Provencal Beef Stew…

There are many varieties of French beef stew. While in Saint Remy de Provence, one of the local specialty dishes was “Gardiane de Taureau”. This traditional Provencal bull beef stew, a type of daube, is also known as Camargue’s beef stew. A stew originating from the Camargue region of France, south of Arles, famous for its black bulls. Bull beef is much tougher than cow meat, so I have used cow meat for this recipe.

This stew is a perfect remedy for those seeking warmth in Winter or a treat for a lazy weekend. Entice the soul with this deliciously comforting Provencal Beef Stew.

 

 

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 24 hours, need to prepare the day before

Cooking Time: 2 ½ hours

 

Ingredients

1kg beef (casserole cut, I used chuck steak)

1 brown onion thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 sprigs thyme

2 springs rosemary

300ml red wine

3 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

20g butter

1 tbsp flour˚

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 rashers bacon, cut into small pieces

2 cups beef broth

tarragon, few leaves

1 bay leaf

6 small shallots

12 small mushrooms

3 large carrots, peeled and cut into one-inch chunks

Parsley, chopped for serving

 

Method

The day before, trim the meat and cut into cubes. Place in a bowl with sliced onion, 2 of the crushed garlic cloves, 1 sprig thyme, and 1 sprig rosemary. Cover with the red wine and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Let sit overnight in the fridge.

 

The day of cooking, lift the meat from the marinade, pat dry with a kitchen towel and season with salt and pepper. Keep aside. Next, lift the onions and herbs and separate from the liquid, reserving both for later.

 

Preheat the oven to 140˚C.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in an ovenproof saucepan or casserole pan. When hot, add the butter and then the meat and brown (you may need to cook meat in two batches if so use ½ the oil and butter for each portion). Transfer meat to a large plate and set aside when brown.

Add the bacon and fry adding more oil if necessary. Remove bacon when crisp and set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon oil and fry the reserved onions, garlic and herb mix, tarragon leaves and the extra 2 cloves garlic, for a few minutes. Deglaze the pan with the balsamic vinegar, removing the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, for about 5 minutes. Add the bacon and beef to the pan and stir to combine. Sprinkle with the flour and stir well. Add the reserved wine, beef broth, remaining herbs, bay leaf, and shallots. Stir well and then cover with lid and transfer to oven. Cook in the oven for 1½ hours, stirring halfway.

 

After 1 ½ hours remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and mushrooms. Stir well, cover and place back in the oven for about an hour more, or until the vegetables are cooked, the broth is thickened, and the meat is tender. If the liquid consistency is too thick, add more stock or water to loosen up the mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with freshly chopped parsley, accompanied by either mashed potato or crusty fresh bread.

 

Inspiration from St Remy; where we ate…

Brasserie les Variétés

Address: 32 Boulevard Victor Hugo 13210 Saint Rémy de Provence

Tel : (+33)04 90 90 17 36

In the heart of Saint Remy de Provence enjoy simple and homemade specialties all made from fresh and seasonal produce.

Gardiane de Taureau (pic)

 

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