Scallops Bourguignonne Food

SCALLOPS BOURGUIGNONNE

Steps:

• Poach scallops in red wine to cover, seasoned with salt, thyme, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon chopped shallot, and 1 chopped clove garlic. The scallops will cook very quickly, in a little more than a minute. Do not let them shrink and get tough but scoop them out the minute they are done and arrange them in buttered individual ramekins or shells. Make beurre l'escargot by creaming the butter with the rest of the garlic, 3 finely chopped shallots, and 5 to 6 tablespoons chopped parsley. Top each ramekin of scallops with a good spoonful of the butter and sprinkle with almonds or sesame seeds. Put under broiler flame just long enough to brown well on top. Serve as first course at dinner or a main course at luncheon. With this, drink the same red wine used cooking, perhaps a Fleurie.

SCALLOPS WITH SNAIL-GARLIC BUTTER AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides. Stir in leeks and season with salt. Reduce heat to low and cook leeks, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm, covered.
• Purée remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic, 2 tablespoons parsley, and chopped snails in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper.
• Put 1 scallop in each shell and arrange in a shallow baking pan. (Alternatively, arrange scallops about 1 inch apart in gratin dish.) Season scallops with salt and pepper, then dot each with 1 teaspoon snail-garlic butter. Bake in middle of oven until scallops are just cooked through, about 7 minutes (9 to 11 minutes if using gratin dish).
• Serve scallops topped with leeks and sprinkled with chives and remaining tablespoon parsley.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

Steps:

• Tip 1.6kg braising steak, cut into large chunks, into a large bowl with 3 bay leaves, a small bunch of thyme, 2 bottles cheap red wine and some pepper, then cover and leave in the fridge overnight.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Place a colander over another large bowl and strain the marinated meat, keeping the wine.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan, then brown the meat in batches, transferring to a plate once browned. When all the meat is browned, pour a little wine into the now-empty frying pan and bubble to release any caramelised bits from the pan.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large casserole and fry 3 large or 6 normal carrots, cut into large chunks, and 2 roughly chopped onions until they start to colour. Stir in 3 tbsp plain flour for 1 min, then add 1 tbsp tomato purée.
• Add the beef and any juices, the wine from the frying pan and the rest of the wine and herbs. Season and bring to a simmer. Give everything a good stir, then cover.
• Transfer to the oven and bake for 2 hrs until the meat is really tender. Cool. Will freeze for up to 3 months.
• To serve, defrost completely overnight in the fridge if frozen, then place on a low heat to warm through.
• Meanwhile, heat a small knob of butter in a frying pan and add 300g bacon lardons and 500g peeled pearl onions or small shallots. Sizzle for about 10 mins until the bacon starts to crisp and the onions soften and colour.
• Add 400g halved mushrooms and fry for another 5 mins, then stir everything into the stew and heat for 10 mins more. Serve scattered with chopped parsley.