Beef bourguignon

This is a classic French stew that I think is very hard to beat and you would be hard pressed to top with any other stew.  It is the blend of bacon beef and red wine that come together with the herbs to make a full on flavour filled meal.

You will need

2 tbsp plain flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 kg/2lb 4oz beef stewing steak

2 tbsp olive oil

150g/5oz pancetta or smoked streaky bacon

1 large onion, diced

1 large carrot,  dices

1 garlic clove, crushed

50ml/2fl oz brandy

500ml/18fl oz Burgundy red wine

250ml/9fl oz beef stock

2 bay leaves

Some sprigs thyme,

25g/1oz butter

150g/50oz small baby onions

300g/100g baby silver skin onions

Some flat leaf parsley

Now some will argues that you your herbs should go in a bouquet garni, all tied together and you should not use baby silver skin onions but shallots and they might be right but this is how I do it.

Start by getting your flour and adding a good amount for salt and pepper , then get the beef and make sure that it gets a good covering of flour and set it all to one side. Now heat a frying pan and start frying of the bacon you want to cook this so it is nice and brown. Add the brandy and let it flame for a while then tip it our and put it in a large casserole dish.

Now add the oil to the frying pan and the beef and start to brown that of once you have done that add that to the casserole pan. Now add your chopped onion, carrot, garlic, bay leaf and thyme.  Let this cook for little and then add the red wine and beef stock and deglaze the pan . Now add this to the casserole dish and cover with a tight fitting lid. Now this will need to cook either on the stove or in the oven for about two hours on a medium to low heat .  Once the meat is tender then it is ready

Finally take the butter and the mushroom and baby onions and fry them in a pan till you get some nice colure on them and put them on top of the casserole. Then finish with some roughly chopped flat leaf parsley.

Now all you need is some good mashed potato , fresh vegetables and crusty bread to go with it and you will have a perfect dinner.