Bazella (middle Eastern-style Beef Casserole)

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 3
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 lb lean braising steak, cut into small cubes
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups red wine
• 5 ounces tomato paste
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 fresh bay leaf
• 1 dash worcestershire sauce
• 1 ounce shelled fava beans, fresh
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• crusty bread, to serve

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 350°f
• 2 heat the oil in heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. add the onion and garlic, and gently fry until golden.
• 3 add the braising steak and cinnamon, and fry for a further 3-5 minutes, stirring, until the meat is lightly browned. transfer the contents of the frying pan to a casserole.
• 4 deglaze the frying pan with half the wine, and pour this mixture into the casserole.
• 5 add the tomato paste, water and remaining wine to the casserole. stir in the bay leaf and a dash of worcestershire sauce. mix well and season to taste.
• 6 place the casserole in the oven and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes.
• 7 stir in the beans and cook for a further 10 minutes.
• 8 stir in the parsley just before serving.
• 9 ladle into serving dishes and garnish each dish with a parsley sprig.
• 10 serve with good crusty bread.