Student Stew

We had the delight of eating out with two daughters and one partner last night. The way the student daughter fell upon her meat dish, positively salivating at the taste of meat after weeks of boring student veg , led to the promise to put a basic meat stew on this as well as more variety of veg dishes. So this is for H.

Student Stew

A 500g pack of stewing beef
Carrots, onions, parsnips and a swede - these are the basic mix. A leek or two, mushrooms, a couple of celery sticks are good additions but not essential. For this quantity of meat, you can put in many veg as you like but a minimum would be 6 carrots, 2 onions, 3 parsnips and one small swede or half a larger one.
Oxo cubes or other beef stock cubes, mixed herbs, dried bay leaf

1. Make sure the beef is not in very large pieces, and do not have too much fat or gristle on. You want some fat but use a sharp knife to trim anything excessive off and to cut the beef into bite sized cubes. If you buy from a butcher, the best option, ask for shin beef and ask them to cut it for you. Supermarket packets are fine but are not always very carefully prepared.
2. Put a couple of tsbpns flour onto a plate. Add salt and pepper. Dip your meat pieces into this and turn them over so they are coated.
3. Heat some oil and butter in a large deep pan
4. Put your beef in to brown, about half at a time, so that you don't crowd the pan too much. let one lot brown and lift out before doing the next. Only add more fat if you need it.
5. Now add all the veg,chopped up - carrots and onions quite large, parsnips and swede smaller, to the empty pan, with a little more fat. Turn the heat down and let them sweat - that is the technical term. Turn them over so that they all start to soften . There should be a delicious smell now in the kitchen. Add S&P.
6. Now put the meat back in, just cover the lot with water, add 2 oxo cubes and the herbs.
7. Put onto a very low heat so the liquid is only just simmering and leave for as long as possible - at least 2 hours and 3 is perfect, 4 is fine. If you have a big enough oven dish, put on the lowest heat for several hours or No 3 for 3 hours.
8. Taste and check that there is enough liquid If there is too much or it seems thin,add a little Bisto and cook a few minutes more. Add more S&P, a little Worcester Sauce, more oxo etc if you are not happy with its oomph.
9. Eat with greens.
10. The next day, add baked beans and reheat.

A variation is to add baked beans and potatoes at the start - or experiment and add whatever takes your fancy.