French-Style Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 1 kg beef (pre-cut, shoulder)
• 3 Carrots
• 2 onions
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 1 stalk Celery
• 1 untreated orange (zest and juice)
• 1 tsp peppercorns
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 tsp juniper berries
• 800 ml robust red wine
• 5 tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp freshly chopped thyme
• 1 tsp freshly chopped rosemary
• 1 tsp freshly chopped sage
• Salt
• ground black pepper
• a pinch chili powder
• 1 tsp liquid honey

Instructions

1. 1.

   Wash the beef, pat dry and cut into large pieces. Peel one carrot, onion, and garlic clove and roughly chop them. Wash, trim, and slice the celery. Mix the orange zest with spices, vegetables, and wine. Add the beef so everything is well coated, cover with cling film, and marinate overnight in the fridge.

2. 2.

   On the next day, blanch the tomatoes, cool, peel, and dice finely. Peel remaining garlic, cut carrots into slices, and dice the rest of the vegetables small.

3. 3.

   Remove the beef from the marinade, strain it, and sear the meat all over in a hot pan with oil. Set aside. Sauté the remaining vegetables (except tomatoes) with garlic and onion in the fat, add herbs and tomatoes, deglaze with orange juice and wine. Return the beef, season with salt, pepper, chili, and honey, and simmer on low heat for about 3 hours. Add water if needed. Taste and serve with gnocchi if desired.