Sardines & Chocolat

Ingredients

• For the Marinade:
• 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
• 3 cups full-bodied red wine (eg, Bordeaux like cabernet sauvignon or merlot)
• ¾ cup Pommery Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 bouquet garni
• For the Stew:
• 3 tablespoons oil or lard
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 14.5 ounce can plain tomato sauce
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 medium carrots, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 3 turnips, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 medium rutabagas, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 medium parsnips, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Cut up the meat into 1-inch chunks. The meat is going to simmer for two hours to tenderize it but, generally you want to cut it against the grains for optimal tenderness.
2. Place the beef in the dutch oven with the onions and carrots and and bouquet garni.
3. Add the red wine and the red wine vinegar. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for 24 hours.
4. After it has fully marinated, remove the beef and pat it with paper towels to remove the excess moisture. This will enable it to brown properly and get that brown crust that is essential for the flavor of the stew.
5. Heat the oil in the dutch oven over medium-high heat once the oil is very hot add the beef, a few pieces at a time. Be sure not to overcrowd the pot otherwise the beef won’t brown, it will simply steam. Generously brown the pieces on all sides. Transfer them to a plate and set aside.
6. The browned crust that develops on the bottom of your pot – keep it! Don’t throw it out. Later when you add the liquid your going to deglaze the pot.
7. Add the onions and cook until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
8. Strain the contents of the marinade into a sieve over the dutch oven. You want all of the original marinade in the dutch oven. Discard the onions and carrots from the marinade but keep the bouquet garni.
9. Return the beef to the Dutch oven with the bouquet garni and the whole cloves. (Note: You can choose to wrap the cloves in a bit of cheesecloth or muslin so that you don’t have to fish them out later from the serving on your plate.) Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
10. Towards the end of the hour, chop up the vegetables.
11. Add the vegetables along with the tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
12. Return everything to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for another hour or until the vegetables are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.
13. Serve with some crusty bread.

This recipe inspired by The Daring Gourmet.