Beef Stew with Bacon, Mushrooms and Pearl Onions

By RoketJSquerl

This hearty stew is our version of boeuf bourguignon. It calls for equal amounts of red wine and chicken stock. Instead of frozen pearl onions, you can use fresh pearl onions. This stew is decicious oveer mashed potatioes.

Ingredients

• 3 Lbs Beef Chuck, Trimmed and Cut Into 1 1/2 Inch Cubes
• 1 1/2 Tsps Salt
• 1 Tsp Black Pepper, ground
• 4 Ozs Sliced Bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 2 Med Onions, chopped coarsley (about 2 cups)
• 3 Clove Garlic, minced
• 3 Tbsps Flour
• 1 1/2 C Full-bodied Red Wine
• 1 1/2 C Chicken Stock
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 Tsp Dried Thyme
• 1 Lb White Button Mushrooms, quartered
• 1 C Frozen or Fresh Pearl Onions
• 1/4 C Fresh Parsley, minced

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 250 degrees. Place beef cubes in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Fry bacon in large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium heat until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Drain bacon, reserving bits and drippings separately. Increase heat to medium-high and heat 2 tablespoons bacon drippings in Dutch oven. Add half of meat and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove meat and set aside on plate. Repeat process with another tablespoon of bacon drippings and remaining meat.

Add onions to empty Dutch oven and saute' until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook for 30 seconds. Stir in flour and cook until lightly colored, 1-2 minutes. Add wine, scraping up any browned bits that may have stuck to the pot. Add stock, bay leaves, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Add meat and bacon bits and return to a simmer. Cover and place pot in oven. Cook until meat is almost tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons bacon drippings in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and saute' over high heat until browned, 5-7 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a large bowl. Add cooked pearl onions and saute' until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Add onions to bowl with mushrooms.

Add mushrooms and onions to stew when meat is almost tender. Cover and return pot to oven. Cook until meat is completely tender, 20 -30 minutes. (Can be cooled, covered and refrigerated up to 3 days. Reheat on top of stove and serve)

Stir in parsley, discard bay leaves, adjust seasonings and serve.