Beef Bourguignon

Takes 240 minutes | Serves 7 |

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
170.1 g bacon
1360 g beef brisket
2 large carrot
1 large white onion
6 cloves garlic
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground pepper
2 tablespoons flour
12 small pearl onions
700 ml red wine (Pinot Noir is the traditional wine used in Beef Bourguignon)
500 ml beef stock
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
2 leaves bay leaves
450 g white mushrooms
2 tablespoons butter

Steps

Traditional Oven Method

• Preheat oven to 175°C.
• Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or heavy-based pot. Sauté the bacon over medium heat for about 3 minutes, until crisp and browned. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large dish and set aside.
• Pat dry beef with paper towel; sear in batches in the hot oil/bacon fat until browned on all sides. Remove to the dish with the bacon.
• In the remaining oil/bacon fat, sauté the carrots and diced onions until softened, about 3 minutes, then add 4 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan, and return the bacon and beef back into the pot; season with ½ teaspoon coarse salt and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper. Sprinkle with flour, toss well, and cook for 4-5 minutes to brown.
• Add the pearl onions, wine, and enough stock so that the meat is barely covered. Then add the tomato paste, bouillon, and herbs. Bring to a simmer on the stove.
• Cover, transfer to lower part of the oven and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat is fall apart tender (adjust the heat so that the liquid simmers very slowly).
• In the last 5 minutes of cooking time, prepare your mushrooms: Heat the butter in a medium-sized skillet over heat. When the foam subsides, add the remaining 2 cloves garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then add the mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes, while shaking the pan occasionally to coat with the butter. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Once they are browned, set aside.
• Place a colander over a large pot. Remove the casserole from the oven and carefully empty its contents into the colander (you want to collect the sauce only). Discard the herbs.
• Return the beef mixture back into the dutch oven or pot. Add the mushrooms over the meat.
• Remove any fat off the sauce, if any, and simmer for a minute or two, skimming off any additional fat which rises to the surface.
• You should be left with about 600 ml of sauce thick enough to coat the back of a spoon lightly. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of stock. If the sauce is too thin, boil it over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until reduced to the right consistency.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper, if desired. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.
• If serving immediately, simmer the beef bourguignon for 2 to 3 minutes to heat through. Garnish with parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
• To serve the following day, allow the casserole to cool completely, cover, and refrigerate. On the day of serving, remove from refrigerator for at least an hour before reheating. Place over medium-low heat and let simmer gently for about 10 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.