A well-loved classic featuring beef, mushroom, and bacon rashers
Yield
Serves 6
Prep Time
30mins
Cook Time
120mins
Difficulty Level
Download or Print

A French classic, this dish was favoured dinner-party fare 20 or 30 years ago and, thanks to the resurgence in popularity of rich and rustic comfort food, it has now reappeared on restaurant menus and in the repertoire of the keen home cook.

Ingredients

  • 350 g shallots
  • 2 tbsps olive oil
  • 2 kg gravy beef, trimmed, chopped coarsely
  • 30 g butter
  • 4 bacon rashers (280 g), rind removed, chopped coarsely
  • 400 g mushrooms, halved
  • 2 clove garlic, crushed
  • ¼ cup (35 g) plain flour
  • 1¼ cups (310 ml) beef stock
  • 2½ cups (625 ml) dry red wine
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
01.

Peel shallots, leaving root end intact so shallot remains whole during cooking.

02.

Heat oil in large flameproof casserole dish; cook beef, in batches, until browned.

03.

Heat butter in same dish; cook shallots, bacon, mushrooms and garlic, stirring, until shallots are browned lightly.

04.

Sprinkle flour over shallot mixture; cook, stirring, until flour mixture thickens and bubbles. Gradually add stock and wine; stir over heat until mixture boils and thickens. Return beef and any juices to dish, add bay leaves and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, about 2 hrs or until beef is tender, stirring every 30 mins.

05.

Stir in parsley; discard bay leaves just before serving.

Shallots, also called French shallots, golden shallots or eschalots, are small, elongated members of the onion family that grow in tight clusters similarly to garlic.

Photo: bauersyndication.com.au

Download or print the recipe