Wine Braised Beef Over Polenta Recipes

RED WINE BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a dutch oven or a heavy oven-safe pot. Let it get nice and hot. Add diced carrots and cook until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes. When the carrots start to brown, add the onions and celery.
• Cook the vegetables until the onions begin to caramelize. I know you will be tempted to stir and fidget with the vegetables, but trust me: let them sit a bit, stirring occasionally. It's the best way to get some good caramelization. Use a slotted spoon to remove the vegetables and set aside on a plate.
• Pat the beef chuck dry and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Don't be shy; it's a big piece of meat.
• If needed, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in dutch oven, letting it get nice and hot. The butter should shimmer. Sear the beef on each side for about 5 minutes -- don't fidget with it. It should be brown, not grey, and crispy on the edges. Remove beef and set aside.
• Pour 1/2 a bottle of red wine into the pot while still hot. Using a firm spatula, scrape up all the brown bits at the bottom of the pot. Return vegetables to the pot. Lay browned beef on top of vegetables.
• Add fresh herbs, garlic and bay leaves. Tuck herbs into the liquid and bring to a boil.
• Cover and place in oven at 325 degrees for 3-4 hours or until tender. It should fall apart using a spoon, if it's still firm return to the oven and let it go another 30 minutes.
• Serve hot, but it makes great leftovers.

BRAISED BEEF ROAST RECIPE

Steps:

• At least a few hours before cooking (preferably overnight) salt the beef with about a teaspoon per pound and put it in a large baggie in the fridge.
• Before searing the meat, sprinkle about a teaspoon of pepper all over the roast.
• Add about two tablespoons of olive oil to your dutch oven. My 2 3/4 quart Le Creuset was the perfect size for this roast. You really don't want it to be much bigger than the meat you're cooking.
• Add the roast to the pan and sear it all over. Once it is seared on all sides, remove it and set aside.
• Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic and saute until softened. Add the herbs and tomato puree. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring up all the pieces that are sticking.
• Add the beef roast back to the pan. Pour the entire bottle of wine over the roast. ( Optional: Drink a half glass of the wine. You deserve that by now. I did and can promise it won't affect the flavor. Enjoy!)
• Bring to a boil and then set to simmer.
• Cover the pan and let it cook on low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. If the wine doesn't cover the roast, you may want to turn it over every now and then so no part dries out. I ladled the broth over it every so often as it was almost covered.
• Remove the roast after the 2 1/2 hours and set aside. Remove the bay leaf.
• Using a hand blender, blend all the vegetables until the sauce is thick and glossy. Be careful as this mixture will be hot, so use the lower setting on the hand blender.
• Let the sauce continue to simmer. I like a thicker sauce, so I added about two teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken it.
• Prepare the polenta with vegetable stock. The polenta only takes about 15 minutes to cook. Add butter as soon as it's soft and mix well.
• Serve the braised beef roast over the polenta.

CROCKPOT BRAISED BEEF RAGU WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Optional, but for best tasting results: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep frying pan. Add the beef in one whole piece and fry on each side for about 5 minutes, turning until the whole exterior is golden brown. I had some splattering issues so I covered the pan with a lid.
• Place all remaining ingredients with the beef in a crockpot or slow cooker (5 quart size worked for me). Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. When the beef falls apart easily when pulled at with two forks, it is ready. Shred the beef into pieces and give it a good stir.
• For the polenta, boil the water and add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. The polenta will start to thicken quickly. Continue whisking or stirring for 2-3 minutes before removing from heat. Stir in the butter until melted (you can also add cheese I'M JUST SAYING). For solid and chewy polenta, pour into a rectangular dish, let cool for 15-20 minutes, and cut into pieces. For softer polenta (my preference), serve scoops of polenta immediately before it has hardened.

BRAISED BEEF IN RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Season beef (lightly if using salted broth).
• Heat oil in large Dutch oven over high heat.
• Add beef and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer beef to platter; reduce heat to medium.
• Add onion and bacon to pot.
• Sauté until onion is golden, about 8 minutes.
• Mix in tomato paste, bay leaves, cloves and rosemary.
• Add wine.
• Return meat and any juices.
• Cover and simmer 30 minutes, turning meat once.
• M ix stock and tomatoes into sauce.
• Cover and simmer gently until meat is tender, turning occasionally, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
• Transfer beef to platter.
• Cover with foil to keep warm.
• Strain sauce through fine sieve, pressing on solids.
• Degrease sauce.
• Return sauce to pot.
• Boil until reduced to 2 cups, about 1 hour.
• Add any beef juices from platter.
• Cut beef across grain into 1/3 inch slices (can be prepared 1 day ahead. Rewarm gently before serving).
• Arrange meat slices on a platter lined with pan-fried polenta and spoon sauce over.
• Serve sautéed spinach alongside.

WINE BRAISED BEEF OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy Dutch oven over high heat. Brown the beef in batches and transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon, about 5 minutes per batch. Reduce the heat to medium and add onion and Italian parsley and cook until onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped garlic, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Return beef to Dutch oven and stir to coat with onion and spice mixture. Add red wine and bring to boil scraping up browned bits. Simmer mixture 15 minutes. Add beef stock and simmer 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and break up with back of spoon. Mix in olives and rosemary. Reduce heat to low cover and cook until beef is tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Add bell pepper and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve over polenta.

WINE BRAISED BEEF OVER CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Beef: Heat oil in heavy Dutch oven over high heat.Season beef with salt and pepper. Add 1/3 of beef and brown on all sides, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer beef to bowl using slotted spoon. Repeat with remaining beef in 4 more batches. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and Italian parsley to Dutch oven and cook until onion is golden brown, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped garlic, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon and allspice. Return beef to Dutch oven and stir to coat with onion and spice mixture. Add red wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer mixture 15 minutes. Add beef stock and simmer 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juices, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon. Mix in olives and rosemary. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until beef is tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Add bell peppers, cover and cook until just tender, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) * I like adding carrots to this also. Polenta Bring water and salt to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Continue whisking until mixture boils and thickens, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Cook cornmeal until thick and thoroughly cooked, whisking occasionally, about 30 minutes. (polenta can be preparred up to 4 hours ahead. Transfer polenta to metal bowl. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Set bowl over large saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally.) Spoon polenta into shallow soup bowls. spoon beef over.