Winter warmer recipe: Try this hearty cheesy beef casserole cob

It’s a cob loaf filled with a mouth-watering slow-cooked beef casserole — and is topped with cheese. What more could you ask for?

When the colder seasons come around, people turn to hearty recipes to help warm them up.

With that in mind, this cheesy beef casserole cob recipe from Taste’s Michelle Southan and Tracy Rutherford is a sure bet.

“Introducing winter’s ultimate all-in-one meal – cob loaf filled with a mouth-watering slow-cooked beef casserole,” taste.com.au’s food director Ms Southan says.

“Topped with cheesy, garlicky, crispy croutons, this is a real game changer.”

Ingredients

1kg beef chuck steak, cut into 2cm pieces, excess fat removed

2 tbsp plain flour

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

100g rindless bacon rashers, cut into 2cm pieces

1 small brown onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 bay leaves

1 small sprig fresh rosemary

400g can diced tomatoes

2 tbsp Mutti Double Concentrate Tomato Paste

250ml (1 cup) Massel beef style liquid stock

18-20cm cob loaf

2 garlic cloves, extra, sliced

100g (1 cup) coarsely grated mozzarella

Micro herbs, to serve

The end result: cheesy beef casserole cob.

Method

Step 1

Toss the beef and flour in a bowl or snap-lock plastic bag until well coated.

Flour the beef and mix in a snap-lock bag.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Cook the beef, in 2 batches, turning, for 5 minutes or until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a bowl.

Step 3

Add the bacon and onion to pan. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the bacon is golden. Add crushed garlic, bay leaves and rosemary. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic. Add beef, tomato, tomato paste and stock. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, for 11 ⁄2 hours. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly. Season.

Cook the beef in two batches.

Step 4

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Cut the top third from the cob loaf. Scoop out the bread inside, leaving a 2cm-thick shell. Tear the inside bread into large pieces and place on the baking tray. Spray bread with oil and toss with sliced garlic. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden. Transfer to a bowl.

Step 5

Place the cob on the tray. Spoon the beef mixture into the cob, discarding the bay leaves and rosemary stem. Top with the garlicky bread croutons. Sprinkle with the mozzarella. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beef is warmed through. Serve sprinkled with micro herbs.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Winter warmer recipe: Try this hearty cheesy beef casserole cob