HungryForever

CARBONNADES À LA FLAMANDE [Beef and Onions Braised in Beer]

Beer is typical for the Belgian braise, and gives a quite different character to beef than the red wine of the bourguignon. A bit of brown sugar masks the beer’s slightly bitter quality, and a little vinegar at the end gives character. Serve this with parsley potatoes or buttered noodles, a green salad, and beer.

Servings

Ingredients

piece A 3-lb.of lean beef from the chuck roast or rump
2 to 3 Tb rendered fresh pork fat or good cooking oil
A heavy skillet
1cups ½ lbs. or 6of sliced onions
salt and pepper
4cloves mashed garlic
inches A 9- to 10-inch fireproof casserole about 3½deep
salt and pepper
1cup strong beef stock or canned beef bouillon
2cups to 3light beerPilsner type
2 Tb light brown sugar
1tsp large herb bouquet: 6 parsley sprigs1 bay leaf, and ½thyme tied in cheesecloth
1 ½ Tb arrowroot or cornstarch blended with 2 Tb wine vinegar
Parsley potatoes or buttered noodles
Parsley Sprigs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut the beef into slices about 2 by 4 inches across and ½ inch thick. Dry on paper towels. Put a 1/16-inch layer of fat or oil in the skillet and heat until almost smoking. Brown the beef slices quickly, a few at a time, and set them aside.
Reduce heat to moderate. Stir the onions into the fat in the skillet, adding more fat if necessary, and brown the onions lightly for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and stir in the garlic.
Arrange half the browned beef in the casserole and season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread half the onions over the beef. Repeat with the rest of the beef and onions.
Heat the stock or bouillon in the browning skillet, scraping up coagulated cooking juices. Pour it over the meat. Add enough beer so the meat is barely covered. Stir in the brown sugar. Bury the herb bouquet among the meat slices. Bring casserole to the simmer on top of the stove. Then cover the casserole and place in lower third of preheated oven. Regulate heat so liquid remains at a very slow simmer for 2½ hours at the end of which time the meat should be fork-tender.
Remove herb bouquet. Drain the cooking liquid out of the casserole into a saucepan, and skim off fat. Beat the starch and wine vinegar mixture into the cooking liquid and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully correct seasoning. You should have about 2 cups of sauce. Pour the sauce back over the meat.
(*) May be prepared in advance to this point.
When ready to serve, cover the casserole and simmer slowly for 4 to 5 minutes until the meat is thoroughly heated through. Either bring the casserole to the table, or arrange the meat on a hot serving platter, spoon the sauce over it, surround with potatoes or noodles, and decorate with parsley.