Southwestern Braised Beef Food

BRAISED BEEF WITH GRAVY-LIKE SAUCE AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Start preheating the oven to 350F.
• If you like garlic and want to add a couple of full heads, it's a creamy deliciousness once cooked, do as follows. Remove as much loose skin as you can. Cut off about a quarter to one third from one end. Garlic heads will go in the braising pan later, while some of the cut off pieces can be used in this recipe in place of the two required garlic cloves and the rest can be saved for other uses.
• Heat the olive oil with two tablespoons of butter in a braising pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown on all sides. Remove the meat from the braising pan and set aside.
• Add the onions, mushrooms, shallots, carrots and leeks. Saute until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and continue sauteing for another minute.
• Add the remaining two tablespoons of butter and let it melt, while constantly stirring. Turn the heat down to low. Have the broth ready. Add the flour and stir briskly until it is fully incorporated. Pour in the broth, turn the heat up to medium high and let the liquid mixture come up to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, constantly stirring, until the mixture starts to thicken. It shouldn't take long, less than a minute. Remove from heat.
• Add the pepper and nutmeg, stir, then salt to taste. Stir in the red wine vinegar. The sauce may taste a little too tart right after you add the vinegar, but it will be perfect by the time it's done cooking.
• Nestle beef pieces and garlic heads, if using, in the sauce, spreading them out evenly. If using, place the garlic bulbs cut side up. Garlic smell can be quite strong, so add those bulbs only if you love garlic and have a good ventilation in the kitchen. If you place it cut side down, the sauce will get infused with garlic too much.
• Cover and braise in the oven at 350F for 3-4 hours. I think the beef only gets better if cooked a little longer.
• Serve with freshly made mashed potatoes, garnish with chopped fresh herbs, and enjoy.

GRANDPA'S BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil. Add the onions, and garlic to the hot oil and sweat them until very soft and very light caramel in color, 20 to 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the pan. Pat the meat dry and season very liberally with salt and pepper. Brown the meat to a deep brown all over, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Peel the potatoes and very thinly slice them lengthwise into planks. Slice the tomatoes working over a bowl to catch their juices.
• Arrange 1/2 the onions over top of the meat, season with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon thyme. Arrange 1/2 the potatoes over the onions and dress the potatoes with a liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon, salt, pepper, rosemary, and a handful freshly grated cheese. Top the potatoes with 1/2 the tomatoes and their juices, and season with salt and pepper. Scatter a few leaves of torn basil. Repeat the layers. Do not add basil to the top layer of tomatoes.
• Cover the pan and roast the meat in the oven until very tender, 4 hours. Cool and store for make-ahead meal.
• To reheat: Reheat, covered, in a preheated 325 degree F oven until warmed through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take off the lid of the pot, drizzle the top of the meat with oil, sprinkle with cheese, and broil to lightly crust the top. Cut down through the layers of the potatoes, tomatoes, and onions to portion the meat, serve in shallow bowls with crusty bread and pan juices.

BRAISED BEEF RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut the beef into large chunks.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Brown the beef chunks. Then remove them and set aside.
• Cook the onions in the same skillet until they are fully cooked (or translucent).
• In a Dutch oven pot, begin layering the ingredients in the following order; 1/2 browned beef chunks, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, then half the sautéed onion and half the garlic (pressed).
• Repeat step 4 with the remaining beef chunks.
• Add the red wine and water to the meat and place the lid on top. Place the pot onto the cooktop and bring it to a boil. Place the pot into the oven for 1 1/2 -2 hours at 360 Fahrenheit. Cook until the meat is fully cooked through.

BRAISED SOUTHWEST BEEF ROAST

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano; rub over roast. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in oil. Remove from the pan., Gradually add broth, stirring to loosen any browned bits from pan. Stir in salsa, water and bay leaf; return meat to pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender., Set meat aside and keep warm. Bring pan juices to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until sauce is reduced to about 1-1/3 cups; skim fat. Discard bay leaf. Serve sauce with meat.

BEER-BRAISED SHORT RIBS

Steps:

• First, make the marinade. Mix the spices and 3 tbsp salt in a bowl, then stir in the oil to make a paste. Use a knife to make a deep hole in each short rib, then rub the spice mix all over and into the hole, working the flavour into the meat. Place on a tray, cover and chill overnight.
• The next day, heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Heat the oil in a large, shallow pan, tip in the onions and fry until you start to get a deep, rich colour - about 20 mins. Don't be scared of the colour, this will add amazing savoury sweetness to the dish. Pour in the beer and boil to reduce by half, then add the stock, treacle, thyme and oak chips, if using. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Place the marinated short ribs in your largest roasting tin. Pour over the onion and beer braising liquid, then cover tightly with foil. Transfer to the oven and cook the short ribs for 5 hrs or until really tender.
• Once the ribs are cooked, remove and put on a plate to rest and cool. Strain the braising liquid into a saucepan. Once settled, use a ladle to remove the top layer of fat, then set over a high heat. Simmer the sauce until it becomes rich and glossy, then whisk in the ketchup, mustard and brown sauce.
• To barbecue the ribs, heat your coals until ashen or set a gas barbecue to medium. Cook the ribs until nicely charred and hot all the way through, then baste with the sauce to finish and cook until sticky. To cook them indoors, heat the grill. Set a wire rack over an oven tray and place the ribs on top. Baste well with the sauce and grill, basting with the sauce a few times, until it forms a charred, sticky crust. Set aside to rest before serving with the onion rings and slaw (see Goes well with).

CROCKPOT SOUTHWEST BEEF ROAST

Steps:

• Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
• Add roast and brown quickly on all sides.
• Transfer roast to crockpot and add all other ingredients.
• Cook on low for 8 hours.
• Shred meat and serve over corn tortillas with your favorite garnishes (avocado, fresh chopped tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, etc.)

SOUTHWESTERN BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, ancho chili powder, allspice and cinnamon; stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil to make a paste.
• Set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat.
• Brown the beef in batches.
• Remove to a plate and drain the fat from the pan.
• Fry the onions and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chili powder mixture and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the beef and stir for about 1 minute.
• Add the beans, 2 cups of water, tomatoes, salt and sugar.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Uncover and simmer until slightly thickened and the meat is tender, about 30 minutes.

BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Rub beef generously, all over, with salt, pepper and mustard.
• Sautee the bacon in large heavy pan.
• Remove bacon.
• Add oil.
• When hot, add the beef and brown evenly on all sides.
• Add the onions and herbs. Cook until the onions are nearly tender, then add the paprika, tomato paste, wine, stock and replace the bacon.
• Cover the pot and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until tender.
• Remove and let it stand for 5 - 10 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, stir the flour into small amount of water. Add this into hot cooking liquid.
• Stir constantly till thick.
• Stir in the cream of your choice (I liked it best with sour cream).
• Serve with mashed or fried potatoes.