Mary Berry Steak And Ale Stew Food

BEEF AND ALE STEW WITH HORSERADISH SPIRAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• You will need a 4-litre (7-pint) deep flameproof and ovenproof casserole dish with a lid. Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/Gas 3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in the casserole dish, add the beef and brown all over on a high heat - you will need to do this in batches, removing the meat with a slotted spoon as it is cooked and setting aside. Pour in a little more oil if needed and add the shallots with the carrots and mushrooms. Stir-fry over a high heat for 4-5 minutes. Measure the flour into a bowl and gradually whisk in the ale, slowly at first to make a smooth paste before adding the rest of the ale. Return the meat to the casserole dish, then pour in the flour mixture and the stock. Stir over a high heat until the liquid is thickened and bubbling. Add the onion marmalade/chutney, Worcestershire sauce, gravy browning (if using) and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper, then stir as you bring back up to the boil and allow to bubble for a couple of minutes. Cover with the lid and transfer to the oven to cook for 2-2½ hours or until the meat is tender. To make the dumplings, measure the flour and suet into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gradually stir in 125-150ml (4-5fl oz) of water to make a soft, sticky dough (see tip). Transfer to a floured work surface and gently knead until smooth. Sprinkle flour on to a sheet of baking paper, sit the dough on top and roll into a rectangle about 15 x 25cm (6 x 10in). Spread the top with the horseradish sauce and scatter with the parsley. Roll up the dough into a Swiss roll, working from the long side and using the baking paper to help. Chill in the fridge for 45 minutes and slice into eight using a serrated knife (see tip). When the meat is tender, remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7. Remove the lid from the casserole and arrange the dumplings, spiral side up and spaced apart, on top of the stew. Return to the oven and cook, uncovered, for about 25 minutes or until the dumplings are golden and puffed up. Remove the bay leaves and serve piping hot with buttered cabbage. Prepare ahead: The stew can be made up to a day ahead and reheated with the freshly made dumplings on top. Bring to the boil on the hob before putting into the hot oven. Freeze: Freezes well without the dumplings. The raw dumpling roulade can be frozen. Defrost, then slice as in step 7 and place on top when reheating the stew. Mary's Everyday Tips: Cut up the beef into pieces that are all the same size so they cook at the same rate. A wetter dough is better as it will be less tough when cooked. A serrated knife will help when slicing the dumplings to prevent squashing the dough and losing the spiral effect.

MARY BERRY'S BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan and fry the meat over high heat until browned all over. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3.
• Add the butter and leeks to the unwashed pan, and fry for a few minutes. Sprinkle in the ginger, paprika and flour, stir and cook for a minute. Stir in the stock and bring to the boil, stirring until thickened. Add Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Return the meat to the pan, bring to the boil, cover with a lid and simmer for a few minutes.
• Transfer to the oven and cook for about 1¾-2 hours. After this time, stir in the celeriac, bring back to the boil for a few minutes then return to the oven for about 30 minutes, until the meat and celeriac are tender.
• Stir in the horseradish cream, sprinkle with parsley and serve at once.

NEXT LEVEL STEAK & ALE PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large casserole dish and gently fry the bacon for 5 mins until lightly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same pan, brown the beef well in batches for 5-8 mins, adding a drizzle more oil if you need to, then set aside.
• Add the onions and carrots to the pan and cook on a low heat for 5 mins. Stir in the flour, then add the tomato purée, vinegar and miso, if using. Tip the beef and bacon, along with any juices, back into the pan and give it all a good stir. Pour in the ale and stock, and nestle in the thyme stalks and bay. Season generously and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for about 2 hrs or until the meat is really tender. Leave everything to cool slightly, then strain off about half the braising liquid into another container. Leave to cool completely. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept chilled in the fridge - the pie will be better if the filling is fridge-cold when added. Can also be frozen for up to three months.
• To make the pastry, mix the flour, mustard powder, lard and butter with a generous pinch of sea salt until completely combined, then gradually add up to 250ml ice-cold water to make a soft dough. This can be done in a food processor if you prefer. Knead the thyme leaves into the pastry, then cover and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 1 hr. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept chilled, or frozen for up to a month.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and put a baking tray in the oven. Heavily butter a 26-28cm pie dish and dust well with flour. Cut off a third of the pastry and set aside. Roll out the remaining pastry to a thick round that will easily line the pie dish with an overhang, then line the tin. Tip in the beef mixture. You want the filling to be slightly higher than the rim of the dish. Brush the edges with egg yolk. Roll out the remaining pastry to a thick round, big enough to cover the pie, then lift onto the pie dish. Trim the edges, crimp together, then re-roll the trimmings and cut into decorative shapes, such as leaves. Brush the top with more yolk. Make a hole in the centre of the pie with a knife, and put it on the hot baking tray.
• Bake for 20 mins, remove, brush again with yolk, scatter with sea salt and bake for 20-25 mins until golden. Leave to rest for 10 mins while you heat up the extra gravy.