Daves Boeuf 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.

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.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON A LA JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• First prepare the bacon: cut off the rind and reserve.
• Cut the bacon into lardons about 1/4" thick and 1 1/2" long.
• Simmer the rind and the lardons for ten minutes in 1 1/2 quarts of water.
• Drain and dry the lardons and rind and reserve.
• Pre-heat the oven to 450°F.
• Put the tablespoon of olive oil in a large (9" - 10" wide, 3" deep) fireproof casserole and warm over moderate heat.
• Saute the lardons for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly.
• Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon.
• Dry off the pieces of beef and saute them, a few at a time in the hot oil/bacon fat until nicely browned on all sides.
• Once browned, remove to the side plate with the bacon.
• In the same oil/fat, saute the onion and the carrot until softened.
• Pour off the fat and return the lardons and the beef to the casserole with the carrots and onion.
• Toss the contents of the casserole with the salt and pepper and sprinkle with the flour.
• Set the uncovered casserole in the oven for four minutes.
• Toss the contents of the casserole again and return to the hot oven for 4 more minutes.
• Now, lower the heat to 325°F and remove the casserole from the oven.
• Add the wine and enough stock so that the meat is barely covered.
• Add the tomato paste, garlic and herbs and the bacon rind.
• Bring to a simmer on the top of the stove.
• Cover and place in the oven, adjusting the heat so that the liquid simmers very slowly for three to four hours.
• The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.
• While the meat is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms and set them aside till needed.
• For the onion, if using frozen, make sure they are defrosted and drained.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet and add the onions to the skillet.
• Saute over medium heat for about ten minutes, rolling the onions about so they brown as evenly as possible, without breaking apart.
• Pour in the stock, season to taste, add the herbs, and cover.
• Simmer over low heat for about 40 to 50 minutes until the onions are perfectly tender but retain their shape and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
• Remove the herbs and set the onions aside.
• For the mushrooms, heat the butter and oil over high heat in a large skillet.
• As soon as the foam begins to subside add the mushrooms and toss and shake the pan for about five minutes.
• As soon as they have browned lightly, remove from heat.
• To Finish the Stew:.
• When the meat is tender, remover the casserole from the oven and empty its contents into a sieve set over a saucepan.
• Wash out the casserole and return the beef and bacon to it (discarding the bits of carrot and onion and herbs which remain in the sieve).
• Distribute the mushrooms and onions over the meat.
• Skim the fat off the sauce and simmer it for a minute or two, skimming off any additional fat which rises to the surface.
• You should be left with about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.
• If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of stock.
• If the sauce is too thin, boil it down to reduce to the right consistency.
• Taste for seasoning.
• Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
• If you are serving immediately, place the covered casserole over medium low heat and simmer 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve in the casserole or on a warm platter surrounded by noodles, potatoes or rice and garnished with fresh parsley.
• If serving later or the next day, allow the casserole to cool and place cold, covered casserole in the refrigerator.
• 20 minutes prior to serving, place over medium low heat and simmer very slowly for ten minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• For the beef: Place the beef into a large nonreactive bowl and add the wine. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and let marinate overnight in the fridge.
• Drain the beef in a colander with a bowl underneath, reserving the marinade. Place the flour, pepper and some salt in a shallow plate and, working in batches, toss the beef in the flour, shaking off any excess.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, cook the bacon until the fat has been rendered and the bacon is slightly crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pot, leaving the fat in the pot and reserving the cooked bacon.
• Working in batches, add the coated beef to the pot with the reserved bacon fat and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer the beef from the pot to a bowl and repeat with the remaining beef and seasoned flour until all the beef has been browned. Pour off any excess fat in the pot and increase the heat to high. Pour the sherry into the pot and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up the bits on the bottom of the pot. Pour the liquid over the beef.
• For the bouquet garni: Using kitchen string, tie together the celery, parsley stems, thyme, and bay leaves, making a bouquet garni.
• For the stew: Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat in the same pot used to brown the beef and add the garlic, carrots and onions. Cook until the onions are slightly golden, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add the reserved marinade, beef with juices, cooked bacon and bouquet garni, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium-low heat, partially covered, until the beef is tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and blanch the pearl onions for 2 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water, peel and set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over high heat until the foam subsides. Saute the onions until brown spots appear. Add 1 3/4 cups water, bring to a simmer and partially cover. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until they are tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid is reduced and the onions are glazed, about 10 minutes.
• Over high heat, melt the remaining tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet and saute the mushrooms until they are golden and all the liquid they have released evaporates, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Wait until the last 15 minutes of cooking the stew to add the pearl onions and mushrooms, and then cook for the remaining 15 minutes. Remove the bouquet garni and skim the fat from the stew. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve stew over roasted fingerling potatoes and garnish with chopped parsley.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Combine the meat and the red wine. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, remove the meat from the red wine and pat dry. Reserve wine. Toss meat in the flour, shaking off any excess. In a large casserole over high heat, add the bacon and render. Add the butter to the bacon fat and melt. Add the beef and brown on all sides. Remove the meat as it browns to a plate. Add the carrots, onions, and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the beef back to the pot with the reserved wine, veal stock, bay leaves, thyme, and parsley. Cover and cook for 2 hours over a low heat, until the meat is very tender. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 15 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve with boiled potatoes.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON AVEC POMMES PUREE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large, hot, ovenproof casserole dish. Brown the beef on both sides in the hot dish, in batches if applicable, making sure beef is well browned; if it sticks a little, leave it until it releases. Remove from pan and add another 1 tbsp oil. Brown bacon, then add the vegetables and mushrooms, cooking for about 5 minutes each addition. Add the bouquet garni and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
• Add the tomato puree and the wine. Bring to a boil and boil hard for about 10 minutes to reduce a little. Add stock, return the meat to the pan, and bring back to a boil. Season to taste with salt & pepper, then cover and cook in the oven for 3 hours or until the meat is tender.
• Remove the meat to a plate. Strain the liquid and return to the pan. Reserve the bacon and vegetables, but discard the bouquet garni. Bring to a boil and boil until reduced to about 1-1 1/4 cups. Cut the meat into big chunks. Slide the bacon and vegetables into the sauce, followed by the meat, and simmer gently for 5-10 minutes until piping hot.
• When meat is close to done, make the pommes purée. Peel the potatoes and cut into even-sized dice, then cook for about 12-15 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain well, then return to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes over medium heat with no liquid added (to dry the potatoes). Mash the potatoes thoroughly or press them through a potato ricer back into the pan - they should be very smooth and lump-free. Don't use a food processor, as it will make the potatoes gluey.
• Gradually beat the butter into the potato puree until it starts to look shiny. Heat the milk and cream in a small pan until on the point of boiling, then slowly mix into the potato purée with some salt and freshly ground pepper. Potatoes should be very creamy in consistency.
• Serve the boeuf bourguignon over the potato puree.
• Excellent with a glass of the same wine used in cooking and with a fresh, crisp salad on the side.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Marinate the beef for at least 4 hours (best over night) in the red wine mixed with the chopped onion, garlic, bay leaves and fresh peppercorns.
• Remove the meat from the marinade and dry with paper towel. In a container/plate/bowl/bag add 1/4 flour and season with salt and pepper. Add the beef cubes and coat them with flour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
• In a large frying pan fry bacon in olive oil until slightly browned. Place bacon in a large ovenproof casserole.
• Brown the pearl onions and cubed carrots in the same pan; add to casserole.
• Brown the meat in the same pan. Depending on the size of the pan, and if it is not possible to fit all the meat into the pan at one time, do the meat in batches. Store the meat already browned temporarily in a large dish.
• When all the meat has been browned, put it all into the pan with the bacon, onion and carrots.
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of remaining flour mixture into frying pan with oil and mix well while continuing to brown (approximately 5 minutes).
• Add, bit by bit, the red wine marinade including onions, garlic, bay leaves and fresh peppercorns.
• Let this cook down for about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add beef broth and last but not least the tomato paste.
• Add to casserole and mix carefully with bacon, pearl onions and meat.
• Cook for 2 hours, or until tender, in oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

DAVE'S BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 305 degrees F. Yes, 305, not 350.
• Pour wine into small saucepan. Add bay leaf, bring to boil. Boil until reduced by 2/3 - down to about 1 cup. When wine is reduced, add beef stock and heat to simmer. Proceed with recipe while wine is reducing.
• Heat half the oil in a large, oven proof dutch oven, over medium heat. Brown meat in batches, searing on all sides. Do not overcrowd the pan. Remove meat and set aside; heat additional oil and brown remaining meat, with shallots and garlic. Return first batch of meat to pan, season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle flour over meat in pan; cook 4 to 5 minutes over medium heat. Take care flour does not scorch.
• Pour wine and beef stock mixture into pan with meat. Add herbs. Bring to boil. Cover pan and place in preheated oven. Cook for 1 ½ hours.
• Heat butter in large skillet, add pearl onions and cook 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook 4 more minutes. Season to taste. Add mushrooms and onions to stew and continue cooking in oven for 30 more minutes.
• Meanwhile cook polenta, or garlic mashed potatoes and carrots, to serve alongside, if desired.