Spiced Beef With Stout Prunes Food

BEEF STEW WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Place a deep skillet or casserole that can be covered over medium-high heat, and add oil. Brown meat well on all sides, seasoning with salt and pepper, for 10 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon.
• In same pot over medium-high heat, sauté onion and tomatoes with a large pinch of salt and some pepper. When they soften, about 5 minutes, stir in paprika, cinnamon, and bay leaf. Return meat to pan, and add stock and wine; bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. If mixture starts to dry, add a little water or stock.
• Remove cinnamon and bay leaf, and stir in sugar and prunes. Simmer until prunes and meat are soft, another 30 to 45 minutes. (Dish can be made in advance to this point; let sit for a few hours, or cover and refrigerate for up to a day before reheating and proceeding.) When meat is very tender, uncover pot and add vinegar; if necessary, raise heat so sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve hot, garnished with parsley.

SPICED ROAST BEEF

Steps:

• Combine all the spices and ½ tbsp salt together in a pestle and mortar. Give everything a good grind, keeping a little of its coarseness. Rub the oil and then the ground spices all over the beef and massage in well. Cover and chill overnight to marinate.
• Next day, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Weigh your joint and roast for 10 mins per 450g for rare meat and 15 mins per 450g for medium, plus an extra 20 mins. Cover and rest for 20 mins while you finish the salads, then slice and serve. Alternatively, roast the beef in the morning and serve at room temperature for dinner.

BEEF & STOUT STEW WITH CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat the oil in large lidded casserole dish, brown the meat really well in batches, then set aside. Add the onion and carrots to the dish, give them a good browning, then scatter over the flour and stir. Tip the meat and any juices back into the dish and give it all a good stir. Pour over the Guinness and crumble in the stock cube. Season the stew with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar. Tuck in the herbs and bring everything to a simmer.
• Cover with a lid and place in the oven for about 2½ hrs until the meat is really tender. The stew can now be chilled and frozen for up to 3 months - defrost completely before reheating until piping hot. Leave the stew to settle a little, then serve with Creamy parsnip mash for a true celebration of winter vegetables.

SPICY BEEF, YAM AND PRUNE STEW

Steps:

• Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large (preferably nonstick) saucepan over medium-high heat. Add beef; sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices, garlic, cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon stick and bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes.
• Mix yams and prunes into stew. Cover and simmer until beef and yams are tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Discard cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

SPICED PRUNES

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the plums, water, cinnamon, cloves and ginger; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand until cool. Stir in lemon juice. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.