Michael Symon Beef Stew Food

BURGER AND BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Heat a large soup pot over medium heat and add the oil. When hot, add the meat and cook, without stirring, until the meat is starting to brown on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Break it up with a wooden spoon, then add the onions and mushrooms and cook until starting to soften, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots, barley and dried herbs. Add the stock or water and bring to simmer. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed. Continue to simmer until the barley is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of barley--pearled or hulled--or variety of grain you use. (If you are using cubed stew meat, you'll need to cook until the meat is tender, which may take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.)

FEEL GOOD SWEET POTATO STEW

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the oil. When hot, add the garlic and onions and cook until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, turmeric, coriander and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, beans, coconut milk, vegetable stock and nuts and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender and the liquid thickens, 20 to 30 minutes. Taste and season with salt if needed.
• Serve the stew in bowls with lime wedges for squeezing. Garnish with cilantro and hot sauce if using.

SHORT RIB STROGANOFF

Steps:

• Season the meat with the paprika and some salt and pepper. Heat a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and add the oil. When hot, add the meat and cook until brown on both sides. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• Add the mushrooms and cook until brown, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, an additional 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook the roux, stirring, for a couple minutes. Whisk in the red wine and bring to a simmer. Add the stock and milk, whisking to remove any lumps. Place the ribs back in the pot and simmer until the meat is tender, about 2 hours. (Alternatively, cook in the oven at 275 degree F until tender.)
• When you are ready to serve, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt liberally. Add the pasta, give it a stir and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Remove the stroganoff from the heat, mix in the sour cream, pickles and parsley if using and serve with the pasta.

PICK A MEAT CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a large pot over medium heat. Mix together the coriander, paprika, cumin, cayenne and some salt and pepper in a small bowl and toss with the cubed meat, ground meat or eggplant.
• Add the oil to the pot and when hot, add the meat or eggplant and cook, turning as necessary, until brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and jalapeno and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add the beer and water and deglaze the pot, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the tomato and chipotle if using, bring to a simmer and simmer until the meat is tender, 1 to 1 ½ hours. (The cooking time will be less for ground meat, chicken and eggplant.)
• Add the beans and continue to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to thicken. (If using pre-soaked dried beans, the cooking time may be longer.) Serve the chili garnished with your favorite toppers on hand.

SWEET POTATO STEW

Steps:

• Place a saucepot over medium-high heat and add the coconut oil. Add the sweet potatoes with a pinch of salt and cook until they begin to brown and soften, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and then add the onions, poblano, garlic, coriander, chili flakes and ginger. Cook until the onions soften and the mixture is very fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the vegetable stock, coconut milk and chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are completely tender and the liquid has reduced slightly and has thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and serve with a squeeze of lime on top.

BEEF BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Place a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the meat and a large pinch of salt and cook, breaking up any lumps, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, celery, carrots, onions and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste and toast it until it looks rusty, a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the milk and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until the sauce has thickened and all the liquid is reduced, at least 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme bundle.
• Before serving, stir in some freshly grated Parmesan. To serve, grate more Parmesan over top.

ITALIAN BRAISED BEEF WITH ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• For Yia Yia's Sunday sauce: Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan or large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the beef bones. Add the onions and cook until translucent, 2 minutes. Add the salt and garlic and cook until everything is soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Squeeze the tomatoes one by one into the pan, pulverizing them by hand, and pour in their juice, too. Add the wine, oregano, red pepper flakes, if using, black pepper and bay leaf. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to its lowest possible setting, and continue to cook for 8 hours. The sauce should reduce by about one-third. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. Remove the bones and bay leaf. Set aside 2 cups. If not using the remaining sauce right away, let it cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months. Yield: 8 cups.
• For the braised beef with root vegetables: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Sprinkle the meat liberally with salt and pepper as much as 1 day in advance. (Cover and refrigerate it if doing so and take the meat out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.) Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. When the oil is on the verge of smoking, sear the meat for about 2 minutes per side. Move the meat to the side (or remove it from the pot altogether if necessary), and add the carrots, celery root and onions. Brown the vegetables for about 3 minutes, and then add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Pour in the wine and deglaze the pot, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Add Yia Yia's Sunday Sauce, 1 cup water and the bay leaves (and the pot roast if you removed it). Bring the liquid to a simmer and taste for seasoning. Add more salt if necessary. Cover the pot and place it in the oven for 3 hours, basting the meat occasionally during cooking time. When almost ready to serve, make the rigatoni, if using. Boil in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Discard the bay leaves before serving. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and slice into bite-size pieces, or shred with 2 forks. Return the meat to the pot of sauce along with the drained rigatoni. Toss to coat, and serve.

MICHAEL SYMON'S RED WINE BRAISED BRISKET

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over high heat until smoking. Season the meat liberally with salt and pepper. Sear in the pan for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove once dark golden brown and set aside.
• Add the onions, carrot, celery and garlic and cook until the vegetables are starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Reduce by half, about 3 to 5 minutes, then add the beef stock.
• Add the brisket back in, along with the thyme and bay leaf, and bring up to a simmer. Place a lid on the pot and cook at a low temperature for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is fork tender. Serve the brisket with the sauce and vegetables.