I just saw the new movie Julie and Julia on Friday night, and I LOVED it! Surprised? 😉
I was so inspired by the movie, that I decided to try one of the main recipes in it; Boeuf Bourguinon! So, having never made Boeuf Bourguinon, I am going to attempt it today. I will *not* be using Julia Child’s recipe however, as it seems lengthy and complex, and we all know that I am entirely about the easy recipes. So, I looked on-line for some easy Beef Bourguinon Recipes, and here is the one I am going to make today! I’ll photograph later, and post pictures! The original comes from Canadian Living.
Easy Boeuf Bourguinon
- 1 pkg (14 g) dried porcini mushrooms
3 lb (1.5 kg) boneless stewing beef
4 oz (125 g) thickly sliced bacon, chopped
3 tbsp (45 mL) vegetable oil
1 each onion and large carrot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and pepper
1/3 cup (75 mL) flour
1 bottle (750 mL) red wine (such as Pinot Noir or Merlot)
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) beef broth
3 sprigs fresh parsley
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
3 cups (750 mL) mushrooms
2 tbsp (25 mL) brandy
2 tbsp (25 mL) minced fresh parsley
Meanwhile, trim fat from beef; cut meat into 1-1/2-inch (4 cm) cubes and set aside.
In Dutch oven, sauté bacon over medium-high heat until crisp; transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Drain fat from pan.
Add 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the oil to pan; brown beef, in 3 batches and adding remaining oil as necessary. Transfer to bowl. Drain fat from pan.
Add chopped onion, carrot, garlic, salt and pepper to pan; cook over medium heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Reserving soaking liquid, remove mushrooms and chop; add to pan along with soaking liquid, wine and broth. Bring to boil, scraping up any brown bits. Tie parsley, thyme and bay leaves together with string. Add to pan along with bacon, beef and any juices. Cover and braise in 325 °F (160 °C) oven until meat is fork-tender, 2-1/2 to 3 hours.
Meanwhile, in pot of boiling water, boil pearl onions for 3 minutes; drain and chill in cold water. Peel and trim, leaving root ends intact. In skillet, melt butter over medium heat; brown pearl onions, about 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to bowl.
Add mushrooms to skillet; fry until browned, about 5 minutes.
With slotted spoon, remove beef to separate bowl. Add pearl onions, mushrooms and brandy to liquid in Dutch oven; bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until thickened and onions are tender, about 25 minutes. Discard herbs. Return beef to pan and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley.
Slow-Cooker Boeuf Bourguignon:
Reduce wine to 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) and beef stock to 1/2 cup (125 mL). Omit flour. Follow recipe except put everything (including browned pearl onions) in slow cooker instead of Dutch oven. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or until beef is fork-tender. Add browned mushrooms and brandy. Whisk flour with 1/2 cup (125 mL) water and add to slow cooker; cover and cook on high heat for 15 minutes or until thickened.
So how did it turn out? Have you tried the slow-cooker recipe? I’m trying to decide what to do with my 1-or-so pounds of beef, and I’m looking for a really tasty but still pretty easy recipe.