Boeuf Bourguignon

Recipe by: Anthony Bourdain | from Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 4 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Traditionally, this dish is cooked entirely with red wine. And that’s fine, just fine. But if you listened to me earlier, and keep a stash of good, strong demi-glace kicking around In your freezer, a couple of spoonfuls give the sauce a nice flavor boost. This is one of the easiest dishes in this book, and also one of the best.

Yield: Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

2 lb (900 g) paleron of beef or same amount of shoulder or neck, cut into 1½-inch (4-cm) pieces
Salt and pepper
¼ cup (56 ml) olive oil
4 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbsp (28 g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (225 ml) red Burgundy
6 carrots, cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
1 garlic clove
1 bouquet garni
A little chopped flat leaf parsley

Equipment:

Dutch oven, or large, heavy-bottomed pot
Wooden spoon
Large spoon or ladle

Directions

STAGE ONE

Season the meat with salt and pepper. In the Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat until it is almost smoking. Add the meat, in batches—NOT ALL AT ONCE!—and sear on all sides until it is well browned (not gray). You dump too much meat in the pot at the same time and you’ll overcrowd it; cool the thing down and you won’t get good color. Sear the meat a little at a time, removing it and setting it aside as it finishes. When all the meat is a nice, dark brown color and has been set aside, add the onions to the pot. Lower the heat to medium high until the onions are soft and golden brown (about 10 minutes). Sprinkle the flour over them. Continue to cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the red wine. Naturally, you want to scrape up all that really good fond from the bottom of the pot with your wooden spoon. Bring the wine to a boil.

STAGE TWO

Return the meat to the pot and add the carrots, garlic, and bouquet garni. Add just enough water (and two big spoons of demi-glace, if you have it) so that the liquid covers the meat by one third—meaning you want a ratio of 3 parts liquid to 2 parts meat. This is a stew, so you want plenty of liquid, even after it cooks down and reduces. Bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer, and let cook for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender (break-apart-with-a-fork tender).

You should pay attention to the dish, meaning check it every 15 to 20 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to make sure the meat is not sticking or, God forbid, scorching. You should also skim off any foam or scum or oil collecting on the surface, using a large spoon or ladle. When done, remove and discard the bouquet garni, add the chopped parsley to the pot, and serve.

This dish is much better the second day. Just cool the stew down in an ice bath, or on your countertop (the Health Department is unlikely to raid your kitchen). Refrigerate overnight. When time, heat and serve. Goes well with a few boiled potatoes. But goes really well with a bottle of Côte de Nuit Villages Pommard.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information includes 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving

Calories 360kcal (18%)

Calcium 56mg (6%)

Vitamin C 7mg (12%)

Vitamin A 383mcg RAE (13%)

Potassium 586mg

Magnesium 35mg

Protein 24g

Sugar 5g

Fiber 2g