Steak And Kidney With Dumplings Food

STEAK AND KIDNEY HOT POT WITH CRUSTED DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• I think the rich flavour of steak and kidney is improved enormously if you take a bit of time and trouble over initially browning the meat. What you need to do is melt 1 tablespoon of beef dripping in a large, solid frying pan. As soon as the fat is really hot pat the cubes of meat with kitchen paper and add the meat, just a few cubes at a time, so as not to crowd the pan. If you put too much meat in at once, this creates a steamy atmosphere and the meat will never brown, so brown the pieces on all sides a few at a time, adding them to the casserole as you go. After the meat is browned, add a little more dripping and do exactly the same with the kidney. When these have joined the meat, keeping the heat high, brown the onions, turning and moving them until they are all nicely browned at the edges - this will probably take 6-7 minutes. Then add the onions to the rest of the ingredients, give it a good seasoning, then add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour has been absorbed into the meat juices. It doesn't look very nice at this stage but that's not a problem. All you do next is add the Worcestershire sauce, mushroom ketchup, thyme and bay leaves, followed by the Brown Beef Stock. Stir well, bring everything up to a gentle simmer and place a lid on the casserole, using a layer of foil if you need to, to make a tight fit. Now place the casserole in the pre-heated oven, on the centre shelf, and leave it there for 2½ hours. After that, take the casserole out of the oven, raise the temperature to gas mark 6, 400°F (200°C) and pop the baking or pie dish in to pre-heat. Next, quickly make the dumplings by sifting the flour into a bowl, stirring in the parsley and suet and a good seasoning of salt and pepper, then sprinkle in some cold water - start with 6 tablespoons, but add enough to make a soft dough that will leave the bowl clean. Divide the dough into 12 small pieces and just roll each one between your palms into a dumpling shape. Now spoon the steak and kidney into the pre-heated pie dish or baking dish, then pop the dumplings on top and place the whole lot in the oven on a high shelf for 25-30 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked underneath and brown and crunchy on top. If the casserole you're using is a shallow one, you can dispense with the baking dish and pop the dumplings straight in.

LIGHTER BEEF STEW & DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan or deep sauté pan. Tip in the onions, bay leaves and thyme sprigs, and fry over a medium heat for about 8 mins, stirring often, until the onions are turning golden. Raise the heat, add the steak and stir-fry briefly until it starts to lose its raw, red colour. Pour in the wine, stir to deglaze the brown sticky bits from the bottom of the pan, and let it bubble briefly. Lower the heat, sprinkle in the flour and mustard powder, and stir for 1 min. The meat should now be coated in a thick, rich sauce.
• Mix in the tomatoes, stirring to break them down. Stir in the stock and bring to the boil. Tip in the carrots, squash and mushrooms, lower the heat, cover with a lid and leave to simmer gently for 1 hr 40 mins, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook for a further 20 mins, still on a gentle simmer, until the meat is very tender. Season with pepper.
• When the stew is nearly cooked, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put a 2.25-litre casserole dish in to heat it up. Meanwhile, make the dumplings. Put the flour, mustard powder, some pepper and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then stir in the spring onions and parsley. Mix the oil and buttermilk together and gently stir into the flour. Add a drop or two of cold water, if needed, to pick up any dry bits on the bottom of the bowl, and stir to make a soft and slightly sticky dough. Be as light-handed as you can, as overmixing or overhandling will toughen the dumplings. Cut the dough into 8 pieces and very lightly shape each into a small, rough ball.
• Carefully transfer the stew to the hot casserole dish and remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Sit the dumplings on top and press them down into the gravy to very slightly submerge. Put the dish on a baking sheet and cook for about 20 mins until the dumplings have risen and are golden on top. Serve with a light scattering of thyme leaves.

STEAK & KIDNEY STEW, CROCK POT/SLOW COOKER.

Steps:

• Switch your crock pot/slow cooker on to warm-up.
• Peel and slice the carrots, onions and garlic.
• Place vegetables in the bottom of the crock pot/slow cooker, replace lid while you work on the meat.
• Remove skin from the kidneys if there is any. Cut into as big or small pieces that you like, set aside.
• Cut the steak into 1 inch cubes, place in a zip-lock bag with the kidneys and 1/4 cup of all purpose flour, close the bag leaving some air in it and shake well to coat the meat. Remove meat from the bag and place on top of the vegetables in the crock pot/slow cooker. Replace lid.
• In a jug place the 1 cup of wine, 1/2 cup of boiling water, 2 oxo cubes, 1 tbsp tomato puree, soy sauce and mix well. Pour over the ingredients in the crock pot/slow cooker.
• Sprinkle chili flakes and rosemary on top of stew. Add as much black pepper as you like.
• Cook on low all day or until the meat and vegetables are tender.
• I have not added salt because of the stock cubes & soy sauce, but you can if liked.
• When cooked. Check that the stew is as thick as you like it. If not mix the 2 tsp of cornflour with 2 tsp cold water. Turn the crock pot/slow cooker to high and stir in the cornflour, a little at a time, stirring and checking that it is as thick as you want the stew to be. You don't need to add all the cornflour if it's how you want the stew.
• Serve with boiled potatoes and steamed broccoli or any vegetables you like.
• Note: You might like to add frozen peas in the last 5 minutes.