Red Wine Braised Italian Spiced Beef Food

BRAISED BEEF IN RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Season beef (lightly if using salted broth).
• Heat oil in large Dutch oven over high heat.
• Add beef and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer beef to platter; reduce heat to medium.
• Add onion and bacon to pot.
• Sauté until onion is golden, about 8 minutes.
• Mix in tomato paste, bay leaves, cloves and rosemary.
• Add wine.
• Return meat and any juices.
• Cover and simmer 30 minutes, turning meat once.
• M ix stock and tomatoes into sauce.
• Cover and simmer gently until meat is tender, turning occasionally, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
• Transfer beef to platter.
• Cover with foil to keep warm.
• Strain sauce through fine sieve, pressing on solids.
• Degrease sauce.
• Return sauce to pot.
• Boil until reduced to 2 cups, about 1 hour.
• Add any beef juices from platter.
• Cut beef across grain into 1/3 inch slices (can be prepared 1 day ahead. Rewarm gently before serving).
• Arrange meat slices on a platter lined with pan-fried polenta and spoon sauce over.
• Serve sautéed spinach alongside.

BEEF BRAISED WITH RED WINE AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Combine porcini mushrooms and 1 cup boiling water in a small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Drain mushrooms through a sieve into a bowl, reserving liquid. Chop mushrooms, set aside.
• Sprinkle beef with sapt and pepper. Heat oil to med high in a large dutch oven. Add 1/2 the beef to pan, saute 5 minutes or until lightly browned on all sides. Remove beef from pan with a slotted spoon, place in a bowl. Repeat with remaining beef.
• Add onions to pan, saute 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add cremini or button mushrooms and carrot. Saute 3 minutes until mushrooms are tender. Add beef, porcini mushrooms and liquid, some salt and pepper, broth and next 4 ingredients (through bay leaves). bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat.
• Simmer 1 1/2 hours until beef is tender, uncover for an additional 20 minutes.
• Combine 1 tbs water and cornstarch in a small bowl, add to pan. Bring to a boil until liquid thickens. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves.

RED WINE BRAISED BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat.
• Season shanks all over with the Bayou Blast (see NOTE) and brown in Dutch oven about 3 to 4 minutes per side (if using a pressure cooker, you can use a large skillet for the next couple of steps); remove to a plate.
• Add onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to Dutch oven (or skillet) and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary; cook 2 minutes.
• Add red wine and stir well, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits that have stuck (if using the pressure cooker, pour everything in the skillet into the pressure cooker at this time).
• Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper; stir well to combine.
• Return shanks, and any accumulated juices, to the Dutch oven or pressure cooker; cover and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 5 hours in the Dutch oven, stirring occasionally (1 1/2 hours in the pressure cooker).
• Taste and adjust seasonings and serve.
• NOTE: Emeril gives this recipe for his creole Essence: 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons salt, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme (Bayou Blast lists the following ingredients: salt, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, mustard powder, fresh lemon peel, and other spices).

BEEF BRAISED IN RED WINE

Steps:

• Put beef, wine, onion, thyme, bay leaf, parsley sprigs, and carrot in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal bag, pressing out excess air, and put in a bowl. Marinate beef, chilled, 16 to 24 hours.
• Drain beef in a colander set over a large bowl, reserving marinade. Wipe off any solids clinging to beef, then pat beef dry. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Heat oil in a 3 1/2- to 4-quart heavy ovenproof pot with lid over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown beef well in 2 batches, without crowding, about 8 minutes per batch, transferring as browned with a slotted spoon to a plate.
• Reduce heat to moderate, then add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring, until shallot begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until shallot and flour are browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add reserved marinade liquid to flour mixture, stirring and scraping up brown bits. Add beef along with any juices accumulated on plate and cover with a round of parchment paper and lid. Simmer mixture while you prepare bacon.
• Cut bacon slices crosswise into 1/4-inch strips and cook in an 8-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is beginning to crisp. Transfer bacon with slotted spoon to beef (reserve fat in skillet). Re-cover beef with parchment and lid and braise in oven, 1 1/2 hours.
• While meat is braising, blanch pearl onions in a 3- to 4-quart pot of boiling water, 1 minute. Drain onions in a colander, then peel, leaving root ends intact. Cook onions in reserved bacon fat in skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Pour off excess fat, then add 1/4 cup water and scrape up brown bits with a wooden spoon or spatula.
• After meat has braised 1 1/2 hours, add pearl onions (with liquid in skillet), remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to beef and continue to braise, covered with parchment and lid, until onions are tender and meat is very tender, about 1/2 hour more.
• Skim any fat from surface of beef and serve beef with buttered egg noodles sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley leaves.

RED WINE BRAISED CENTER-CUT BEEF SHANKS

Steps:

• In a braising pan heat 3-tablespoons olive oil, onions, carrots and saute until tender. Add garlic and saute for a minute.
• In a bowl add olive oil, sea salt, black pepper and wisk. Toss beef shanks one at a time in oil.
• Place 2 beef-shanks in braising pan and sear on both sides, remove from pan and set aside. Sear remaining beef shanks and place all beef- shanks into the pan.
• Add 1/2 cup Merlot wine and reduce wine by one-half.
• Add beef stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, bring to a full boil and reduce to simmer.
• Place fresh herbs, juniper berries, peppercorns in cheesecloth, tie with string and place in pan. Place a tight fitting lid over pan and braise 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is tender.
• Remove beef-shanks and hold warm. Strain beef stock and cook egg noodles in beef stock until tender.
• Divide noodles into warm bowls and place 1 Center-Cut Beef Shank on top. Add beef broth and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
• Chef's Note: Use a good quality Repertoire Wine2006 2006; Harmony Cellars, Paso Robles, Calif.

BRAISED BEEF IN RED WINE

Steps:

• A day ahead, marinate the beef. Bring the wine to the boil in a large saucepan, then boil until reduced by a third to remove the alcohol (takes about 8-10 mins). Leave to cool for about 1 hr. Mix the beef steaks, carrots, celery, baby onions, garlic, crushed peppercorns and bouquet garni together in 1 or 2 large bowls, then pour the cooled red wine over them. Cover with cling film, put in the fridge and leave to marinate for 24 hrs.
• The next day, place a large colander over a large bowl and tip in the beef mixture to drain off the marinade. Leave for at least 1 hr to remove excess liquid.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Sprinkle the flour on a baking sheet and cook for 8-10 mins until it has turned pale brown. Set aside. Reduce oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
• Separate the beef, vegetables and herbs and pat dry with kitchen paper. Reserve the marinade liquid. Season the beef with 4 pinches of salt. In a large, heavy-based casserole over a high heat, warm the clarified butter, then colour the beef steaks in it for 5-7 mins on each side - in batches if necessary. (To clarify butter, warm it gently in a small pan. The white milk solids will sink to the bottom, then you can carefully pour off the clear, clarified butter.) With a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a plate and set aside. Add the drained vegetables to the casserole. Lower the heat to medium-high and cook for 5 mins until lightly coloured, stirring occasionally.
• Tip the toasted flour into the casserole and stir for a few secs. Pour in the marinade wine little by little, stirring constantly to incorporate it into the flour and until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Add the beef and herbs, bring the sauce to the boil and skim if necessary. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 3 hrs.
• To finish the sauce, place a colander (big enough to hold the meat and veg) over a large saucepan and drain off the cooking liquor from the casserole. Put the saucepan on a high heat and boil until the sauce has reduced by about half to make a lightly coating sauce. Skim if necessary. Taste the sauce. Do not add any salt as you will be adding the smoked ham or lardons later. Return the beef and vegetables to the casserole, then pour over the sauce (discarding the herbs).
• For the garnish, heat the butter over a high heat in a large non-stick frying pan, then fry the mushrooms until lightly caramelised, adding a little more butter if necessary. Season to taste. Mix into the beef with the finely sliced ham or freshly fried lardons. Heat through, sprinkle with the parsley and serve piping hot.

RED WINE-BRAISED ITALIAN-SPICED BEEF

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 325F. Combine fennel seeds, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in small cup, rub over beef. Heat large nonreactive Dutch oven over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil, heat until hot. Brown beef 5-6 minute, turning to brown on all sides. 2. Add onions to Dutch oven, cook over medium heat 3-4 minutes or until slightly softened, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high, add red wine. Bring to boil, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Boil 1 minute, stir in tomato sauce. Return beef and any accumulated juices to pan; stir in bell peppers. Place round of parchment paper directly on beef and wine mixture. Cover; bring to a boil. 3. Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until beef is tender. Remove beef, cover loosely with foil. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, skim off and discard any fat that rises to the top of the cooking liquid. To thicken pan juices, bring to a boil over high heat; boil 3-5 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Serve beef with pan juices, sprinkle with parsley.