Friday, July 11, 2008

Corsican Beef

I swear I haven't died. Yes, it's been a long long time since I last posted. Truly, I'm sorry. Life has been moving at warp speed, and still hasn't slowed down yet. We had a family emergency, so I didn't get to take a picture. This picture is from the DK books website, and will have to suffice. It doesn't really do this dish justice, but it's all I've got. When I cook it, It's way more beautiful. My chunks of beef are bigger, the noodles are bigger and there's a freshly grated mountain of parmesan cheese on top. I do recommend using bigger pieces of beef than 2 in x 2 in. Mine are more like 3x3's and I try to stuff in as much garlic as I can into the slit first then plug it with the bacon. You can also use red wine instead of the white if that's all you've got. Please don't be put off by the less than appetizing picture. This dish will truly change your world, and impress the pants off of anyone that you feed it to, if that's what you're aiming to do.


CORSICAN BEEF STEW WITH MACARONI

1 oz dried mushrooms
6 cloves garlic
2lbs chuck roast, cut into 2 inch cubes
4 oz thick streaky bacon cut into 1x1/4 inch pieces
3 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions, sliced
1 ¼ cups dry white wine
2 tbsp tomato paste
pinch of ground cinnamon
sprig of rosemary
1 bay leaf
2 cups rigatoni (or other large tube pasta)
2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
salt and ground black pepper

Soak the dried mushrooms in warm water for 30 minutes. Drain, set the mushrooms aside and reserve the liquid. Cut three of the garlic cloves into thin strips and insert into the pieces of beef by making little slits with a sharp knife. Push the bacon pieces into the beef with the garlic. Season the meat with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan, add half the beef and brown well on all sides. Repeat with the remaining beef. Transfer to a plate. Add the sliced onions to the pan and cook until lightly browned. Crush the remaining garlic and add to the onions with the meat.

Stir in the white wine, tomato paste, mushrooms, cinnamon, rosemary and bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. Cook gently for 30 minute, stirring often. Strain the mushroom liquid and add to the stew with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer very gently for 3 hours, until the meat is very tender.

Cook the macaroni according to package directions for al dente. Lift the pieces of meat out of the gravy and transfer to a warmed serving platter. Drain the pasta and layer in a serving bowl with the gravy and cheese. Serve with the meat.

Recipe From: Mediterranean: over 300 sun-drenched recipes p. 290

4 comments:

Frozen Cacti said...

I think I remember you making this once.

I'm glad to see you blogging again. I have been seriously missing you!!!

Eloise said...

Yum! That looks delicious. I can't wait to try it.

Pencil Writer said...

I've made it--years after Amy had done so and her sister, Sarah had done so, and it really is delicious! It's a little time consuming, but cutting the beef into larger cubes really helps ALOT!

AND it looks far more appetizing in person.

Athena said...

This looks delicious. Will try and let you know, 4 years later from original post!!