Ground Meat Roll with Vegetable Tray

17/11/2023

Here is an Italian recipe for a ground meat roll with a tray of vegetables. This dish is versatile and can be adapted based on the vegetables you prefer or have on hand.

Ingredients

Roll:

500 g ground meat (beef or a mix of beef and pork)
1 egg
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan
Chopped parsley to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Filling:

100 g sliced cooked ham
100 g sliced cheese (such as scamorza or mozzarella)

Vegetables:

2 potatoes
2 carrots
1 zucchini
1 small eggplant
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Salt and rosemary to taste

Preparation

Start by preparing the roll. In a large bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, breadcrumbs, milk, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Work the mixture until you obtain a homogeneous dough.
Spread the meat mixture on a sheet of parchment paper, shaping it into a flat rectangle. Layer the slices of cooked ham and cheese over the meat, leaving a free border.
Using the parchment paper, roll the meat onto itself to form a roll, taking care to seal the edges well to prevent cheese from leaking during cooking.
Now prepare the vegetables for the baking tray. Wash and cut the potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and eggplant into cubes or rounds, according to your preference.
Arrange the vegetables in a baking dish, season them with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and rosemary (or other herbs to taste). Mix well to coat evenly.
Place the meat roll in the center of the dish, surrounded by the vegetables.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 45-60 minutes, depending on the thickness of the roll and your desired doneness.
Halfway through cooking, gently turn the roll and stir the vegetables for even cooking.

Once ready, let the roll rest for a few minutes before slicing to make cutting easier. Serve the slices of roll accompanied by the roasted vegetables.

Trivia

The roll, which can also be prepared with other fillings such as spinach and ricotta or mushrooms, is a home-style version of the more refined meat roll found in classic French cuisine as “roulade.” In Italy, the roll is often a Sunday or holiday dish, considered a rich and tasty meal to share with family or friends.