Ingredients:
- * 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, for frying, plus more to drizzle
- * 3 tablespoons butter
- * 2 cups all-purpose flour
- * 2 to 3 pounds beef chuck shoulder roast, cut into 2-inch pieces (this cut is also called chuck shoulder pot roast and chuck roast boneless)
- * Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- * 1 bottle good quality dry red wine (recommended: Burgundy)
- * 8 fresh thyme sprigs
- * 6 garlic cloves, smashed
- * 1 orange, zest removed in 3 (1-inch) strips
- * 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- * 2 bay leaves
- * 2 1/2 cups beef stock
- * 9 small new potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut in 1/2
- * 1/2 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
- * 2 cups frozen pearl onions, a large handful
- * 1 pound white mushrooms, cut in 1/2
- * 1/2 pound garden peas frozen or fresh
- * Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish
- * Horseradish Sour Cream, recipe follows, for garnish
- * Toasted Peasant Bread, recipe follows, for serving
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Preparation: Preheat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.
While
the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. Season the cubed
beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in
the flour to coat. Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks
in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful not to over crowd the
pan, you might have to work in batches. Thoroughly brown all of the
cubes on all sides. Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a
plate and reserve.
Add the wine to the
pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan
with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits. Once
the wine has gotten hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic,
orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly ground black pepper and salt,
to taste, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring the mixture up to a boil and
then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids
start to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and cook on low heat
for 2 1/2 hours.
After 2 hours add
halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with
a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine. Turn the
heat up slightly and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the
vegetables and meat are tender. Add the frozen peas during the last
minute of cooking. Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme
sprigs.
To serve, place the stew in a
soup bowl, garnish with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and add a
dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream. Right before serving add a slice of
Toasted Peasant Bread, half way submerged in the stew.
Horseradish Sour Cream:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Chives, finely chopped, as garnish
Combine sour cream, prepared horseradish and a drizzle of olive oil in
a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and
pepper. Add a dollop of the mixture on top of the stew and garnish with
chopped chives.
Toasted Peasant Bread:
- 1 loaf peasant bread, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, halved
- Chopped parsley leaves
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Put a sheet pan in the oven so that it gets good and hot.
Place
the bread slices on the hot sheet pan. Drizzle the bread with the
extra-virgin olive oil bake for 5 minutes, until the bread is nicely
toasted. Rub the bread slices with the garlic cloves, and discard
garlic. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings |
