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Le Carré des Bouchers

Recipe

Beef Bourguignon for 6

The great Burgundian classic: slow-cooking cuts of beef simmered for hours in red wine with lardons, baby onions and mushrooms. A recipe of patience, better still reheated the next day.

Serves 6
Prep
30 min
Cooking
3 h
Total
3 h 30
Difficulty
Intermediate
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Beef bourguignon served in its cast-iron casserole

Which cuts to choose?

In French butchery, bourguignon is made with braising cuts from both the fore and hind quarters: chuck (paleron), shoulder clod (macreuse), silverside (gîte), cheek (joue) or neck (collier). Each brings something: chuck and clod hold their shape, cheek and neck melt and bind the sauce, silverside gives bite. Mixing two or three cuts gives a more interesting texture than a single one. Allow about 250 g of trimmed meat per person. This is general advice: to know what the counter can prepare today, call us or browse the shop.

From the guide : Beef

Method

  1. Step 1The day before (optional)

    Marinate the meat overnight in the fridge in the wine with the sliced carrots, one sliced onion, the garlic and the bouquet garni. The next day, drain the meat, strain the wine and set the vegetables aside.

  2. Step 2Brown the meat· 15 min

    Pat the pieces thoroughly dry with kitchen paper and salt them. Heat the oil in the casserole and brown the meat in small batches on all sides without letting it stew. Set aside.

  3. Step 3Lardons and aromatics· 8 min

    In the same pot, brown the lardons, then add the onions and carrots (from the marinade, or fresh). Sweat for 5 minutes, scraping up the browned bits.

  4. Step 4Dust with flour· 3 min

    Return the meat, sprinkle with flour and stir for 2 minutes over medium heat to cook the flour. Add the tomato purée.

  5. Step 5Add the liquid· 5 min

    Pour in the wine and stock, add the crushed garlic and bouquet garni. The meat should be just covered. Bring to a simmer while stirring, then cover.

  6. Step 6Simmer· 2 h 45

    Simmer over the lowest heat, or in a 150 °C oven, for 2½ to 3 hours. The meat should yield to a fork. Never let it boil.

  7. Step 7The Burgundian garnish· 15 min

    Meanwhile, glaze the baby onions in a pan with 20 g of butter, a pinch of sugar and a splash of water until evaporated. Sauté the mushrooms in the remaining butter. Add everything to the casserole 20 minutes before the end.

  8. Step 8Finish and serve· 5 min

    Remove the bouquet garni, taste, adjust salt and pepper. If the sauce is thin, lift out the meat and reduce uncovered. Serve with steamed potatoes, fresh tagliatelle or a purée.

Butcher's tips

  • Pat the meat thoroughly dry before browning: wet meat boils instead of browning.
  • Brown in small batches without crowding the pot.
  • The wine must never boil hard during cooking: a bare simmer is enough.
  • Make it the day before: flavours round out and the fat lifts off easily once cold.
  • If the sauce is too thin at the end, remove the meat and reduce uncovered for a few minutes.

Resting and reheating

Rest 15 minutes off the heat before serving. Reheating: over a very low heat or in a 150 °C oven for 25 to 30 minutes, covered, with a splash of water if the sauce has thickened. Keeps 3 days in the fridge.

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