Beef braised in reduced red wine
Step by step recipe:
- 10 min.
- 2 min.
Pour 2 litres red wine into a large saucepan on low heat. Add all the flavouring ingredients, salt and pepper, then mix. - 1 hour
Leave uncovered on low heat to reduce by about 3/4.
Useful tip: weigh the full pan before reducing and check the weight from time to time until reduced by 3/4.
Once reduced to the right amount, take off the heat and discard the flavouring ingredients. - 5 min.
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
Prepare 1 kg beef by cutting into medium-sized chunks (about the size of your thumb).
Salt and pepper the chunks of meat. - 2 min.
Pour 4 tablespoons olive oil into a large casserole that can go both on the hob and in the oven.
Put on high heat and when hot, add the chunks of meat. - 5 min.
Stir frequently until the meat is lightly browned all over.
you will notice that the meat gives off a lot of liquid. - 2 min.
Tip out the meat and its juices into a dish and leave to rest. - 3 min.
Put the casserole back on medium heat and pour in 2 tablespoons olive oil. When really hot, add 200 g small pieces of bacon.
Fry for 2 or 3 minutes until lightly browned. - 2 min.
Return the chunks of meat to the casserole with or without the juices, as you prefer (I prefer without).
Pour in the reduced red wine, salt and pepper lightly, then stir to mix well. - 2 hours
Put the lid on the casserole and cook in the oven for about 2 hours. - 2 min.
After this time, take the casserole out of the oven and remove the lid. Scrape the bottom well to deglaze.
Your braised beef is ready. - 20 min.
You can serve this dish with almost anything you like: rice, chips or other potatoes, vegetables, etc.
These are fried sliced potatoes. 
Serve either plated up or take the casserole to the table for people to help themselves.
Remarks:
I recommend using one of the cheaper cuts of meat for this, such as brisket or shin of beef. Ask you butcher for a cut that is good for braising.For the herbs, don't worry if you don't have everything on the list, just use whatever you have available.
Use a strong wine with plenty of tannins, if possible, such as a Shiraz/Syrah. I'm thinking particularly of those reds from the south: Languedoc in France, Spain, or even further south, from Algeria.
And to drink?
Serve the same wine as you have used reduced to cook the beef or, let's just say something similar: red with plenty of tannins.Source:
Home made.Grade this recipe
More recipes?
This recipe use (among others)
Red wine: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Roscoff loaf, Pears in red wine with blackcurrant , Upside-down Parmentier, Mulled wine Belle-Plagne style, Rabbit civet, ... [All]
Beef : You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Beef Wellington, Upside-down Parmentier, Home-made doner kebab, Tournedos Rossini, Melt-in-the mouth meat and vegetables in a sealed casserole, ... [All]
Small pieces of bacon: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Spaghetti Carbonara, Eggs en Cocotte à la Française, Aperitif rolls, Vol-au-vent, Bacon rolls, ... [All]
Olive oil: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Tomato omelette, Tahitian style fish, Pesto, Pizza dough, Special Parmesan baguettes, ... [All]