French Braised Beef (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Meat
01 -
About 2.5–3 lbs of beef chunks for stewing
02 -
8 oz of salted pork or smoked bacon
→ Vegetables
03 -
10 small pearl onions
04 -
3 garlic cloves
05 -
1 lb of brown cremini mushrooms
06 -
4 to 5 medium-sized carrots
→ Liquids & Seasonings
07 -
2 cups of dry red wine
08 -
A couple of tablespoons of brandy
09 -
2 cups of beef stock
10 -
2 tbsp of tomato puree
11 -
About ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
12 -
6 tablespoons of butter
13 -
A few bay leaves (3)
14 -
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
# Instructions:
01 -
Season the beef and let it rest for 2 hours. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 325°F.
02 -
Fry the bacon strips until they become crispy. Take them out of the pot but leave the fat behind.
03 -
In batches, brown the beef pieces thoroughly. Remove them once browned.
04 -
In butter, cook the veggies and herbs until the onions get that shiny look.
05 -
Add the meat back to the pot. Stir in the liquids and tomato paste. Cover everything and cook for 1.5 hours.
06 -
Cook mushrooms separately and then stir them into the stew. Let it cook for another 30 minutes.
# Notes:
01 -
Tastes even better the next day
02 -
Brown the beef chunks in portions
03 -
Good wine makes this dish shine