Daube de boeuf provençal from Michelin-starred chef Eric Chavot

Name: Daube de boeuf provençal from Michelin-starred chef Eric Chavot
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 1.2kg beef feather blade or beef cheeks, trimmed6 smoked bacon rashers250g tinned tomatoes2 onions (diced)300g carrots (sliced)1 celery stick (sliced)1 sprigs rosemary4 sprigs lemon thyme10 black peppercorns4 cloves½ cinnamon stickOrange and lemon peels from ½ an orange and a lemon750ml red wine375ml white wine500ml veal stock (use good quality beef stock cubes if you can’t find veal stock)Fine sea salt to taste1 tbsp vegetable oil

Melt-in-the-mouth beef paired with a heady red wine. You can say bon appétit

Published: Monday 12th October 2015

Beef

Serves 6

Preparation time 10 mins

Cooking time 180 mins

A slow-cooked stew is hard to beat; meltingly tender meat in a rich, flavoursome sauce, accompanied by mash and a plethora of vegetables, make it one of the most satisfying meals to cook and eat. This recipe from Eric Chavot and his Michelin-starred, eponymous brasserie takes inspiration from traditional French cuisine, using cloves, cinnamon and orange and lemon peel for a warming kick.

Ingredients

1.2kg beef feather blade or beef cheeks, trimmed
6 smoked bacon rashers
250g tinned tomatoes
2 onions (diced)
300g carrots (sliced)
1 celery stick (sliced)
1 sprigs rosemary
4 sprigs lemon thyme
10 black peppercorns
4 cloves
½ cinnamon stick
Orange and lemon peels from ½ an orange and a lemon
750ml red wine
375ml white wine
500ml veal stock (use good quality beef stock cubes if you can’t find veal stock)
Fine sea salt to taste
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

Gently season the beef and colour in a heated frying pan until golden all over.
Remove the meat and set aside. Quickly fry the bacon rashes, and then set aside with the beef.
Using the same pan, gently cook your vegetables until golden brown, soft and sweet.
Add the tomato and cook gently for a couple of minutes.
Remove the mixture from the pan and drain in a small colander.
Deglaze the pan with the wine, bring to a gentle simmer and reduce by half.
Place the beef in an ovenproof casserole dish; add your bacon, vegetables, wine, veal stock, spices and herbs.
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover with a paper cartouche (baking paper cut into a circle that fits snugly on top of the ingredients in the saucepan) and a lid and place in your preheated oven at 210°C / Fan 185°C / Gas 6.5.
Cook gently for up to 3 to 3 ½ hours. When done the meat should feel soft to the touch and have no resistance when your prick it gently with a fork.
When ready, remove from the oven, and leave to stand until tepid. Remove the meat gently from the casserole into a deep dish, and cover with cling film.
Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan and reduce to a nice shiny sauce consistency. Add the meat when done. Serve with a creamy mash potato and a garnish of glazed button onions; glazed baby carrots, niçoise olives, semi-dried tomato and chargrilled baby artichokes.

Want to nail the wine pairing? Wine expert Jane Parkinson suggests a Domaines Paul Mas Vinus Malbec and a Les Jamelles Syrah.

Eric Chavot is working with Pays d'Oc IGP wines. For more info: paysdoc-wines.com