Beef Bourguignon

Preparation is easy.

Preparation time is 3 ½ hours, largely unattended plus overnight marinating.

Yield: 6 servings.

Ingredients

• 1.5 kilograms chuck steak cut into 5 cm pieces (3 pounds 5 ounces)
• 1 large carrot, peeled and chunked
• 1 large onion, peeled and chunked
• 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
• 2 bottles of red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2 springs fresh thyme
• 1 head of garlic, cut in half horizontally
• 4 bay leaves
• 50 grams unsalted butter (2 ounces)
• 225 grams smoked bacon or pancetta (8 ounces)
• 450 grams shallots, peeled (1 pound)
• 30 grams plain flour (2 tablespoons)
• 375 grams chestnut mushrooms (12 ounces)
• 300 millilitres beef stock (1 ¾ cups)
• 75 millilitres brandy (5 tablespoons)
• fresh flat leaved parsley

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large pan.
3. Add the carrot, onion and celery and cook for a couple of minutes.
4. Add the wine, thyme, garlic and 2 bay leaves.
5. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
6. Pour the marinade over the beef cubes in a large bowl.
7. Allow to cool and refrigerate overnight. This is known as a cook marinade.
8. Remove the beef from the marinade into a colander over a glass bowl.
9. Reserve the marinade and set aside.
10. Heat 1 ounce of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan.
11. Pat the cubes of beef dry with kitchen paper.
12. Brown the beef in the pan and move it to a large casserole dish with the bacon and shallots.
13. Use three spoonfuls of the leftover marinade to deglaze the frying pan and pour this into the casserole dish.
14. Stir the remaining marinade, the flour and the beef stock into the casserole, bring to the boil and place in the oven for 3 to 3 ½ hours, until the beef is very tender.
15. Halfway through the cooking, heat the remaining oil and brown the whole mushrooms.
16. Add the brandy and cook for a minute or two. Add this to the casserole and return it to the oven for the remaining time.