Red Wine Braised Beef

Ingredients

• 3 lb beef chuck, cut in 2-inch cubes
• 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 3 tbsp flour
• 4 slices thick bacon, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped, and 3 carrots, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 bay leaves and 3 sprigs thyme
• 1 lb cremini mushrooms, halved
• 1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions
• 2 tbsp butter

Steps

1. Heat the oven to 325°F. Season the beef and toss it with the flour.
2. Crisp the bacon in a Dutch oven, then remove it. Brown the beef in the fat (add oil as needed) in batches. Set aside.
3. Cook the onion and carrots 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste for 1 minute.
4. Pour in the wine and broth and scrape the bottom. Return the beef and bacon with the herbs. Bring to a simmer, cover, and bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
5. Near the end, brown the mushrooms and pearl onions in butter in a skillet. Stir them into the stew and simmer 10 minutes.

TipServe over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. You don't need an expensive wine; just use one you'd drink.