Good Housekeeping Slow Cooker Beef Food

SLOW COOKER BEEF JOINT RECIPE

Steps:

• Scatter the onions and carrot over the base of the pot of a slow cooker. In a small bowl, stir together both kinds of mustard, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. Rub mixture all over the beef, then put the meat on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker. Pour the stock around the beef. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on low for 3hr for medium meat, 3hr30min for well done meat (see GH Tip).
• Lift the joint on to a board or serving plate and cover with tin foil, allow to rest for 10min.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 3-4min, stirring frequently until bubbling and golden. Strain cooking liquid into jug and discard the vegetables. Add strained liquid to the butter and flour mixture a little at a time, stirring well after each addition. Once 600ml of liquid has been added, bring to the boil and simmer for 3-5min until thickened, whisking constantly. Add more liquid if a thinner gravy is desired. Pour into a serving jug.
• Carve the beef into slices and serve with the gravy and your favourite roast dinner trimmings.

SLOW COOKER BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• In a large bowl toss the beef with some seasoning. Heat 1/2tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and brown the beef well all over - do this in batches, adding more oil as needed. Using a slotted spoon, remove browned beef to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain excess away fat. Once all the beef has been browned, transfer to the slow cooker.
• Heat remaining oil in the same pan and fry the shallots and lardons for 6-7min, stirring occasionally, until golden, then add the garlic and cook for a further min. Stir flour into the pan, making sure everything is evenly coated. Scrape mixture into the slow cooker, then add the wine, stock, carrots and some seasoning and stir together.
• Tie the bay leaves, thyme and parsley in a bundle with kitchen string and add to slow cooker, making sure it is submerged. Cover with lid and cook on low for 7hr, or until the beef is tender.
• Add the button mushrooms and try to make sure they are submerged in the liquid as much as possible. Cover with the lid and continue to cook for 45min-1hr. Remove and discard herb bundle and check seasoning. Sprinkle with extra chopped parsley, if you like, and serve with mashed potato.

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.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF POT ROAST

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a large pan. Dust 1½ kg rolled beef brisket with 2 tbsp plain flour and season well with salt and pepper.
• Put 3 chopped carrots, 3 chopped celery sticks, 2 chopped parsnips, 1 chopped onion and 80g button mushrooms in the bottom of your slow cooker and turn it to Low.
• Sear the beef all over in the hot pan then place it on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
• Add the 2 bay leaves, 2 crushed garlic cloves and 2 tsp English mustard then pour over 500ml red wine and 250ml beef stock. Cover with the lid and cook for 7 hours.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Carefully take the beef out of the slow cooker and place it on a baking tray then roast it in the oven for 20 mins.
• While the beef is in the oven, carefully ladle the cooking liquid out of the slow cooker into a shallow pan. Boil rapidly on a high heat to reduce to a rich gravy.
• Serve the beef sliced with roast potatoes, the softened vegetables, gravy and wilted greens, if you like.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Fry the onion and celery in 1 tbsp oil over a low heat until they start to soften - about 5 mins. Add the carrots, bay and thyme, fry for 2 mins, stir in the purée and Worcestershire sauce, add 600ml boiling water, stir and tip everything into a slow cooker. Crumble over the stock cubes or add the stock pots and stir, then season with pepper (don't add salt as the stock may be salty).
• Clean out the frying pan and fry the beef in the remaining oil in batches until it is well browned, then tip each batch into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hrs, or on high for 4 hrs.
• If you want to thicken the gravy, mix the cornflour with a splash of cold water to make a paste, then stir in 2 tbsp of the liquid from the slow cooker. Tip back into the slow cooker, stir and cook for a further 30 mins on high. Stir in the parsley and season again to taste. Serve with mash, if you like. Leave to cool before freezing.