Beef Bourguignon - French recipe

Ingredients

2 lb (900 g) braising steak, cut into 2 inch (5 cm) squares
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 heaped tablespoon plain flour
15 fl oz (425 ml) red Burgundy (or other red w ine or dry cider)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
12 oz (350 g) shallots
2 x 130 g packs cubetti pancetta or 225 g smoked or unsmoked streaky bacon, bought in one
piece, then cut into cubes
4 oz (110 g) dark-gilled mushrooms, cut into chunks
salt and freshly milled black pepper
Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 1, 275°F (140°C).

Equipment

You will also need a large ovenproof casserole or lidded pan.

Method

Bring 1¼ tablespoons of the oil to sizzling point in the casserole or pan and sear the beef, a few pieces at a time, to a rich, dark brow n on all
sides.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a plate as it brow ns.Next add the sliced onion to the casserole and brow n that a little too.
Now return the meat to the casserole or pan and sprinkle in the flour, stirring round to soak up all the juices. Then gradually pour in the
Burgundy, again stirring all the time.
Add the chopped garlic, herbs and seasoning, put the lid on and cook very gently on top of the stove (if the heat is not low enough, use a
diffuser). Or transfer to the oven – either w ay it w ill take 2 hours.
Then, using a bit more olive oil, fry the shallots and bacon in a small frying pan to colour them lightly. Add to the casserole, together w ith the
mushrooms, then put the lid on and cook for a further hour.
The French accompaniment of potatoes boulangères and green salad w ould be good w ith this, or else tiny new potatoes and ratatouille.