Mary Berry Beef Carbonnade Food

BEEF CARBONNADE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 150°C/130°C fan/gas 2. Heat a splash of olive oil in a hob-proof casserole (with a lid) and fry the lardons for a few minutes until starting to crisp and release their oil. Add the sliced onions and stir to coat, then fry gently for 10 minutes until softened.
• Meanwhile, heat a splash more oil in a large frying pan. Working in batches, brown the beef all over, then set aside on a plate (see tips). Stir the flour into the onions, then add the beef and any juices, the garlic, tomato purée, mustard, beer, 400ml stock (add a little more if the meat isn't covered), herbs and sugar. Bring up to a simmer, then cover with the lid and cook in the oven for 2½-3 hours until the meat is tender.
• Remove the bay leaves and thyme, then serve with extra mustard, fries and/or crusty bread for mopping up the gravy.

BEEF CARBONNADE WITH VEGETABLES: BELGIAN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• 1. Combine 2 tablespoons flour and smoked paprika in a large bowl; add the beef chunks. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat evenly. Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the oil. Brown the meat, in batches, taking care not to crowd the pan, turning to sear all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes per batch. Transfer the beef with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• 3. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally until just soft, 5 to 7 minutes, adding a few tablespoons water if the pot gets too dark or begins to burn. Add the beer, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in the broth, molasses and thyme.
• 4. Return the beef and any accumulated juices to the pot. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer until the beef is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Add the potatoes, carrots, and parsnips; continue to simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 40 minutes more.
• 5. Stir together the remaining 1 teaspoon flour and melted butter to make a paste. Stir the flour mixture into the stew and simmer until the broth is slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard the thyme sprigs and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. If desired, sprinkle with parsley. Transfer stew to a serving bowl and serve.

STEAK BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Rest the steaks at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon to a large skillet and place over medium heat to cook until crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the bacon to a plate or bowl leaving the fat behind and add in the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cocktail onions and continue to cook until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Peel and mince one clove of garlic and add to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds. Transfer to the plate with the bacon. Increase the heat to medium-high. Dry the steaks with paper towel and rub with olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Add the steaks to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until deeply golden brown and cooked to medium-rare. Use tongs to hold each steak on its side to render the fat cap, about 1 minute. Remove the steaks to a plate or cutting board, tent loosely with aluminum foil and allow them to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, thyme and remaining clove of unpeeled garlic. Cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk together, then add in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute. While whisking, slowly pour in the wine and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to thicken. Add the sugar as well as the mushrooms, onions and bacon into the sauce and continue to simmer until thick and heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm on low.
• Slice the steaks into 1-centimeter (1/2-inch) thick slices and divide between two plates. Spoon the sauce and veg over the steaks and serve topped with some fresh thyme leaves.

CARBONNADE

Steps:

• Gather the marjoram, parsley, bay leaf and thyme in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it into a bundle with kitchen string (alternatively, tie the herbs together with a leek leaf).
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon, garlic and onions and cook until the garlic is soft and the onions translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the pot.
• Increase the heat under the pot to medium-high and add 2 tablespoons of the butter.
• Sprinkle the beef with 2 tablespoons salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Working in batches if necessary, add the beef to the pot and sear until browned on all sides. Reduce the heat to medium and return the bacon, onions and garlic to the pot.
• Add the apple cider vinegar and cook, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon until reduced. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and let melt. Add the flour and cook until everything is coated and there is a nutty aroma.
• Add the beer, mustard and sirop de Liege; stir to combine. Add the bouquet garni. Bring the carbonnade to a simmer and cook until tender, 45 minutes.
• Remove the carbonnade from the heat and let rest for 45 minutes. Remove the bouquet garni, reheat and serve.

CARBONNADE à LA FLAMANDE

Steps:

• Place a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Dry the beef and heat the fat in a 9- to 10-inch ovenproof casserole or pot until almost smoking. Brown the beef quickly on all sides, a few pieces at a time, removing them as they brown. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss to coat and set aside.
• Reduce heat. Stir in onions, adding more fat if necessary. Brown lightly about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in garlic. Set aside. Add stock to the pan and scrape up the brown bits and coagulated juices.
• Arrange half the beef in the pan and spread with half the onions. Repeat with the remaining beef and onions. Add enough beer to cover the meat. Stir in the brown sugar and bury the herb bouquet in the meat. Bring to a simmer, cover and place in the oven. Cook at a slow simmer (check occasionally) for 2 1/2 hours, until meat is tender.
• Remove from the oven and discard the herb bouquet. Remove beef and skim off the fat. Blend the arrowroot with 2 tablespoons vinegar and stir into the liquid. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until thickened. Adjust seasonings. Return meat to the pan, stir and heat through. Serve with noodles.

CARBONNADE FLAMANDE

Steps:

• Marinate the beef overnight in the ale with the garlic and bay leaves. The next day, drain the beef from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Pat the meat dry with kitchen paper and toss it in the seasoned flour until evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour.
• Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a large flameproof casserole until hot. Fry the beef in 3-4 batches for about 5 minutes per batch, stirring occasionally, until it is a rich golden brown all over. You may need to add a little more oil between batches but make sure it is hot again before adding the next batch. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon to a plate and set aside. Don't worry if the bottom of the casserole is starting to brown, this all adds to the flavour of the finished dish.
• Lower the heat to medium and fry the pancetta in the casserole for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden. Scoop the pancetta out with a slotted spoon and set aside with the beef.
• Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/gas 3. Tip the carrots, onions and leek into the casserole and fry, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown - this takes about 12 minutes. Spoon in the tomato purée and continue to cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the beef and pour in the reserved marinade. Bring to a simmer, scraping any sticky bits off the bottom of the pan, then add all the beef stock and bouquet garni to the casserole. Season with salt and pepper and bring everything to the boil. Remove from the heat. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 2 hours, stirring once halfway through. (The carbonnade may now be left to cool and frozen for up to 1 month. Add 100ml/31⁄2 fl oz more stock to the sauce when reheating.) When the beef is ready, taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if you think it needs it. Scatter the chopped parsley over the top and serve straight from the casserole, with creamy mash or jacket potatoes and buttered greens or cabbage.