Ingredients
2large onions, cut into 1/2-inch wedges (2 cups)
13 pound boneless beef chuck pot roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4cup dry red wine or lower-sodium beef broth
1/4cup tomato paste
3tablespoons balsamic vinegar or cider
23 inches cinnamon sticks
1teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1teaspoon ground allspice
3/4teaspoon salt
1/4 - 1/2teaspoon crushed red pepper
12 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces (about 4 1/2 cups)
2large quince or cooking apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
4cups hot cooked couscous
Directions
Place onions in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place beef on top of onions. In a bowl combine wine, tomato paste, vinegar, cinnamon, rosemary, allspice, salt, and crushed red pepper; pour over beef.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 hours. Adjust low-heat setting to high-heat setting. Stir in squash and quince. Cover and cook 1-1/2 to 2 hours more or until squash is tender. If using apples, add to cooker the last 1/2 hour of cooking. Remove and discard cinnamon. Serve pot roast with couscous and juices. Makes 8 servings.
From the Test Kitchen
TEST KITCHEN TIP:
If using apples instead of quince, choose a firm cooking apple such as Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala.
STOVE TOP INSTRUCTIONS:
Set onions aside to add later. In a 4- to 5- quart Dutch oven, brown beef one third at a time, in 2 Tbsp. hot olive or cooking oil. Transfer beef to platter; drain fat and return beef to Dutch oven. Increase wine to 1-1/2 cups and vinegar to 1/3 cup. Stir wine, tomato paste, vinegar, cinnamon, rosemary, allspice, salt, and red pepper into meat. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1-1/4 hours. Add onions, squash, and quince, if using. Return to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes more or until quince and vegetables are tender. If using apples, add the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove; discard cinnamon. Serve as above.
FOR EASY CLEANUP:
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.