Beef Bourginon with Celeriac Mash

By Grazor

Ingredients

• Ingredients
• 3 * 3 tsp goose fat
• 600 * 600g beef shin, cut into large chunks
• 100 * 100g smoked streaky bacon , sliced
• 350 * 350g shallots or pearl onions, peeled
• 250 * 250g chestnut mushrooms (about 20)
• 2 * 2 garlic clove , sliced
• 1 * 1 bouquet garni (See know-how below)
• 1 * 1 tbsp tomato purée
• * 750ml bottle red wine , Burgundy is good
• FOR THE CELERIAC MASH
• 600 * 600g (about 1) celeriac
• 2 * 2 tbsp olive oil
• * rosemary and thyme sprigs
• 2 * 2 bay leaves
• 4 * 4 cardamom pod

Preparation

Step 1

Difficulty and servings
Easy

Serves 4
Preparation and cooking times
Preparation time

Prep 20 mins
Cook time

Cook 3 hrs 15 mins
Freezable

beef bourguignon only
Method

1. Heat a large casserole pan and add 1 tbsp goose fat. Season the beef and fry until golden brown, about 3-5 mins, then turn over and fry the other side until the meat is browned all over, adding more fat if necessary. Do this in 2-3 batches, transferring the meat to a colander set over a bowl when browned.
2. In the same pan, fry the bacon, shallots or pearl onions, mushrooms, garlic and bouquet garni until lightly browned. Mix in the tomato purée and cook for a few mins, stirring into the mixture. This enriches the bourguignon and makes a great base for the stew. Then return the beef and any drained juices to the pan and stir through.
3. Pour over the wine and about 100ml water so the meat bobs up from the liquid, but isn't completely covered. Bring to the boil and use a spoon to scrape the caramelised cooking juices from the bottom of the pan - this will give the stew more flavour.
4. Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Make a cartouche: tear off a square of foil slightly larger than the casserole, arrange it in the pan so it covers the top of the stew and trim away any excess foil. Then cook for 3 hrs. If the sauce looks watery, remove the beef and veg with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Cook the sauce over a high heat for a few mins until the sauce has thickened a little, then return the beef and vegetables to the pan.
5. To make the celeriac mash, peel the celeriac and cut into cubes. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Tip in the celeriac and fry for 5 mins until it turns golden. Season well with salt and pepper. Stir in the rosemary, thyme, bay and cardamom pods, then pour over 200ml water, enough to nearly cover the celeriac. Turn the heat to low, partially cover the pan and leave to simmer for 25-30 mins.
6. After 25-30 mins, the celeriac should be soft and most of the water will have evaporated. Drain away any remaining water, then remove the herb sprigs, bay and cardamom pods. Lightly crush with a potato masher, then finish with a glug of olive oil and season to taste. Spoon the beef bourguignon into serving bowls and place a large spoonful of the celeriac mash on top. Garnish with one of the bay leaves, if you like.

Try

Make ahead

Try to make this dish a day in advance, then slowly reheat in the oven. You'll find that the flavours will really develop overnight and the dish will be richer and more mature.

Beef shin

Beef shin is a great cut for slow-cooking. It's good value and the ripples of fat running through it ensure that it doesn't dry out. You could also use wild boar, which gives a really special flavour.

Know how - Bouquet garni

To make a bouquet garni, use a piece of string to tie together a couple of rosemary, thyme and parsley sprigs and a handful of bay leaves. Remove from the pan at the end of cooking and discard.

Tip - peeling onions

To peel shallots or pearl onions quickly, place in a bowl and pour over boiling water. Leave for a few minutes, then drain and the skins will slip off.
Per serving

571 kcalories, protein 42g, carbohydrate 16g, fat 32 g, saturated fat 10g, fibre 8g, sugar 15g, salt 1.47 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2008.