Polenta Beef Stew Food

SLOW-COOKER BEEF AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Toss the beef with the Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the mushrooms and garlic in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker; top with the beef. Add the pepperoncini, brine, tomatoes and beef broth. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender, 8 hours.
• Uncover the slow cooker and let stand 5 minutes. Spoon off any fat from the top and discard. Shred the beef with 2 forks.
• Meanwhile, cook the polenta as the label directs. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and butter until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and top with the beef mixture.

SPEZZATINO DI MANZO CON LA POLENTA (BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA)

Steps:

• Pour a generous amount of olive oil (or a mixture of butter and oil) into a sauté or braising pan. Add the onion, carrot and celery and sauté very gently until the vegetables are very soft and the onion translucent. Adding a pinch of salt and a spoonful of water helps the vegetables cook and avoids browning.
• Now add the beef cubes and turn them with a wooden spoon or spatula so they are nicely coated with the vegetables and flavored oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Raise the heat a bit and let the beef brown very lightly, turning constantly to avoid burning.
• Now add a splash of wine and let it evaporate. Then add enough broth to almost cover the meat and, if using, nestle your fresh herbs among the beef cubes. (NB: Most Italian recipes call for much less broth than this, but this way will give you abundant sauce for pouring your polenta: see Notes below.)
• Cover, turn down the flame as low as it will go, and let the beef simmer very gently until fork-tender. Most recipes say an hour and a half, but I find two to three hours is more like it.
• When the meat is tender, uncover and check the consistency of the sauce. If it is rather thin, you can either raise the heat and let it evaporate and/or add a spoonful of corn or potato starch, dissolved in an equal amount of water, to thicken the sauce. If, on the other hand, you want more sauce, then just add more broth or water and let it simmer, uncovered, for a few minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
• Remove the fresh herbs, if used, and serve your Italian beef stew over a nice, hot bed of freshly made polenta (see recipe here).

TUSCAN BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• For the stew: In heavy, large saucepan over moderately-high heat, heat 3 tablespoons oil until hot, but not smoking. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and saute, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the beef and saute, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme, stir well, and bring to boil.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then lower heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• For the polenta: While the beef is simmering, make the polenta. Pour the olive oil into a large serving bowl and swirl to coat. Set aside.
• In heavy, large pot over moderately-high heat, bring stock to a boil. Lower the heat to moderate and gradually whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, about 5 minutes. Transfer the polenta to an oil-coated serving bowl and keep warm. Let the polenta sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it can set up.
• When the beef is tender, use tongs to remove the tomato skins, if desired and the thyme sprigs.
• Turn the polenta out of the bowl, slice, and serve alongside the stew.

POLENTA MEAT STEW

Steps:

• Trim fat from meat and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• In a plastic bag combine flour, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Add meat pieces a few at a time, shaking to coat. Place meat in a 3 1/2-4 quart slow cooker. Add carrots, onions, garlic and rosemary. Stir in water, broth and wine.
• Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high.
• Stir in fresh rosemary, parsley and tomato paste. Serve with a spoonful of polenta in each bowl.
• Just prior to serving prepare polenta by bringing milk to simmer. In a bowl combine, cornmeal, water and salt. Slowly add to the warm milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boiling. Reduce heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally. (I sometimes add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and a tablespoon of butter at this point.).

POLENTA BEEF STEW

Steps:

• STEW:.
• Place flour, garlic powder, thyme, basil, salt, and pepper in a plastic bag.
• Add meat pieces, a few at a time, shaking to coat.
• In a Dutch oven brown meat, half at a time, in hot oil; drain fat. Return all meat to Dutch oven; add chopped onion, dried rosemary (if using), and garlic.
• Cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in broth and wine.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1-1/2 hours.
• Stir in boiling onions and carrots.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, about 30 minutes more or until meat and vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, prepare Polenta.
• Just before serving, stir parsley, tomato paste, and the 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, if using, into stew.
• Serve stew with Polenta. If desired, garnish with rosemary sprigs.
• Makes about 7 cups.
• POLENTA:.
• In a large saucepan bring 3 cups milk just to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium bowl combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup water, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Stir cornmeal mixture slowly into hot milk. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture is very thick, stirring occasionally.
• (If mixture is too thick, stir in additional milk).
• Stir in 2 tablespoons butter or margarine until melted.

ITALIAN BEEF STEW (SPEZZATINO DI MANZO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300f and make room on the middle rack for a large Dutch oven. Heat a large Dutch oven to medium-low heat, then add the olive oil, carrots, celery, and onion. Cook for 5 minutes then add the mushrooms, turn heat to medium, and continue to cook stirring frequently.
• While the veggies are sauteing, pat the chuck roast cubes dry. Once the mushrooms release their water and most of it has evaporated from the pot, season the beef cubes with salt and pepper and add to the pot.
• Coat the beef with the veggies and oil. Let the beef cook for 5-10 minutes (it won't develop much color). Next, turn heat to medium-high and add the wine and cook for 5-7 minutes or until it mostly evaporates and absorbs into the beef. Using a wooden spoon scrape up all of the brown bits while the beef is cooking.
• Add the beef stock, rosemary, and bay leaf and stir it all together. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 hours or until tender. For the last 30-45 minutes braise with no lid to thicken the sauce and add a bit of color to the meat.
• Once the beef is tender remove the pot from the oven. If there is too much liquid in the pot use a slurry of cornstarch (see notes) to thicken or cook over medium heat on the stovetop to thicken and reduce the liquid. Once satisfied with the consistency, taste test and make final adjustments to salt and pepper. Serve with crusty bread or with polenta or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

TUSCAN BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Make stew
• In heavy, large saucepan over moderately high heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add beef and sauté, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme, stir well, and bring to boil. Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then lower heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, until beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• While beef is simmering, make polenta
• Pour olive oil into large serving bowl and swirl to coat. Set aside.
• In heavy, large pot over moderately high heat, bring stock to boil. Lower heat to moderate and slowly add polenta, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, about 10 minutes. Transfer to oil-coated serving bowl and keep warm.
• Serve
• When beef is tender, use tongs to remove tomato skins (if desired) and thyme sprigs. Transfer stew to large serving bowl. Serve polenta alongside.