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Corsican Beef Stew

Tender chunks of beef served in a rich sauce over pasta.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz dried porcini mushrooms
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 4 oz bacon, diced
  • 2 lb stewing beef, cubed
  • freshly ground pepper
  • kosher salt
  • 2 onions, roughly chopped about two cups
  • 6 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp red wine or balsamic vinegar balsamic yields a more rich sauce
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 4 tbsp tomato paste I buy tomato paste in the tube which is perfect for recipes like this where you only need a small amount.
  • 1 cinnamon stick Buy this in a bulk food section or store for maximum freshness.
  • 2 rosemary sprigs
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 lb dried pasta
  • freshly grated parmigiano cheese

Instructions
 

  • Placed the dried mushrooms in a bowl. Pour the boiling water over the mushrooms. Let them sit for 30 minutes to re-hydrate. Be sure to strain the mushroom liquid before adding it to the stew - I run it through a clean disposable coffee filter placed inside of a strainer.
  • Fry the bacon in a frying pan until crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Place in a Dutch oven.
  • Add the olive oil to the bacon grease in the frying pan. Brown the beef on all sides in the hot oil. Season with salt and pepper. This will likely need to be done in two or three batches. Throwing the beef all in at once will boil it, not brown it. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in the Dutch oven.
  • Add the onion and garlic to the frying pan. Fry at medium heat until transparent and golden. Pour cooked onion and garlic over the meat in the Dutch oven.
  • Pour the vinegar and stock in the frying pan. Bring to a boil and reduce for 2 - 3 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pan while reducing the liquid. pour over the meat and onion mixture.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except for pasta and cheese. Cover the pot and place in a oven heated to 325 degrees. Cook for two hours. Stirring every 30 minutes or so. NOTE: this cal also be done on the stove top. If you go this route simmer slowly on a low heat. You'll need to check on it more often so it doesn't stick and burn.
  • When the stew is cooked, cook the pasta. Drain.
  • Serve the stew on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with cheese.