Name: Healthier beef bourguignon
Total time: 3 h
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 3 tbsp plain flour, well seasoned; 500g extra-lean diced braising steak; olive oil; 18 baby onions or shallots, peeled; 4 carrots, peeled and diced; 250g chestnut mushrooms, halved; 500ml red wine; 400ml beef stock; 2 sprigs thyme; 2 bay leaves; chopped to make 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley; to serve new or mashed potatoes

3 tbsp plain flour
well seasoned
500g extra-lean diced braising steak
olive oil
18 baby onions or shallots
peeled
4 carrots
peeled and diced
250g chestnut mushrooms
halved
500ml red wine
400ml beef stock
2 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
chopped to make 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley
to serve new or mashed potatoes

Method

step 1
Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Sprinkle the flour over the beef, and toss well. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large casserole dish and fry the beef in batches until browned. Drain on kitchen paper. Add the onions, carrots and mushrooms to the oil, and fry for 10 minutes until the onions are turning golden and the carrots have softened. Add a splash of wine and stir to loosen the crisp bits at the bottom of the pan, before adding the drained beef pieces, the stock, herbs and the rest of the wine. Put on a tight-fitting lid with a layer of tin foil underneath the lid. Cook for 2 hours until the beef is tender and add seasoning if needed. Remove the meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon, and simmer the sauce on the hob to reduce and thicken it. Return the meat and veg to the pan and gently re-heat. Scatter over the parsley and serve with new or mashed potatoes.