Beer Braised Beef Cheek Pearl Barley Risotto Malted Onions Ale Sauce Food

BEER-BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and adjust a rack to the lower third of oven.
• Remove the brisket from the refrigerator and let rest for 1 hour to come up to room temperature.
• Pat the brisket dry and sprinkle it generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch over or braising pot set over medium-high heat. Sear the brisket in the oil until well browned, about 4 minutes. Carefully flip and sear on the reverse side for another 4 minutes. Remove the brisket to a plate.
• To the pot, add the garlic, onions, carrots, celery, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Saute until golden, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the vinegar, chicken stock and beer, and bring to a simmer, scrapping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Nestle the brisket into the pot, making space between the vegetables, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Place in the oven and cook for 3 1/2 hours, or until fork tender. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
• Serve on a platter along with the vegetables and any extra braising liquid as a sauce.

BEER-BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Adjust rack to bottom third of oven, and preheat to 325 degrees. In a medium-large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-low heat until crisp, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet; set aside.
• Season beef with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pot, and raise heat to medium high. Working in batches, brown meat, 1 to 2 minutes per side. As each batch is browned, transfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
• If necessary, add remaining tablespoon oil. Lower heat to medium. Add onions, and deglaze with about 2 tablespoons ale, scraping any browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Continue to cook, stirring frequently until soft, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle flour over onions, and cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Add remaining ale, and bring to a boil, scraping any remaining browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.
• Tie thyme, parsley, and bay leaves in a bundle with a piece of kitchen twine. Add to onions. Return bacon and beef to pan, pushing beef down into liquid. (The liquid will not completely cover beef). Add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Cover, and transfer to oven. Cook until beef is fork-tender, about 2 hours. Remove herb bundle, and discard. Taste, and adjust for seasoning. Serve hot.