Auberge De La Madones Beef Stew With Wild Mushrooms And Orange Food

OLD-FASHIONED BEEF STEW WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the beef with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add to the pot in batches and cook, turning and adding more oil as needed, until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Add 2 more tablespoons oil to the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Add the roughly chopped carrot, celery and onion and cook, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pot, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Move the vegetables to one side and add the tomato paste to the empty side. Cook until it darkens around the edge, about 2 minutes; stir into the vegetables. Add the wine and bring to a boil.
• Return the beef and any juices to the pot; add the stock. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam off the top. Add the thyme. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• Strain the beef and vegetables in a colander set over a large bowl, reserving the cooking liquid. Tent the beef mixture with foil. Let the cooking liquid stand for 5 minutes and then skim off the fat on the surface. Return the liquid to the pot. Add the remaining carrots and celery and the potatoes and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until they release their juices and brown, 10 minutes. (Pour off any extra liquid, if necessary.) Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour to make a roux, then let it bubble (do not brown), 2 minutes. Whisk in 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Stir this sauce into the pot with the vegetables; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, 5 minutes.
• Return the beef to the pot, discarding the roughly chopped carrot, celery, onion and thyme. Add the mushrooms and simmer until heated through, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with parsley.

AUBERGE DE LA MADONE'S BEEF STEW WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND ORANGE

Steps:

• The day before serving the stew, combine the meat, carrots, onions, garlic, parsley, celery, bay leaves, thyme, marc, 3 1/2 cups of red wine and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonreactive bowl. Tie the peppercorns and cloves in a piece of cheesecloth, add to the bowl and toss the ingredients well. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring once or twice.
• Let meat and vegetables return to room temperature. With a slotted spoon, remove the meat from the marinade. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels. Set aside. Strain the liquid into a large nonreactive heatproof casserole and add the cheesecloth bag. Set the vegetables aside.
• Add the remaining 2 cups of wine to the pot and bring the liquid to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes to reduce slightly. Remove from the heat, stir in the tomato paste and set aside.
• In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over high heat. When hot, add the beef in batches, sauteing until browned all over, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer when browned to the liquid in the casserole.
• Add the remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet. Add the reserved vegetables and saute until browned, about 7 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the casserole. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring the liquid in the casserole to a simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce the heat to very low and simmer, skimming occasionally, until the meat is very tender, about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Stir in salt and pepper to taste, the mushrooms and the orange zest and juice. Discard the cheesecloth bag with the peppercorns and cloves and the bay leaves. (The recipe can be prepared 2 to 3 days ahead and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.) Serve with potatoes, rice or pasta.