Beef Braised In Beer

Total Time: 5 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 lbs braising steak, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 4 slices thick smoked streaky bacon, cut into 1/4 inch dice
• 4 onions, thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 3/4 pints guinness stout
• 12 stoned ready to eat prunes
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 300*f.
• 2 put the flour into a large plastic bag, add the meat a few pieces at a time and shake to coat.
• 3 meanwhile, melt half the butter in a large flameprrof caserole and fry the meat in batches until browned and crusty.
• 4 remove the meat and set aside.
• 5 add the remaining butter to the pan and fry the bacon until crisp.
• 6 add the onions, thyme ad bay leaves and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat until softened.
• 7 tip in any flour remaining in the bag and sir well, scraping the base of the pan.
• 8 increase the heat and pour in the guinness, stirring well, again scraping the base of the pan.
• 9 return the beef to the pan and stir in the prunes, vinegar and sugar.
• 10 season well, bring to a boil, cover then bake in the oven for 4 hours.
• 11 stir in the dijon mustard and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
• 12 serve with dumplings.
• 13 (see my recipe for classic english suet dumplings).