The Versatile Braise Recipes

THE VERSATILE BRAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season meat with salt and pepper. Heat an 8-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed ovenproof pot over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Working in batches, brown meat on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes a batch, reducing heat if meat is browning too quickly. Transfer meat to a platter. Pour off fat and wipe pot clean.
• Place pot over medium heat. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to high; stir in tomato paste and cook 30 seconds, then add flour and cook, stirring, 30 seconds more. Add soy sauce and wine; bring to a boil. Add broth and herbs.
• Return meat and accumulated juices to pot, bone-side up (if applicable). Bring to a boil, then cover and transfer to oven. Cook 1 hour, or 2 hours for lamb shanks. Remove lid; rearrange meat pieces on top of pot to bottom and cook until meat is very tender, about 1 hour more.
• With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer meat to platter. Strain liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids; if sauce is too thin, simmer in a saucepan until slightly thickened. Serve meat with sauce spooned over top.

VERSATILE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the sugar, salt, oil and 1 cup of flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces and form into rounds. Place the rounds on prepared baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Place on a wire rack to cool.

HOME OF THE BRAISE

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the apple to the pan and cook until lightly browned. Increase the heat to high and add the apple juice, caraway seeds, salt, pepper and cabbage to the pan. Cover the pan and shake to toss the cabbage to coat.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.