Delia Smith Beef Casserole Food

BEEF AND TOMATO STEW

Steps:

• First trim the meat, then cut into 2.5-4cm cubes. Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole and fry the meat over a fairly high heat until the cubes are nicely browned. Now add the chopped onions and garlic to the pan, turn the heat down a bit and continue to cook for a further 10 minutes, or until the onions are softened. Next add the tomatoes to the casserole with the Herbes de Provence and some seasoning. Stir well, cover the casserole and transfer to the oven to cook slowly for about 2-2½ hours, or until the meat is tender. Then taste and sprinkle in the sugar, and additional seasoning if necessary. This is delicious served with buttered noodles.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Bring 1¼ tablespoons of the oil to sizzling point in the casserole or pan and sear the beef, a few pieces at a time, to a rich, dark brown on all sides. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a plate as it browns. Next add the sliced onion to the casserole and brown that a little too. Now return the meat to the casserole or pan and sprinkle in the flour, stirring round to soak up all the juices. Then gradually pour in the Burgundy, again stirring all the time. Add the chopped garlic, herbs and seasoning, put the lid on and cook very gently on top of the stove (if the heat is not low enough, use a diffuser). Or transfer to the oven - either way it will take 2 hours. Then, using a bit more olive oil, fry the shallots and bacon in a small frying pan to colour them lightly. Add to the casserole, together with the mushrooms, then put the lid on and cook for a further hour. The French accompaniment of potatoes boulangères and green salad would be good with this, or else tiny new potatoes and ratatouille.

BEEF IN RED WINE WITH MELTING ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. In a large, heavy-based flameproof casserole dish with a lid, melt the butter over a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, cook for 10 mins until starting to brown, then transfer to a small plate.
• Put the flour in a large plastic food bag with plenty of black pepper. Add half the beef, shake to coat, then remove, leaving some flour in the bag. Add the rest of the beef and shake to coat in the remaining flour.
• Heat the oil in the same casserole dish you cooked the onions in (there's no need to clean it first). Add the beef and bay leaves, and fry until the meat is browned all over. Pour in the wine and return the onions to the dish. Add the tomato purée and stock, stir and return to a simmer. Cover with the lid and put in the oven to stew for 1 hr.
• After 1 hr, add the mushrooms and return to the oven for another hour. Taste the meat - if it's tender, remove from the oven. If it's still a little firm, cook for 30 mins more and test again. Serve scattered with parsley, if you like.

BEEF IN BEER

Steps:

• pre-heat the oven to 180c, 350F, gas mark 4. Cut the steak into large cubes (leave all fat as this will melt in cooking). and slice onions.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large casserole and cook the meat over a high heat for 10 minutes until browned and sealed.
• Remove steak and add onions, fry onions until they are transparent and then add the flour stiring allowing the flour to absorb the fat.
• return the meat to the casserole dish and add the beer, mustard, and bay leaf. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 hours or until tender and sauce has reduced and thickened. You can leave this in the oven for longer if you wish, or cook the day before and reheat.
• you can add a teaspoon of suger at step four if the beer you are using is quite bitter.

BOEUF EN DAUBE - FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY IN THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Marinade the beef with the herbs, shallots & garlic over night in the bottle of red wine.
• Drain and put the wine to one side.
• In a large skillet or fryng pan, sear & brown the beef pieces over a high heat in the olive oil until nutty & brown. Do not overcrowd the pan!
• Place browned beef into the crock pot or cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish.
• Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy & golden brown. Drain & add to the beef.
• Brown the shallots & garlic in the bacon fat & add to the beef & bacon.
• Add all the other ingredients, except the cornflour, to the crock pot including the reserved wine.
• (Add the tinned tomatoes & sun dried tomatoes at this stage too if you are using them.).
• Cook on automatic or High for 4 hours and Low for up to 6 hours.
• (For conventional cooking - pre-heat oven to 175 degs C or 325 degs F or gas mark 3 and cook SLOWLY for approximately 4 to 6 hours; check towards the end, the meat should be extemely tender - you MUST not be tempted to cook it quicker, it will be tough!).
• Towards the end, blend & mix the cornflour with a couple of spoons of the stock in the crock pot & add to the beef, stirring well. It should not be TOO thick but just like a glaze or thickened jus. Add the cognac at this stage as well - sirring into the daube.
• Serve with Green Beans, Mashed, Steamed or Pureed Potatoes during the colder months OR with a selection of salads, crusty French bread & Pasta during the warmer months. The excess sauce can be used or saved as a fantastic gravy or stock later!
• THIS IS BETTER MADE 24 HOURS BEFORE EATING!
• Freezes beautifully - I always make a large batch and then freeze some.
• NOTE:If you cannot buy sun dried orange peel, make your own, it's VERY easy! Peel some oranges with a swivel head vegetable peeler or parer, be careful not to peel the pith. Spread outside on a rack in the full sun and leave to dry for about 2-4 hours. Weather permitting of course - otherwise dry in an airing cupboard or a very LOW oven overnight.Store in an airtight jar for up to 2 years.
• If you are really stuck - just grate some fresh orange peel into the daube, it will not have the same intensity as dried peel, but it will work!

BEEF BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Trim any fat from the meat and cut into bite-sized pieces, in a large zip lock bag place flour and meat coating all the meat really well with the flour.
• In a large skillet brown the beef in the hot oil, browning on all sides, remove meat and set aside.
• Add onion and garlic to skillet beef drippings and cook until onion is translucent.
• In a large dutch oven or soup pot add the meat, onions, garlic, beef broth and pearl barley, cover and simmer on medium low heat for 45 minutes.
• Next add the fresh ground pepper, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, carrots, potatoes, tin tomatoes and celery, simmer until meat is very tender, about another 40-45 minutes.