Some recipes are not written down.
They are learned by watching, by smelling, by waiting patiently near the stove.
Nonna’s involtini is one of those recipes.
Thin slices of beef, rolled by hand, filled generously with cheese, herbs, and cured meats, then slowly finished in tomato sauce until everything becomes soft, rich, and comforting.
In Sicily, involtini are never rushed. The onions take their time. The sauce simmers gently. And the meat finishes cooking where it belongs, right in the sauce, soaking up all that flavor.
If you want to see exactly how Nonna prepares her involtini, how she rolls them, how she tastes the sauce, and how she knows when they’re ready:
👉 click here to watch her latest video and cook along with her
Ingredients
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Beef steak slices (one per person, thin enough to roll)
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Mozzarella cheese
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Provolone cheese
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Ham
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Bacon
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Fresh parsley
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1 onion
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Black pepper
Instructions
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
1. Season the beef
Lay the beef steaks flat and season both sides generously with Papa Vince sea salt and black pepper. This step adds flavor from the very beginning, not just at the end.
2. Prepare the onions
Slice the onion into medium slices. You don’t want them too small, the onions are an important part of the sauce and should be visible and tender when finished.
Nonna Tip:
Rinse the onion under water before cutting it.
This is a trick her mother taught her to avoid crying while slicing onions.
3. Start the onions
In a large pan, add a generous drizzle of Papa Vince extra virgin olive oil.
Add the sliced onions and season with salt to taste. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and lightly brown.
4. Fill the involtini
While the onions cook, prepare the beef rolls:
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Sprinkle chopped parsley over each steak
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Add slices of mozzarella and provolone
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Layer with ham and bacon
Roll each steak tightly and secure it with a toothpick so it stays closed while cooking.
5. Add the tomato sauce
Once the onions start to brown, pour in the Papa Vince tomato sauce. Season again lightly with salt and let the sauce simmer gently.
6. Start cooking the involtini
Place the involtini in the air fryer or oven and cook for about 6–7 minutes per side, just until they begin to cook and hold their shape.
7. Finish in the sauce
Transfer the involtini directly into the simmering tomato sauce. Spoon the sauce over them, cover, and let them cook together for another 7 minutes.
This final step is where everything comes together.
8. Serve and enjoy
Remove the toothpicks, spoon plenty of sauce over the involtini, and serve warm.
Enjoy slowly, just like Nonna does.
