Comforting Beef Casserole Recipes

COMFORTING BEEF CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan or deep casserole, and fry the onions and carrots until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the softened and oil-glossed vegetables to a bowl, and add the remaining oil to the pan. Put the flour into a large freezer bag along with salt and pepper, sage, and allspice; add the beef pieces to the bag, tossing in the flour, before searing the meat in the pan. Do this in batches, browning the meat a little and removing all of the beef to a large dish as you go.
• When all the meat is browned and out of the pan, whisk or stir in the orange juice and stout and let it come to the boil. Add the water and then return the meat and vegetables to the pan. Stir in the orange zest and bay leaves, bring to the boil and then turn the stew down to a soft simmer. Cover and cook for 2 1/2 hours. This is best reheated 1 or 2 days after, but if you are serving the stew on the same day, then add another half hour to the cooking time just to make sure the meat is soft, mellow and tender.

COMFORTING LITTLE CASSEROLES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the meat with salt and freshly ground pepper, and let it rest for 5 minutes. Heat the butter and a small splash of oil in a heavy-based pan and brown the meat, in batches, over a high heat on all sides, around 3-5 minutes in total. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Fry the onions in the fat in which you fried the meat until they're starting to get quite brown, around 10 minutes. Pour in the beer and the vinegar, and add the mustard, ground ginger and bay leaf. Crumble in the gingerbread and return the meat to the pan. Bring everything to the boil, cover with a lid and turn the heat down as low at you can. Stew the meat for around 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until it's very tender. You might need either to add a little more liquid, or boil down the cooking liquid at the end.
• Meanwhile, make the mashed potatoes. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add just enough water to cover. Lightly salt. Bring to the boil, then partially cover the pan and simmer for around 20-25 minutes, until tender. Drain and mash together with the hot milk and butter until smooth. Mix in the egg yolks and half of the grated cheese, then season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
• Taste the stewed meat and add salt and pepper if necessary. Divide amongst 4 small ovenproof casserole dishes and top with a layer of mashed potato. Sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese.
• To eat at once: Place a casserole in an oven preheated to 400°F until the cheese has melted, around 10 minutes. If you like, you can put it under the grill for the last few minutes of baking to give you a crisp brown crust.
• To freeze: wrap the casserole, dish and all, in a freezer-proof cling film or put in a freezer bag, and freeze.
• To reheat: Thaw (for example, you can take one out of the freezer in the morning and put it in the fridge-it will then be thawed when you come home in the evening.) Unwrap and heat for 20-25 minutes in oven at 400°F. You can also heat the casseroles straight from the freezer if necessary-this will take 45-60 minutes in oven at 400°F.

COMFORTING BEEF STROGANOFF CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In lg, deep frying pan, brown hamburger, salt and pepper until done, breaking up.
• Drain grease, add oil, mushrooms, onion and garlic.
• Cook and stir until onion is tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add wine (*or sub), reduce heat to med-low and simmer 3 minutes.
• Stir in soup, sour cream and mustard until combined.
• Stir in cooked noodles, (**if pan is too small, pour noodles into large dish, pour meat mixture over, and toss to coat), then pour all into greased 13x9-inch baking dish or pan.
• Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer.
• *Serve with tossed salad and garlic bread.