Braised Beef Cheek Daube
This braised beef cheeks recipe is perfect for a cold night with red wine. Begin this recipe 1 day ahead.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 each large onion, carrot & fennel bulb, chopped
- 2 cinnamon quills
- 3 garlic cloves, sliced
- 3 bay leaves
- 3/4 cup (180ml) dark rum
- 6 cup (1.5L) red wine
- Zest of 1 lemon & 1 orange, peeled into strips
- 1.5kg beef cheeks, cut into 3cm pieces
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 80g unsalted butter
- 8 small eschalots, peeled, left whole
- 250g sliced bacon, cut into 3 cm batons
- 300g small button mushrooms
- 2 1/2 tbs tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (35g) plain flour
- 3 cups (750ml) good-quality beef stock
- 1/2 bunch tarragon, finely chopped
- Mashed potato, to serve
1. Combine onion, carrot, fennel, cinnamon, garlic, bay leaves, rum, wine, citrus zest and beef in a bowl. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 160°C. Strain beef mixture, reserving marinade, beef and vegetable mixture separately. Bring marinade to the boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 5-6 minutes, skimming impurities from the surface. Strain through a fine sieve.
3. Heat half oil and half butter in a large heavy-based flameproof casserole over high heat. In batches, sear beef, stirring and tossing frequently, for 5-6 minutes until browned, set aside. Add remaining oil and butter with eschalots, bacon and mushrooms, and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes until vegetables have softened. Add reserved vegetables and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. Add tomato paste and stir for 1 minute, then stir in flour. Return meat to the pan with marinade and stock, scraping bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Bring to the boil, cover and braise in oven for 2 hours-2 hours 30 minutes or until meat is tender.
4. Skim fat from surface of beef pan. Strain, returning liquid to pan and set aside beef and vegetables in a bowl. Return pan to medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes to reduce and thicken sauce. Return beef to the sauce with tarragon and return to a simmer. Serve with mashed potato.
