French Style Boeuf Bourguignon Cottage Shepherds Pie Food

BEEF BOURGUIGNON COTTAGE PIE

Steps:

• (Up to a month ahead) heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the bacon lardons over a high heat for several mins until well coloured. Using a slotted spoon, remove from the pan, drain on kitchen paper and set aside. Season the beef, then fry in the fat left in the pan. Once coloured, add all the remaining ingredients for the beef, except the cornfl our and bacon, and bring to a simmer. Partly cover the pan with a lid and continue to cook for a further 2-2½ hrs or until the beef is tender.
• Once cooked, tip everything into a colander set over another pan so you can catch the sauce. Tip the contents of the colander into a large pie dish, about 28cm x 23cm x 5cm. Re-boil the sauce and check for seasoning. Thicken with the loosened cornfl our, adding a little at a time and stirring until you have the desired coating consistency. Spoon enough sauce over the beef to barely cover and loosen it, then stir. Remaining sauce can be frozen, ready to re-heat and offer separately on the day.
• While the beef is cooling, make the mash. Boil the potatoes until tender, 15-20 mins, depending on size. Drain off the water and replace the lid. Shake the pan to break up the boiled potatoes. Add butter and milk a little at a time while mashing. Season.
• Spoon and spread the mashed potatoes on top of the cooled beef. Once covered, the mash can be marked with a spoon, palette knife or fork for a more interesting fi nish (see Gary's tip, left). When cold, the cottage pie is ready to cover and freeze.
• The day before serving, transfer the pie to the fridge to defrost overnight. (Or reheat from frozen on the day, see below.)
• On the day, reheat the pie. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. If thawed, bake for 50 mins-1 hr, or until heated through, then increase heat to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 for the fi nal 10 mins for a golden brown topping. If cooking from frozen, cover with foil, then bake for 1¼ hrs; remove foil and bake uncovered for 1¼ hrs more, then increase heat as above for the last 10 mins.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON COTTAGE PIE (OAMC)

Steps:

• (Up to a month ahead) heat the oil in a large pan. Fry the bacon lardons over a high heat for several mins until well coloured. Using a slotted spoon, remove from the pan, drain on kitchen paper and set aside.
• Season the beef, then fry in the fat left in the pan. Once coloured, add all the remaining ingredients for the beef, except the cornstarch and bacon, and bring to a simmer. Partly cover the pan with a lid and continue to cook for a further 2-2½ hrs or until the beef is tender.
• Once cooked, tip everything into a colander set over another pan so you can catch the sauce. Tip the contents of the colander into a large pie dish, about 11in x 9in x 2in.
• Re-boil the sauce and check for seasoning. Thicken with the loosened cornstarch, adding a little at a time and stirring until you have the desired coating consistency. Spoon enough sauce over the beef to barely cover and loosen it, then stir. Remaining sauce can be frozen, ready to re-heat and offer separately on the day.
• While the beef is cooling, make the mash. Boil the potatoes until tender, 15-20 mins, depending on size. Drain off the water and replace the lid. Shake the pan to break up the boiled potatoes. Add butter and milk a little at a time while mashing. Season.
• Spoon and spread the mashed potatoes on top of the cooled beef. Once covered, the mash can be marked with a spoon, palette knife or fork for a more interesting finish. When cold, the cottage pie is ready to cover and freeze.
• The day before serving, transfer the pie to the fridge to defrost overnight. (Or reheat from frozen on the day, see below.)
• On the day, reheat the pie. Heat oven to 350°F If thawed, bake for 50 mins-1 hr, or until heated through, then increase heat to 400F for the final 10 mins for a golden brown topping.
• If cooking from frozen, cover with foil, then bake for 1¼ hrs; remove foil and bake uncovered for 1¼ hrs more, then increase heat as above for the last 10 minutes.

BOEUF EN DAUBE - CLASSIC FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY STEW (BOURGUIGNON)

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine beef, Cognac, cloves, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, sage, thyme, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, orange peel, wine, and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days, stirring from time to time.
• Bring the meat and vegetables to room temperature. Drain, reserving the marinade.
• Blot the beef and veggies dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 325F/175°C.
• In a large heavy oven proof dish (such as a cast iron dutch oven or Le Creuset), fry the bacon over medium heat until it renders its fat, about 3-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to paper towels and reserve.
• Working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, add the meat and vegetables to the fat in the pan, and brown them on all sides over medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper as they brown, about 7 minutes per batch.
• Transfer to a platter. Add the marinade to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-third, about 8 minutes. Skim off the foam from the surface. Add the stock or consomme, and simmer another 8 minutes, until reduced again by one-third. Stir in the pinch of sugar and the tomato paste, (and add the diced tomatoes and green olives now, if using).
• Return the meat, vegetables and reserved bacon to the pot. Cover and bake in the oven until the meat is tender, 2 1/2-3 hours. -OR- alternately, at this stage you can cook in the crock-pot on LOW heat 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH heat 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve with a rustic bread for mopping the juices, along with a green salad and a platter of cheeses.
• Freezes and reheats beautifully. Leftovers will make a lovely Cottage-Shepherd's Pie a la Provencale, see my recipe #355446.

HACHIS PARMENTIER - FRENCH PROVENCALE STYLE SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Butter a large baking dish.
• Spread the beef stew evenly in the bottom of the buttered dish.
• Into hot mashed potatoes stir butter, creme fraiche/sour cream, Dijon mustard, pinch of nutmeg, and salt & pepper to taste; beat well to combine.
• Spread mashed potatoes mixture evenly over the stew.
• Use a spatula or the tines of a fork to roughen the top of the potatoes, for good browning.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and a pinch of garlic powder.
• Arrange the olives and sliced tomatoes attractively over the top & drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake at 375F for 25-35 minutes until hot, golden brown and bubbling!
• Garnish with snipped parsley and serve with a green salad or vegetable of your choice, and a crusty baguette. Enjoy!

BœUF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• 1. Laisser tempérer la viande de 60 à 90 minutes avant de la cuisiner. Bien l'essuyer avec du papier absorbant, puis l'assaisonner. 2. Mélanger la cuillère à soupe de beurre avec la cuillère à soupe de farine (beurre manié). Réserver. 3. À l'aide d'une ficelle, lier le bouquet garni (le céleri, le thym, le persil, le laurier). Réserver. 4. Faire fondre le 1/4 tasse de beurre dans une cocotte et faire dorer les cubes de boeuf sur tous les côtés. Ne pas ajouter trop de cubes à la fois afin d'obtenir une belle coloration. Réserver. 5. Verser un filet d'huile dans la même cocotte et ajouter le lard et l'oignon haché. Faire revenir de 2 à 3 minutes. Ajouter l'ail et cuire 1 minute de plus. 6. Déglacer avec le vin rouge et laisser mijoter pendant 5 minutes. 7. Ajouter le beurre manié et la pâte de tomate, puis fouetter afin de défaire les grumeaux. 8. Remettre la viande dans la cocotte, puis jouter le bouquet garni et les carottes. Assaisonner. 9. Couvrir et enfourner dans un four préchauffé à 325°F (160°C) pendant 2 h 30. Ajouter les champignons et les oignons perlés, puis poursuivre la cuisson encore 30 minutes.