Flemishstew Recipes

FISH STEW

Steps:

• Cut the fish fillets into 3-inch pieces. Season with 1 tablespoon of the rub. Set aside in the refrigerator. Make a roux by combining the oil and flour in a large cast-iron or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir slowly with a wire whisk or wooden spoon for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the roux becomes dark brown, the color of chocolate. Add the celery, onions, bell peppers, and chilies. Cook, stirring often, for 6 to 7 minutes. Add the bay leaves and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, water, and the remaining 1 teaspoon rub. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until a thin oil film appears on the surface. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking. Increase the heat to medium, add the broth, salt, and cayenne and cook for about 15 minutes. Lay the fish in the mixture and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. During the last 5 minutes of cooking time, add the green onions and parsley. Remove the bay leaves. Serve hot.

FLEMISH BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In medium saucepan over moderate heat, melt butter. Add beef cubes and sauté, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned on most sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl (do not clean saucepan) and add flour, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine, then transfer to slow cooker.
• In same saucepan over high heat, bring 1 cup ale to boil, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Pour over beef in slow cooker. Stir in remaining 2 cups ale, onions, garlic, brown sugar, mustard, thyme, bay leaves, and cloves. Cover and cook on low 6 hours. Add bread and continue cooking until meat is tender and sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 hours more.
• Stir in lemon juice. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve hot.

FLEMISH BEEF ROAST (OR STEW) WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Fry bacon in 5-quart Dutch Oven until crisp.
• Remove with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
• Cook beef in bacon fat over medium heat, turning occasionally, until brown; drain.
• Add brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, pepper, thyme, bacon, water and beer.
• Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer just until beef is tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• (OR transfer to crock pot after boiling and cook on LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours until beef is tender).
• If serving that evening, continue onto"TO SERVE" or cover and refrigerate beef and broth separately.
• (Store no longer than 48 hours).
• TO SERVE:.
• About 45 minutes before serving, remove fat from broth.
• (If using crock pot, add vegetables for the last 1 1/2 hours).
• Heat beef and broth to boiling.
• Add vegetables; cover and simmer until beef is hot and vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove beef and vegetables to warm platter.
• Shake water and flour in covered container; stir into broth.
• Heat to boiling, stirring or whisking constantly.
• Boil and stir for 1 minute.
• Serve with beef and vegetables.

STOOFVLEES (FLEMISH BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Peel and roughly dice the onions.
• Melt a knob of butter and about 1 tbsp of oil in a large (preferably cast-iron) casserole over medium heat. Sauté the onions until soft and just starting to brown. Remove from the casserole and put into a large container.
• Add 1 to 2 more tbsp of oil to the casserole. Season the beef and add the meat to the casserole. Brown the beef cubes over medium heat in batches. (About 7 to 8 pieces of meat per batch should do the trick.) Once browned, add each batch to the onions.
• Add the Loonse stroop/syrup and beer to the casserole and turn up the heat. Bring to a boil and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the casserole.
• Once the stewing liquid comes to a boil, add the onion and beef cubes back to the casserole, along with the cloves and bouquet garni. Give the stew-to-be a good stir and bring to a simmer.
• Next, spread 1 tbsp of mustard on each slice of bread and place both slices (mustard side down) on top of the stew. (They'll disintegrate completely, adding flavour to the stew and thickening the sauce.)
• Let the stew simmer (uncovered!) for 1.5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Then pop a lid on and simmer for another 15 minutes. This adds a touch more moisture back to the casserole, which the dish will need. Remove from the heat.
• Remove the bouquet garni (and cloves, if you can find them). Add the tablespoon of vinegar, and give your stoofvlees a good stir.
• Now comes the most difficult part. Leave it alone for at least 12 hours (with the lid on). The flavours will build up even more. It can be eaten straight away as well, but it will always taste better the day after.

FLEMISH BEEF STEW (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add half the beef and brown on all sides, turning frequently (about 5 minutes).
• Transfer to a 6 quart crock pot.
• Drain any fat from pan.
• Add the remaining 2 tsp oil and brown the remaining beef.
• Transfer to the crock pot.
• Return the skillet to medium heat, add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until they give off their liquid and it evaporates to a glaze (5-7 minutes).
• Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms; cook undisturbed for 10 seconds, then stir and cook for 30 seconds more.
• Pour in ale (or beer); bring to a boil, whisking constantly to reduce foaming, until thickened and bubbling (about 3 minutes).
• Transfer the mushroom mixture to the crock pot.
• Add carrots, onion, garlic, mustard, caraway seeds, salt, pepper and bay leaf to the crock pot.
• Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low until the beef is very tender, about 8 hours.
• Discard bay leaf before serving.
• ***To make ahead: Prepare though step 12 ; cover and refrigerate for up to one day before cooking in crock pot.
• Serves 8.

FLEMISH BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Reserve bacon drippings in pot.
• Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Place flour in large bowl. Toss meat in flour, shaking off excess and reserving remaining flour in bowl. Heat drippings in pot over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, add beef to pot and cook until just browned, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer meat to large bowl.
• Add onion and garlic to pot and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add remaining flour and stir 1 minute. Mix in broth, beer, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons thyme, and sugar. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until mixture thickens slightly, scraping up browned bits, about 15 minutes. Add beef, 1 tablespoon thyme, and 3 tablespoons parsley. Simmer until beef is cooked as desired, about 5 minutes for medium-rare. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer stew to bowls, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parsley and reserved bacon bits, and serve.