This recipe is reminiscent of a pot roast made with onion-soup mix, but the flavors are true and puree--and nobody misses the excess sodium. (For a slow-cooker variation, see below.)

Makes 10 servings, about 3 ounces meat & 1/3 cup gravy each

ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 3 1/4 hours

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1 4-pound beef chuck roast (see Ingredient note), trimmed of fat
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced (4 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, turning from time to time, until well browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Add onions, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until softened and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and thyme; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in coffee and vinegar; bring to a simmer. Return the beef to the pot and spoon some onions over it. Cover and transfer to the oven.
4. Braise the beef in the oven until fork-tender but not falling apart, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Transfer beef to a cutting board, tent with foil and let rest for about 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, skim fat from the braising liquid; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, whisking, until the gravy thickens slightly, about 1 minute. Season with pepper. Carve the beef and serve with gravy.

Slow-Cooker Variation:
In Step 2, transfer the browned beef to a slow cooker. In Step 3, use just 1/2 cup coffee. Add the onion mixture to the slow cooker. In Step 4, cover and cook until beef is tender, 4 1/2 to 5 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low. In Step 5, pour the liquid into a medium saucepan and continue as directed.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 252 calories; 12 g fat (4 g sat, 6 g mono); 97 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrate; 29 g protein; 0 g fiber; 172 mg sodium.

TIP: Ingredient Note: Although it is not the leanest cut of beef, chuck is still our choice for pot roast because it doesn't dry out during braising. You will find pockets of fat as you carve it, but they are easy to remove.

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

RELATED RECIPES: Bistro Beef Tenderloin | Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Cherry & Tomato Chutney | Herb & Lemon Roast Chicken | Simple Roast Chicken | Roast Leg of Lamb | Roast Duck with Dried Cherry Sauce

I made this in the crockpot for part of a Christmas dinner and it was a HUGE hit!

Anonymous, Minneapolis, MN

This was excellent! Definitely a keeper!

Michele

I added sweet potatoes to this towards the end of cooking time. I let the potatoes cook about 20 minutes. They absorb the flavors of the broth and they're still sweet. Yummy!

A.M., Boston, MA

This was very good. I made it using the crock pot instructions and it turned out very tender and had a lot of flavor. I would definitely make it again.

David, NY