JULIA CHILD'S BOEUF BOURGUIGNON

A few months ago I challenged myself and took to making a French dish.  I don't usually do "fancy"cooking since baking is more of my passion, but after watching the movie Julie and Julia (based off of a novel by Julie Powell who wrote on how Julia Child's life had changed her's), I was inspired to take a look at Julia Child's cookbook.  The one recipe that stood out in the movie was boeuf bourguignon, so choose that dish to make.  This dish is for intermediate cooks, but for me, who has not cooked that much, it was difficult.  The directions are so easy, but actually cooking was hard.

Anyways, here's the original recipe for boeuf bourguignon:

Boeuf Bourguignon/ Boeuf a la Bourguignonne

[Beef Stew in Red Wine, with Bacon, Onions, and Mushrooms]

As is the case with most famous dishes, there are more ways than one to arrive at a good boeuf bourguignon.  Carefully done, and perfectly flavored, it is certainly one of the most delicious beef dishes concocted by man, and can well be the main course for a buffet dinner.  Fortunately you can prepare it completely ahead, even a day in advance, and it only gains in flavor when reheated.

Vegetable and Wine Suggestions

Boiled potatoes are traditionally served with this dish.  Buttered noodles or steamed rice may be substitued.  If you also wish a green vegetable, buttered peas would be your best choice.  Serve with the beef a fairly full-bodied, young red wine, such as Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone, Bordeaux-St. Emilion, or Burgundy.

For 6 people

Ingredients:

A 6-ounce chunk of bacon

A 9- to 10-inch fireproof casserole 3 inches deep

1 Tb olive oil or cooking oil

A slotted spoon

3 lbs. lean stewing beef cut into 2-inch cubes (see preceding list of cuts)

1 sliced carrot

1 sliced onion

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 Tb flour

3 cups of a full-bodied, young red wine such as one of those suggested for serving, or a Chianti

2 to 3 cups brown beef stock or canned beef bouillon

1 Tb tomato paste

2 cloves mashed garlic

1/2 tsp thyme

A crumbled bay leaf

The blanched bacon rind

18 to 24 small white onions, brown-braised in stock

1 lb. quartered fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter

Parsley sprigs

                                                      

Remove rind, and cut bacon into lardons (sticks, 1/4 inch thick and 11/2 inches long).  Simmer rind and bacon for 10 minutes in 11/2 quarts of water.  Drain and dry.

                                                     

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

                                                     

Saute the bacon in the oil over moderate heat for 2 to 3 minutes to brown lightly.  Remove to a side dish with a slotted spoon.  Set casserole aside.  Reheat until fat is almost smoking before you saute the beef.

                                                     

Dry the beef in paper towels; it will not brown if it is damp.  Saute it, a fwe pieces at a time, in the hot oil and bacon fat until nicely browned on all sides.  Add it to the bacon.

                                                     

In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables.  Pour out the sauteing fat.

                                                     

Return the beef and bacon to the casserole and toss with the salt and pepper.  Then sprinkle on the flour and toss again to coat the beef lightly with the flour.  Set casserole uncovered in middle position of preheated oven for 4 minutes.  Toss the meat and return to oven for 4 minutes more.  (This browns the flour and covers the meat with a light crust.)  Remove casserole, and turn oven down to 325 degrees.

                                                     

Stir in the wine, and enough stock or bouillon so that the meat is barely covered.  Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs, and bacon rind.  Bring to simmer on top of the stove.  Then cover the casserole and set in lower third of preheated oven.  Regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  The meat is down when a fork pierces it easily.

                                                      

While the beef is cooking, prepare the onions and mushrooms.  Set them aside until needed.

                                                      

When the meat is tender, pour the contents of the casserole into a sieve set over a saucepan.  Wash out the casserole and return the beef and bacon to it.  Distribute the cooked onions and mushrooms over the meat.

                                                      

Skin fat off the sauce.  Simmer sauce for a minute or two, skimming off additional fat as it rises.  You should have about 2 1/2 cups of sauce thick enough to coat a spoon lightly.  If too thin, boil it down rapidly.  If too thick, mix in a few tablespoons of stock or canned bouillon.  Taste carefully for seasoning.  Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables.

(*) Recipe may be complete in advance to this point.

                                                       

FOR IMMEDIATE SERVING: Cover the casserole and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce several times.  Serve in its casserole, or arrange the stew on a platter surrounded with potatoes, noodles, or rice, and decorated with parsley.

                                                       

FOR LATER SERVING: When cold, cover and refrigerate.  About 15 to 20 minutes before serving, bring to the simmer, cover, and simmer very slowly for 10 minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.