BEEF AND MUSHROOM STEW RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine flour and pepper; coat beef cubes.
• Reserve remaining flour mixture. In 3 tablespoons of hot oil, brown beef, and remove when brown.
• Sauté onion, celery and garlic until tender.
• Return beef to pan.
• Add beef, broth, wine and spices.
• Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce to simmer, cover and continue cooking for 1-3/4 hours.
• Add remaining vegetables and cook covered another 45 minutes longer or until meat and vegetables are tender, but not mushy.
• Thicken broth if necessary with 2 tablespoons of the flour mixed with 2 tablespoons water.
• Simmer until thick.

Steps:

• Cut the beef into 2.5cm/1in chunks and trim off any excess fat. Place the flour on a plate or in a plastic bag with plenty of salt and black pepper and toss the meat in it until well coated.
• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole and add the beef. Fry until browned on all sides - you may need to do this in batches, as you don’t want to over-crowd the pan. It is important to brown the beef and not stew it.
• Remove the meat from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the shallots, celery and carrots to the pan and fry for five minutes, or until softened a little.
• Meanwhile, soak the mushrooms in a bowl in 300ml/½ pint boiling water until softened. Drain, reserving the soaking liquid and chop the mushrooms into smaller pieces.
• Return the meat to the pan and add the red wine or stout. Bring to the boil for 4-5 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced by about a third. Add the stock,soaked mushrooms and their soaking liquid and the thyme.
• Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer on a low heat for about 2½ hours, or until tender. If you prefer you can cook it in a preheated oven at 150C/300F/Gas 3 (130 fan) for the same time.
• Add the button mushrooms and the redcurrant jelly and cook for a further 30 minutes. Serve with mash.