Classic Beef Bourguignon Food

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Tip 1.6kg braising steak, cut into large chunks, into a large bowl with 3 bay leaves, a small bunch of thyme, 2 bottles cheap red wine and some pepper, then cover and leave in the fridge overnight.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Place a colander over another large bowl and strain the marinated meat, keeping the wine.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan, then brown the meat in batches, transferring to a plate once browned. When all the meat is browned, pour a little wine into the now-empty frying pan and bubble to release any caramelised bits from the pan.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large casserole and fry 3 large or 6 normal carrots, cut into large chunks, and 2 roughly chopped onions until they start to colour. Stir in 3 tbsp plain flour for 1 min, then add 1 tbsp tomato purée.
• Add the beef and any juices, the wine from the frying pan and the rest of the wine and herbs. Season and bring to a simmer. Give everything a good stir, then cover.
• Transfer to the oven and bake for 2 hrs until the meat is really tender. Cool. Will freeze for up to 3 months.
• To serve, defrost completely overnight in the fridge if frozen, then place on a low heat to warm through.
• Meanwhile, heat a small knob of butter in a frying pan and add 300g bacon lardons and 500g peeled pearl onions or small shallots. Sizzle for about 10 mins until the bacon starts to crisp and the onions soften and colour.
• Add 400g halved mushrooms and fry for another 5 mins, then stir everything into the stew and heat for 10 mins more. Serve scattered with chopped parsley.

CLASSIC BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Tie the rosemary and thyme together using the chives to make a bouquet garni. Set aside.
• Trim the fat from the beef roast and cut into 1 1/2 to 2 inch cubes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over high heat until hot, taking care not to burn the oil. Carefully add the meat and brown on all sides.
• Once the meat is nicely browned and the liquid is gone from the pan, add the flour and toss to coat the meat.
• Slowly add the cognac, stirring constantly and scraping up the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Gradually add the wine, stirring constantly and continuing to scrape the pan to loosen the browned bits. Add the beef stock, tomato paste, and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until most of the alcohol is cooked off and the sauce is thickened. Cover and simmer over low heat for one hour.
• Cut the onion into large pieces (about 1 to 1 1/2 inches square). Add the pinch of sugar, onion, mushrooms, garlic, and carrots to the pot. Stir, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until the vegetables and meat are tender.
• Remove the bouquet garni. Season with the salt and pepper to taste.
• Enjoy!

CLASSIC FRENCH BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt and ground black pepper. Coat the beef cubes with this mixture.
• Melt the butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the meat and brown well on all sides. Pour this into a 2 quart casserole dish.
• Return the skillet to the heat and add the onion, carrots and garlic to it. Saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until onion is tender. add the wine, bay leaf, parsley, thyme, and liquid from the mushrooms. Pour over meat.
• Bake, covered, at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 2 1/2 hours. Remove cover, add canned onions and mushroom crowns, and bake for 30 more minutes.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• For the bouquet garni: Wrap the herbs in cheesecloth and secure with butcher's twine, leaving about 6 inches of excess string. Set aside.
• For the beef bourguignon: Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until browned but not fully rendered, 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Place the flour in a shallow bowl. Season the beef well with salt and pepper, then toss it in the flour to coat, shaking off the excess flour. Add the oil to the Dutch oven, heat until shimmering, and then brown the beef in batches. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the browned pieces to a large bowl.
• Add the mushrooms to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes. If the pan looks dry, add more olive oil. Push the mushrooms to the sides of the pan, add the onions and cook until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Season again with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Carefully tie the bouquet garni to the handle of the pot and drop the bouquet into the vegetables (or simply toss the whole bouquet into the pot). Add the carrots and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the red wine, increase the heat, and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring up the browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the broth and 1 cup water and return the meat and bacon to the pan. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
• Add the pearl onions to the pot and cook, partially covered, until the meat is very tender when pierced with a fork, 1 hour more. Remove the bouquet garni. Season the stew to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley leaves to serve.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.
• Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.
• Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.
• Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.
• To serve, toast the bread in the toaster or oven. Rub each slice on 1 side with a cut clove of garlic. For each serving, spoon the stew over a slice of bread and sprinkle with parsley.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Cut 2 pieces of cheesecloth into 12-by-22-inch rectangles; lay them on a clean work surface, overlapping each other perpendicularly in the center to form a cross. Pile onion, carrots, garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and peppercorns in center. Gather ends together to enclose contents completely, and tie the top with kitchen twine. Set aside.
• Preheat oven 300 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add salt pork, and saute until brown and crisp, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pork to baking sheet, leaving rendered fat in Dutch oven.
• Season beef cubes with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, place beef in Dutch oven in a single layer; cook until dark brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to baking sheet with salt pork before adding next batch.
• Using tongs, transfer beef and pork to Dutch oven. Sprinkle flour over and toss to coat. Slowly whisk in beef stock and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until thickened, about 8 minutes.
• Add wine and tomato paste and season with salt and pepper; stir to combine. Add cheesecloth bundle and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover; transfer to oven. Cook until beef is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove pot from oven and transfer cheesecloth bundle to a large sieve set over a bowl. With wooden spoon, press on bundle to release as much liquid as possible. Discard bundle and pour accumulated juices into Dutch oven.
• Remove beef and pork from Dutch oven. Boil over high heat until it is reduced to about 4 cups. Skim surface as needed with large metal spoon. Reduce heat to low; return beef and pork to Dutch oven.
• While sauce is reducing further, set a large skillet over high heat; add butter and remaining tablespoon oil. Add pearl onions, water, sugar, and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium; simmer until almost all the liquid evaporates, 6 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are browned and glazed, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer mushrooms and pearl onions to Dutch oven and simmer over medium heat until heated through. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired, and serve at once. Garnish each serving with chopped parsley.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• In a 6-to-8-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, cook bacon uncovered over medium-low heat until browned, 10 to 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate; set aside. Reserve bacon fat.
• Season beef generously with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, dredge beef in flour, shaking off excess. Raise heat to medium. Working in two batches, brown beef in bacon fat on all sides, without crowding, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer each batch to a bowl.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into pan; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, to loosen browned bits, until liquid has reduced to a few tablespoons, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 3 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook 1 minute.
• Add carrots, meat (with juices), wine, thyme, and reserved bacon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer over low, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender, but not falling apart, 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
• Skim fat off surface of stew; discard. Stir Roasted Mushrooms and Pearl Onions into beef; season with salt and pepper. Serve, or refrigerate, covered, up to overnight.

SLOW COOKER BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Turn the slow cooker to low and heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan. Season the meat and fry for 3-4 mins in batches until browned all over, scooping out each batch with a slotted spoon and transferring the browned meat to a plate.
• Tip the onion, carrot and celery into the pan and fry for 5-10 mins until soft. Add the herbs and flour and cook for another 2 mins. Pour a splash of the wine into a bowl, then add the stock cube, sugar and tomato purée and mix to form a paste. Scrape the paste into the onion mix and pour in the remaining wine. Bring the mixture to a bubble, then transfer to the slow cooker. Stir in the browned beef, topping up with a splash of water to cover the meat if needed. Simmer on low for 6-8 hrs until the meat is falling apart but still holding its shape.
• About 35 mins before serving, heat the remaining oil in a pan. Fry the bacon, shallots and mushrooms for 5-8 mins until caramelised and the veg is starting to soften, then tip into the slow cooker. Simmer the stew gently on high for 30 mins. If you want a thicker gravy, use the reduce function or leave the stew uncovered. Serve with mashed potatoes or crusty bread, if you like.