Cheeseburger Paradise Soup
There are some recipes that are worth the wait and Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon is one of them. You can’t and shouldn’t rush savory, seared beef, and fork-tender vegetables, especially when they simmer a rich full-flavored sauce. When a recipe is this good, there’s no need to rush, are we right? Don’t be surprised when this time-honored dish wows your whole crew. There’s a reason this beef bourguignon is a culinary cult-classic, and they’ll see and taste why.
Ingredients
- 6slices bacon, cut into lardons
- 3 1/2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3pounds stewing beef, cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1large carrot, sliced
- 1large white onion, sliced
- 1pinch coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
- 3cups red wine, like a chianti
- 2 1/2to 3 1/2 cups beef stock
- 1tablespoon tomato paste
- 2cloves smashed garlic
- 1/2teaspoon thyme
- 1crumbled bay leaf
- 18to 24 small pearl onions
- 3 1/2tablespoons butter
- 1herb bouquet (4 sprigs parsley, 2 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf)
- 1pound fresh white mushrooms, quartered
Steps
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1Simmer bacon lardons in 4 cups water for 10 minutes (Lardon is the French culinary term referring to thin strips of bacon, cut approximately 1/4-inch thick). Drain and pat dry.
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2Preheat oven to 450°F. In a large Dutch oven, sauté the bacon in 1 tablespoon of oil for about 3 minutes, until it starts to lightly brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
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3Dry the beef with a few paper towels for better browning. In batches, sear the beef on all sides in the Dutch oven. Set aside with the bacon.
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4Back in the pot, add the sliced carrots and onions; sauté in fat until browned, about 3 minutes. If there’s any excess fat, drain it now.
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5Add the bacon and beef back to the pot. Season with 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Toss. Sprinkle with flour and toss once more. Place in the center of the oven for 4 minutes.
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6Remove pot from oven; toss beef and place back in the oven for 4 more minutes. Remove the pot from the oven and reduce the heat to 325°F.
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7To the pot, add the wine and stock. The liquid should barely cover the meat and vegetables. Add the tomato paste, garlic and thyme. Bring to a light simmer on the stove, then cover and simmer in the lower part of the oven for 3 to 4 hours, or until the meat is easily pierced.
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8In the last hour of cooking, bring 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and 2 teaspoons oil to a medium heat in a sauté pan. Add the pearl onions and toss around in the fat until they’ve browned, 10 minutes. Then stir in 1/2 cup beef stock, a small pinch of salt and pepper and the herb bouquet. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the onions for about 40 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated, and the onions are tender.
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9Remove the onions and set aside. Discard the herb bouquet and wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining butter and oil and bring to a medium heat.
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10Add the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan to coat with the butter.
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11Place a colander over a large pot. Drain the beef stew through the colander and into the pot. Place the pot with the sauce over a medium heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, skimming any fat on top. Pour the beef and vegetables back into the Dutch oven. Add the pearl onions and mushrooms to the pot. Pour the sauce over the beef mix and simmer an additional 3 to 5 minutes.
Expert Tips
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