Daube Of Beef With Spiced Beetroot Food

PROVENçAL WHITE WINE BEEF DAUBE

Steps:

• In a large bowl or sealable plastic bag, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the Cognac, the beef and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cover and set aside to marinate at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Place a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 325 degrees.
• In a wide, heavy casserole with a tight-fitting lid, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onions, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, orange zest and 2 big pinches salt; stir well to coat and heat through. Reduce heat to low, cover, and sweat (cook without browning) for 8 to 10 minutes, until onions and garlic are softened.
• Add beef and its marinade, tomatoes, wine, bouquet garni and peppercorns. Stir to combine.
• Cover and bake in the center of the oven until meat is ultratender, 3 to 4 hours. There is no need to stir or baste, but check from time to time to make sure the liquid is at a very gentle simmer; boiling will make the meat tough.
• When the stew is ready, adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper and serve immediately. Or, refrigerate overnight or longer, skim any hardened fat from the top, and reheat before serving.
• Serve over hot pasta, garnished with parsley and orange zest, if desired.

BEEF DAUBE

Steps:

• Combine first 9 ingredients in large bowl. Cover and let stand at room temperature 2 hours.
• Remove beef from marinade; pat dry. Reserve marinade. Cook pancetta in large pot over medium-low heat until fat is rendered, 5 minutes. Add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until onion is translucent, 6 minutes. Transfer to large bowl.
• Heat oil in same pot over high heat. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add beef to pot; cook until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to bowl with pancetta mixture. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add flour to pot. Whisk until flour browns, about 4 minutes. Gradually whisk in reserved marinade. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add beef mixture and any accumulated juices to pot. Cover tightly; simmer until meat is tender, about 2 hours. Uncover; simmer until meat is very tender and liquid is reduced to sauce consistency, about 45 minutes longer. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate.)
• Spoon fat off top of daube. Remove carrots, quartered onion, herb sprigs, bay leaves and peel and discard. Bring daube to simmer, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley.

BEEF & BEETROOT CURRY

Steps:

• Put the beetroot in a large pan of water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender - check with a skewer; you may need to remove smaller ones first while the larger ones carry on cooking. Drain and cool, then put on rubber gloves to peel the skin and remaining stalks. Chop into large chunks and set aside two-thirds for later.
• Put the remaining one-third beetroot in a food processor or blender with the ginger, garlic, chilli, chopped coriander, cardamom pods, tomato paste, treacle, cumin, ground coriander, fennel seeds, cloves and 2 tsp ground black pepper. Whizz to a paste.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat half the oil in a big flameproof casserole. Fry the beef chunks in batches until browned all over, removing to a dish as you go. Add the remaining oil, lower the heat, then tip in the onions and fry gently until softened, scraping up the beefy bits. Tip in the spice paste and fry for 5 mins until really fragrant. Return the beef and stock cubes with enough boiling water from a kettle to cover. Bring to a simmer, then put on the lid and bake for 2 hrs.
• Uncover and bake for a further 30 mins until the beef is really tender. Put back on the hob and stir in the garam masala and reserved beetroot to heat through. Season well with salt, scatter with coriander leaves and serve with naan, basmati rice and raita or yogurt, if you like.