Coq En Daube Recipes

BOEUF EN DAUBE - CLASSIC FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY STEW (BOURGUIGNON)

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine beef, Cognac, cloves, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, sage, thyme, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, orange peel, wine, and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days, stirring from time to time.
• Bring the meat and vegetables to room temperature. Drain, reserving the marinade.
• Blot the beef and veggies dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 325F/175°C.
• In a large heavy oven proof dish (such as a cast iron dutch oven or Le Creuset), fry the bacon over medium heat until it renders its fat, about 3-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to paper towels and reserve.
• Working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, add the meat and vegetables to the fat in the pan, and brown them on all sides over medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper as they brown, about 7 minutes per batch.
• Transfer to a platter. Add the marinade to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-third, about 8 minutes. Skim off the foam from the surface. Add the stock or consomme, and simmer another 8 minutes, until reduced again by one-third. Stir in the pinch of sugar and the tomato paste, (and add the diced tomatoes and green olives now, if using).
• Return the meat, vegetables and reserved bacon to the pot. Cover and bake in the oven until the meat is tender, 2 1/2-3 hours. -OR- alternately, at this stage you can cook in the crock-pot on LOW heat 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH heat 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve with a rustic bread for mopping the juices, along with a green salad and a platter of cheeses.
• Freezes and reheats beautifully. Leftovers will make a lovely Cottage-Shepherd's Pie a la Provencale, see my recipe #355446.

BOEUF EN DAUBE - FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY IN THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Marinade the beef with the herbs, shallots & garlic over night in the bottle of red wine.
• Drain and put the wine to one side.
• In a large skillet or fryng pan, sear & brown the beef pieces over a high heat in the olive oil until nutty & brown. Do not overcrowd the pan!
• Place browned beef into the crock pot or cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish.
• Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy & golden brown. Drain & add to the beef.
• Brown the shallots & garlic in the bacon fat & add to the beef & bacon.
• Add all the other ingredients, except the cornflour, to the crock pot including the reserved wine.
• (Add the tinned tomatoes & sun dried tomatoes at this stage too if you are using them.).
• Cook on automatic or High for 4 hours and Low for up to 6 hours.
• (For conventional cooking - pre-heat oven to 175 degs C or 325 degs F or gas mark 3 and cook SLOWLY for approximately 4 to 6 hours; check towards the end, the meat should be extemely tender - you MUST not be tempted to cook it quicker, it will be tough!).
• Towards the end, blend & mix the cornflour with a couple of spoons of the stock in the crock pot & add to the beef, stirring well. It should not be TOO thick but just like a glaze or thickened jus. Add the cognac at this stage as well - sirring into the daube.
• Serve with Green Beans, Mashed, Steamed or Pureed Potatoes during the colder months OR with a selection of salads, crusty French bread & Pasta during the warmer months. The excess sauce can be used or saved as a fantastic gravy or stock later!
• THIS IS BETTER MADE 24 HOURS BEFORE EATING!
• Freezes beautifully - I always make a large batch and then freeze some.
• NOTE:If you cannot buy sun dried orange peel, make your own, it's VERY easy! Peel some oranges with a swivel head vegetable peeler or parer, be careful not to peel the pith. Spread outside on a rack in the full sun and leave to dry for about 2-4 hours. Weather permitting of course - otherwise dry in an airing cupboard or a very LOW oven overnight.Store in an airtight jar for up to 2 years.
• If you are really stuck - just grate some fresh orange peel into the daube, it will not have the same intensity as dried peel, but it will work!

DAUBE A LA PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Marinate the beef in the red wine, vinegar, carrots and 1/2 of the onions for 6 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Remove the beef from the marinade (reserving the marinade) and dry gently with paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy Dutch oven over medium heat and cook the bacon lardons until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside, reserving the fat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the bacon fat in the Dutch oven and brown the beef on all sides. Once the beef is browned, add in the reserved marinade, bacon lardons, the remaining onions, rosemary, thyme, garlic and bay leaves. Add 2 cups water and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover tightly and cook in the oven for 3 to 4 hours. Check the daube every hour and add a little more water if needed. Remove the herbs and serve the daube (be sure to reserve the sauce) with the Macaronade.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a gratin dish.
• Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package's instructions for al dente. Drain and toss with the cheese and daube sauce. Place the pasta in the gratin dish, and top with the breadcrumbs, sprinkle with salt and pepper and dot with the butter. Bake 15 minutes and serve with the daube.

BEEF DAUBE PROVENCAL

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle meat with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; brown meat in batches. Transfer beef to 4-qt. slow cooker. , Add carrot, onions, garlic and remaining salt and pepper to skillet; cook and stir until golden brown, 4-6 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan; bring to a boil. , Transfer meat mixture, tomatoes, broth and seasonings to slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 5-7 hours or until tender. Discard bay leaf. Serve with hot cooked pasta or mashed potatoes. If desired, sprinkle with fresh thyme.

COQ EN DAUBE

Steps:

• Place chicken pieces in a shallow bowl with the carrots, onion, garlic, leek, salt, pepper, cloves, ginger, thyme, and just enough red wine to cover. Marinate for 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• To cook, brown the drained chicken in olive oil until nicely covered on all sides. Place in a deep casserole with pig's foot or pork skin and a tiny piece of orange rind. Strain marinade and add just enough to cover the chicken (if more liquid is needed, add red wine). Cover casserole and simmer on top of the stove or in a 300°F oven for 3 to 4 hours. Remove chicken to a hot platter, skin fat from juices and pour them over chicken. Serve with noodles, macaroni or any pasta and asparagus or endive. To serve cold, arrange chicken in a bowl, pour juices over it and chill until jellied. With this, drink Volnay.