2010-09-12

Beef Stew / Casserole de Boeuf

Here is our first recipe...in French and English.
(text: ic ; food & image: dc)

Beef Stew
Ingredients:
1-1.5 kg of stewing beef in cubes
2 tablespoons of salt*
2 tablespoons of pepper*
2 teaspoons of paprika*
2 teaspoons of  ground cumin*
2 teaspoons of curry powder*
4 tablespoons of flour
2-3 bay leaves**
1 tablespoon of oregano**
2 cups of broth/water
2 tablespoons of oil
2 cinnamon sticks
2-3 carrots
2-3 stalks of celery
1-2 onions or 3-4 shallots
2-3 cloves of garlic
2-3 tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
any spices or herbs you want***
cilantro or parsley***

1. In a large skillet, add the oil. 
2. Add the stewing beef. Turn the heat to medium-high. Sear the beef on all sides until it is browned. 
3. Meanwhile, in a baking sheet, add the flour and spices*.
4. Remove the beef from heat and toss them into the baking tray. Roll them around so that every cube is covered with the flour coating.
5. Put the beef back in the pan. Put the skillet in the oven and broil it for 3-4 minutes.
6. In the meantime put the celery, carrots, onions, shallots, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon and herbs** in a large casserole/pot.
7. Remove the beef from heat and place it into the casserole.
8. Pour broth/water into the pan and remove scraps from bottom. Pour mixture into casserole.
9.  Remove tomato paste from can and put in casserole.
10. Mix the tomato paste and broth together.
11. Cook in oven for 3 hours at 325F.
12. Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro or parsley. Enjoy!




Casserole de boeuf 
Ingrédients:
  1-1,5 kg de boeuf en cubes
  4 cuillères de table de farine
  2 cuillères de table d’huile
  2 tasses de soupe/eau

2 à 3 carottes
2 à 3 fanes de céléri
1 à 2 oignons ou 2 à 3 échalotes
2 à 4 clous d’ail
1 canne de pâte de tomate
2 à 4 tomates 
2-3 feuilles de laurier**
2 pièces de cannelle** 
1 cuillère de table de d’oregano**
2 cuillères de table de sel*
2 cuillères de table de poivre*
2 cuillères de café de paprika*
2 cuillères de café de cumin*
2 cuillères de café de poudre curry*
Herbes***
Coriandre***

1. Dans un poêle large, ajoutez l’huile. Mettez et cuisez le boeuf jusqu’afin le boeuf est cuit et brun.
2. A ce moment, dans un plaque à four, mettez les épices et la farine.
3. Enlevez le boeuf du chaud. Mettez-les dans le plaque à four.Roulez-les dans la farine jusqu’a tous les cubes sont couverts.
4. Grillez le boeuf dans la poêle au four à 450º pour 5 minutes.
5. Mettez les légumes, tomates, ail et herbes dans une casserole.
6. Mettez le boeuf et la pâte de tomate.
7. Verse la soupe/eau dans la poêle. Enlevez les petits pièces du poêle et mettez la mixture dans la casserole.
8.  Mettez dans le four pour 3 heures à 325º
9. Enlevez du four, mettez le coriandre et mangez!

2010-03-11

Pork Belly - Braised in Aged Dark Soy




the boeuf bourguinon left me w/ much

aftertaste & inspiration

+ + +

thinking what could be her

oriental counterpart

+ + +

pork - definitely pork, common & favorite meat

must be rich & juicy > belly, the bacon 's home

what could possibly par w/ red wine?

couldn't really find the equivalent...

then

there is dark soy marinade





the basic ingredients

are the simmered mixture of

dark soy, soy, rock sugar, sugar cane

dried mandarin zest(skin),

ginger, garlic, green onion,

star anise, clove, cinnamon, white pepper

& perhaps some Shao Hsing wine

plus what not


+ + +

the marinade does carry balanced favours

match to complexity of wine?

hmmm... well

then







there is this absolutely unique aged marinade

which made up part leftover sauce from braising

re-braising

protein (usually w/ poultry &/or pork)

&

part fresh new ingredients

to add up the volume

+ + +

he, like starter dough.

just idly sits in back of the fridge (or freezer)

waiting to be called upon

to add life, dimension of otherwise

dull (often ex-frozen) meat






with my personal aged dark soy marinade

applying the similar approach as  boeuf bourguinon

here is the dish







more pork bellies later







has been a succulent meal

& fun, creative exercise


2010-01-19

boeuf bourguignon





watched & loved "Julie & Julia"


all of us


got "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"





(IC paid most & owns them)


+ + +


most mentioned dish in the film?


boeuf bourguinon!


as such, here we are


an attempt


based mostly on Julia 's recipe


except missing/substituting a few ingredients


& go-with-the-flow quantity


+ + +


cut the braising rib into cubes





brown them w/ bacon





+ + +


season the beef w/ salt & pepper


& cover them with a layer of flour


a coating will form after a few minutes in 450F oven


while


sautéed garlic, onion, carrot...in the meat fat


+ + +


then toss them all in the casserole





+ + +


pour in red wine, beef broth


add bay leave & thyme (didn't have; so star anises)


some tomato paste


then


cover & braise in oven (325F) for at least 3 hours


+ + +


this is the when to prepare


sautéed mushroom & pearl onion (don't have)


& prepare your carbonhydrate


& vegetables, if wished


 + + +


the beef is ready as it would easily gives to a fork








add in mushroom & parsley





& close up





w/ some mashed potato (should have left it plain


as the stew is packed w/ flavours)


+ peas...


& arrived at


a very satisfying boeuf bourguinon









was the most tender beef stew we ever had












creation.2010.01.13.













2010-01-18

Spaghetti Bolognese (chunky)

enjoy & respect Heston Blumenthal 's


"Search for Perfection" work - only watched a handful of episodes


one night (2009.12.19, to be precise) 


viewed a couple minutes clipping of a particular show (@YouTube)


on Spaghetti Bolognese


inspired to hack something together the next day...


+++


brown the chopped onion w/ star anise


which will help to bring out the "umami" in meat





+++


Heston 's ragout based on hand-minced pork & braised ox-tail


(will try next time as the ox-tail have great flavour & texture)


went my way (w/ what i got in the fridge)


with pork belly, pork loin & rib eye slices





browned them (maybe too brown... would love more juice)







+++


 sautéed some mushroom (portabella & abolone mushroom here)


yes, in butter







+++


combine above components w/ cream


yes, in butter





+++


a whole different tomato sauce approach


get the flesh & roughly dice them


save the juice, pulp & vine


major flavour in the juice & liquid within seed pulp (sac)







prepare the sauce w the tomato flesh, juice, vine, garlic, herbs


salt & pepper, too







+++


then


spaghetti + ragout + sauce + Parmesan  cheese


drizzle tomato / ragout sauce around


perhaps sprinkle some green herbs (if avail... would look smarter)















creation.2009.12.20.


2009-12-17

Japanese Chicken & Vegetables Curry on Steamed Calrose + Brown Rice

had chiropractor session + karate lesson for IC
 = little time







boil potato & carrot chunks (may as well together)


season (for a while), brown, bake chicken thighs


chop & caramelised onion


wash & cook calrose : brown (3:1) rice


minced some garlic


chop a couple of green peppers


***


when the potatoes done & the surfaced got powdery


started the skillet w/ oil & garlic


add the potato carrot liquid


drop a few cubes of japanese curry


dump the root vegetable chunks + caramelised onion


add the chicken (yes w/ the juices)


cook until reached your desired thickness


tasted & twiddle the sauce...


(mine was too salty as i rubbed the thighs
w/ excessive coarse sea salt
salvage it w/ water, sugar & maple syrup)


put in the green pepper


scoop some rice & ladles of curry


a warm meal for a cold day





creation.2009.12.17