Stewed beef in red wine

4 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2poundsBeef stew meat -- fat
Trimmed
2teaspoonsSafflower oil
¼cupBrandy
3cupsDry red wine
1cupDefatted Beef Stock
1tablespoonTomato paste
2Cloves garlic -- mashed
¼teaspoonThyme
1Bay leaf -- crushed
12smallsWhite boiling onions
3tablespoonsOlive oil
1cupWater
½poundsMushrooms
3tablespoonsWhole-wheat pastry flour or
Unbleached white flour
4cupsCooked basmati rice or egg
Noodles

Directions

1. Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, sear beef in 1 teaspoon of the safflower oil until lightly browned on all sides. Pour in brandy and ignite, shaking pan until flames subside. Add wine, stock, tomato paste, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer. Cook, uncovered, until tender (about 20 to 30 minutes). Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

2. Peel onions and cut a small X in the top of each to prevent them from falling apart as they cook. In a small skillet over medium-high heat, saute onions in 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Add the water, cover, and cook for

15 minutes.

3. Drain onions and set aside. In the same pan over medium-high heat, saute mushrooms in the remaining 1 teaspoon safflower oil for 5 minutes. Set aside.

4. Remove beef from sauce and keep warm on a platter in the oven.

Bring sauce to a boil and reduce to half its volume by simmering, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Combine together remaining olive oil and flour and drop into boiling sauce by spoonfuls, stirring with a whisk until sauce thickens.

5. Return beef to sauce, and add onions and mushrooms. Heat through and serve over rice.

Recipe By : the California Culinary Academy