Pot Roast Goes From Bland To Flavor Bomb When You Start By Caramelizing This Canned Ingredient

You assembled your ingredients and cooked them exactly as instructed. You let that beef cook for hours at a low heat so it's fork tender. That braising liquid, too, has thickened to a rich sauce. Everything, on paper, has gone right, yet when you take that first, fateful bite, you find your pot roast has fallen flat. We can't save that dull plate of pot roast, but we have just the thing to bring your next batch to life. The best part is you needn't add anything new. You just need to toast the tomato paste.

Too often, the tomato paste in a pot roast is taken for granted. It's squirted or scooped into the pan after sauteing aromatics, then quickly diluted with wine or broth to make the base of your braising liquid. But, if you let that tomato paste caramelize, you unleash a richer, deeper umami flavor that seriously boosts the savory flavors of your roast. To properly caramelize tomato paste, first saute your aromatics, but don't add any wet ingredients. Make sure there's oil or butter in your pan, then add tomato paste and cook, stirring regularly to prevent burning. Once your paste has gone from bright red to a rich, dark, brick-like hue, deglaze with broth (or beef consommé for a richer flavor) or wine. It's really as easy as that.

By caramelizing tomato paste, you add a whole new layer of dimension to pot roast without much fuss. This is a great one-and-done hack for anyone hoping to give a little perk up to pot roast. If you want to add even more flavor, start with a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce. This umami bomb condiment is often used as a kind of secret ingredient in savory foods, and it really shines in pot roast. Combined with caramelized tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce adds an incredible savory touch that helps boost your roast's flavor without completely altering it.

You can also use a bit of beef bouillon to help double down on your roast's beefiness. This adds more body than broth alone, and helps bolster the rich flavor of tomato paste. For even more tomato flavor, add some tomato juice, or V8. The latter especially can add a savory flavor that's quite unexpected, but totally delicious, bringing not just tomato flavor but other veggie flavors to boot. These are just a few ideas for building a better, more savory roast; feel free to play around with your recipe to get your ideal slow-cooked dinner dish.