Lydias French Oven Stew Recipes

LIDIA BASTIANICH - BEEF IN SGUAZET (BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• Soften the dried porcini about 30 minutes in a cupful of warm water, trim, and reserve the strained liquid.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil and sauté the onions for about 10 minutes over medium-high heat, until transparent.
• Add the bones, meat, bay leaves, cloves, salt, pepper and paprika, and sauté 10 minutes longer.
• Add the wine, raise the heat, and cook about 10 minutes, until the wine has reduced by half.
• Add the tomato paste and the porcini.
• Stir slowly and thoroughly, and add the reserved mushroom liquid.
• Simmer five minutes.
• Add half the chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the sauce thickens, about two hours.
• As the mixture cooks, add the remaining stock little by little.
• When the sguazet is finished, there should be about 6 cups of thick, chunky sauce.
• Serve with pasta, polenta or rice.

FRENCH OVEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat oven 300 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients in a heavy 3 quart ovenproof saucepot.
• Cover and bake, stirring once an hour, for 3 hours or until meat is tender and sauce is thickened.
• Discard bay leaves before serving or storing.
• Serve over buttered noodles if desired.
• You can use frozen small white onions instead of fresh but add them to the pot 1 hour before stew is done.
• You can also add frozen peas or frozen beans 20 minutes before stew is done -- .

BLUEPRINT FOR VEAL STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• In an oven proof casserole, heat, until very hot, half of the oil. In small batches brown the veal cubes on all sides. When one batch is done, add more oil if you need to and continue to brown until all the veal is done. Discard the fat in the casserole and replace it with the butter. Add the carrot, onion and celery, cover and simmer 5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add the white wine and boil down for a minute or until alcohol has evaporated. Return the veal cubes to the casserole with garlic and add just enough broth to barely cover the veal. Bring the liquid to a boil, add the bouquet garni, put a buttered piece of parchment or brown paper on top of the meat, then a lid on the casserole and set in the oven. Cook for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is tender.
• Remove casserole from the oven and strain the contents through a sieve and the liquid into another saucepan; discard bouquet garni. Divide solids into 2 batches. Degrease the liquid and boil it down until reduced to 3 cups. Remove 1 1/2 cups of the liquid and add it to half of the meat. Return the other half of the veal to the remaining liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Thicken with beurre manie if you wish. Serve with rice, polenta or potatoes; garnish with parsley.

FRENCH BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a greased 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with the beef, carrots, onions and celery. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over the vegetables. , Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender.

DUTCH OVEN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 4 tablespoons flour, salt if desired and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat. , In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown beef in oil in batches. Remove and set aside. Add onion to the pan and cook until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in remaining flour and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in broth. Add the beef, tomatoes and thyme. Cover and bake at 350° for 1-1/4 hours. , Add the potatoes and carrots. Cover and bake 1 hour longer or until meat and vegetables are tender. Stir in peas; cover and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

LYDIA'S PORTUGUESE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Melt butter in a dutch oven and saute beef in butter until brown. Add onions for an additional 3-5 minutes just until translucent.
• Add potatoes and enough water to cover meat and potatoes.Bring to a simmer and cook until meat and potatoes are tender(about 45-60 minutes).
• Add carrots and cabbage last, cook until cabbage is tender.(maybe 20 minutes).
• Add last, salt and garlic salt/powder to taste.

LYDIA'S FRENCH OVEN STEW

Steps:

• preparatio provided above