Boeuf En Daube - French Beef Burgundy in the Crock Pot |
|
 |
Prep Time: 1 Minutes Cook Time: 1440 Minutes |
Ready In: 1441 Minutes Servings: 12 |
|
A delicious & heady combination of good red wine, prime beef, smoked bacon, dried orange, shallots, garlic & cepes - dried forest mushrooms! A traditional French recipe with a twist - cook it in the crock pot for ease and convenience. Wonderful in the depths of winter, but equally lovely with crisp salads,crusty bread & baked potatoes during the summer - the addition of orange making it a lighter beef dish than the more usual Beef Daube or Beef Burgundy. An excellent choice for a family reunion or celebration, as it is VERY well behaved! It also freezes well and is a great pie filling idea. Ingredients:
5 lbs prime beef, cubed & trimmed of fat |
1 lb shallot, peeled |
4 -6 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped finely |
1 bunch fresh thyme |
2 -4 bay leaves |
750 ml burgundy wine |
1 -2 tablespoon olive oil |
1 lb lardons, smoked bacon pieces |
1/2 ounce dried cepes, soaked for 1 hr |
6 -8 pieces dried orange peel, see method |
1 tablespoon soft brown sugar |
sea salt |
fresh ground black pepper |
1 -2 tablespoon cornflour, for thickening |
2 tablespoons cognac |
2 -4 sun-dried tomatoes, drained & chopped finely (optional) |
1 (8 ounce) can chopped tomatoes (optional) |
Directions:
1. Marinade the beef with the herbs, shallots & garlic over night in the bottle of red wine.
2. Drain and put the wine to one side.
3. In a large skillet or fryng pan, sear & brown the beef pieces over a high heat in the olive oil until nutty & brown. Do not overcrowd the pan!
4. Place browned beef into the crock pot or cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish.
5. Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy & golden brown. Drain & add to the beef.
6. Brown the shallots & garlic in the bacon fat & add to the beef & bacon.
7. Add all the other ingredients, except the cornflour, to the crock pot including the reserved wine.
8. (Add the tinned tomatoes & sun dried tomatoes at this stage too if you are using them.).
9. Cook on automatic or High for 4 hours and Low for up to 6 hours.
10. (For conventional cooking - pre-heat oven to 175 degs C or 325 degs F or gas mark 3 and cook SLOWLY for approximately 4 to 6 hours; check towards the end, the meat should be extemely tender - you MUST not be tempted to cook it quicker, it will be tough!).
11. Towards the end, blend & mix the cornflour with a couple of spoons of the stock in the crock pot & add to the beef, stirring well. It should not be TOO thick but just like a glaze or thickened jus. Add the cognac at this stage as well - sirring into the daube.
12. Serve with Green Beans, Mashed, Steamed or Pureed Potatoes during the colder months OR with a selection of salads, crusty French bread & Pasta during the warmer months. The excess sauce can be used or saved as a fantastic gravy or stock later!
13. THIS IS BETTER MADE 24 HOURS BEFORE EATING!
14. Freezes beautifully - I always make a large batch and then freeze some.
15. NOTE:If you cannot buy sun dried orange peel, make your own, it's VERY easy! Peel some oranges with a swivel head vegetable peeler or parer, be careful not to peel the pith. Spread outside on a rack in the full sun and leave to dry for about 2-4 hours. Weather permitting of course - otherwise dry in an airing cupboard or a very LOW oven overnight.Store in an airtight jar for up to 2 years.
16. If you are really stuck - just grate some fresh orange peel into the daube, it will not have the same intensity as dried peel, but it will work!
|
|