, they are so good that you can easily finish them all. I like to serve them with fresh salad, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt.

The best dish to serve with them is the rice stuffed tomatoes, The juice of the tomato and the crunchiness of the braciolette perfectly complement each other.

Other sides that can be served are the grilled vegetables, baked ratatouille or a fresh Tabbouleh to add some vegetables and fresh juices to the meat.

Beef substitute

This braciole recipe can also be done with pork or chicken; just make sure the slices are thinly cut. If you are in a hurry and don't want to spend too much time rolling them, you can also try the baked breaded chicken breast recipe.

For a seafood option, you can check the recipe: Baked swordfish Braciole

You can use zucchini or eggplants cut very thin lengthwise for a vegetarian or vegan option. You can choose whether you want to put a small cube of cheese in the middle to make them more filling or keep them simple for a vegan meal.

Other recipes you may like

Here are some more ideas of recipe with beef:

• Classic veal Milanese
• Brazilian Picanha bbq
• Beef Daube Provencal
• Beef pie with Marsala and mushrooms
• Beef sausage hand pies
• Stuffed round courgettes

If you are making these Sicilian beef braciole, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.