I have been browsing different recipes proposed by various well-known cooks or chefs, and I’m amazed at the amount of blah-dee-blah going on! I mean Boeuf Bourguignon in 45 steps: Would you please gimme a break?! You mean that you have to be on vacation or knock a whole day off from your weekend to make this dish? So I am giving you my recipe. A lot of you love it at Le Patio, and come in for it again and again. My point being that easy is not bad. For 6 servings you’ll need:
Ingredients:
• 3 lbs of sirloin tip
• 2 big onions
• 1lb bag of baby carrots
• 2 cloves of garlic, smashed
• 4 slices of smokey bacon
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 1 tin of button mushrooms
• 1 bouquet of garni
• 1 bottle of red wine
• 1 beef stock cube
Choose a thick, large saucepan or a “Le Creuset” dish. Cover the bottom of the pan with olive oil and throw in the two big onions, which you have chopped coarsely. Place it on the stove and brown it. Scoop out all the browned onions with a slotted spoon and set aside. Throw in the bacon and brown. Using the slotted spoon, scoop them out and set aside with the onions. Brown the meat on all sides and sprinkle with the flour. Pour in the wine. The wine should cover all the meat: Open another bottle and add more if necessary. Add the carrots, the crushed garlic cloves, and the bouquet of garni. Add the beef stock cube, and plenty of black pepper. Throw in the browned onions and the bacon. Stir it all up with a wooden spoon, rubbing the bottom to get up all the good stuff. Yum!
Leave to cook on high heat until it boils. Give it a stir every now and then. You can add a tin of button mushrooms at this stage if you like (as I always say, you are the chef). Lower the heat and leave it simmer for two to three hours, or until the meat is tender. Serve with egg noodles, mashed potatoes or, even better, fresh pasta. Bon appétit!
Jean Doherty
Although born in Dublin, Ireland, chef Jean Doherty spent most of her life in Lyon, France, the gastronomical capital of the world. Together with Vero, her partner of 25 years, Jean has owned and run multiple restaurants including Fort Lauderdale’s Le Patio.
