Autumnal Beef and Chestnut Casserole

Slow cooked autumnal beef casserole with shin, stewing or braising cubes, root vegetables and chestnuts in red wine and stock. Warming and delicious autumn dish for four.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 2 hours

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 450g lean boneless shin, stewing or braising beef, cut into 2.5cm cubes
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour seasoned with salt and freshly milled black pepper and
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • 8 shallots, peeled and left whole
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 175g baby carrots, topped and left whole
  • 4 tomatoes, skinned, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 450ml good, hot beef stock
  • 200ml good red wine
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 200g cooked and peeled whole chestnuts

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 170°C, 150°C Fan, Gas Mark 3.
  2. Place the flour, seasoning and nutmeg into a large plastic food bag. Add the beef in batches and coat with the seasoned flour.
  3. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the beef for 4-5 minutes until brown on all sides. Transfer to a 1.2L ovenproof casserole dish.
  4. In the same frying pan cook the shallots, garlic and carrots for 2-3 minutes. Spoon into the casserole dish with the tomatoes.
  5. Add the remaining ingredients to the casserole dish, bring to the boil, cover and transfer to the oven to cook for 1½-2 hours.
  6. Serve with mustard mash.

Tips:

This recipe is perfect cooked in a slow cooker, but always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions first.