Beef daube with parsnip and carrot

Name: Beef daube with parsnip and carrot
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 750g chuck steak, in 3cm pieces; 1 large carrot, peeled; 1 large parsnip, peeled; 6 garlic cloves, skin removed; 12 small eschalots, peeled; 3 tbsp plain flour, seasoned; 1 onion, chopped; 1 stalk celery, chopped; 1 cup quality red wine; 2 cups veal stock (or beef); ½ tsp grated orange zest, no pith; freshly ground black pepper; soft polenta or buttery mash, to serve

Neil Perry

July 11, 2016

French specialty: Beef daube with parsnips and carrots.William Meppem. Styling: Hannah Meppem. Food preparation: Nick Banbury

Time:2 hours +Serves:6

Daubes – classic French braises – are best eaten the day after they are cooked. For tastiest results, marinate the morning before, cook in the evening and serve the following evening. Place parchment on top to decrease evaporation in the pot and increase tenderness.

Ingredients

750g chuck steak, in 3cm pieces
1 large carrot, peeled
1 large parsnip, peeled
6 garlic cloves, skin removed
12 small eschalots, peeled
3 tbsp plain flour, seasoned
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup quality red wine
2 cups veal stock (or beef)
½ tsp grated orange zest, no pith
freshly ground black pepper
soft polenta or buttery mash, to serve

For the marinade

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 pieces orange peel, no pith
1 bay leaf
1 sprig rosemary
1 sprig thyme
4 parsley stalks

For the bouquet garni

Tie the below together with kitchen string, or wrap them in muslin.
3 sprigs parsley
2 sprigs thyme, plus extra to serve
1 bay leaf
1 sprig rosemary

Method

Step 1
Place marinade ingredients into a non-reactive bowl and stir gently to combine. Add beef, mix. Cover and marinate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Drain beef and reserve marinade liquid.
Step 2
Cut the carrot and parsnip into evenly sized 2-3cm chunks.
Step 3
Heat 2 tbsp reserved marinade liquid in a large frypan over a medium heat. Add carrot and parsnip and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until they turn golden. Set aside.
Step 4
Heat 3 tbsp reserved marinade liquid in the same frypan over medium-low heat. Cut each garlic clove in half, add these and the eschalots and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until they also turn golden. Set aside.
Step 5
Toss beef in seasoned flour and shake off excess.
Step 6
Heat 2 tbsp of reserved marinade liquid in the same frypan and brown beef in batches over medium-high heat. Transfer beef to a large, heavy-based pot.
Step 7
Add more marinade liquid (if necessary) to frypan on a low heat. Cook onion and celery, seasoned with salt to taste, until softened. Gradually add red wine, stirring well to scrape up any pieces from the base of the pan. Bring to boil, then simmer until wine is reduced by one-third.
Step 8
Pour mixture over beef, along with stock and bouquet garni. Simmer over low heat for about 1½ hours. Add reserved vegetables and orange zest and cook for a further 45-60 minutes, until beef is very tender.
Step 9
Scatter with fresh thyme leaves and ground pepper, and serve with soft polenta or mash.