Beef casserole with sliced potato topping

Name: Beef casserole with sliced potato topping
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 750g rib steak, well trimmed and cut into cubes; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 onions, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 1 tbsp soft dark brown sugar; 1 tbsp plain flour; 200ml stout; 300ml water; Sprigs of thyme; 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar; 1 tbsp. good quality wholegrain mustard; Pinch of ground cloves; A little salt and freshly ground black pepper; 850g large potatoes, peeled; 50g mature cheddar cheese, finely grated

Chef: Neven Maguire

Cook: 120 mins

Beef casserole with sliced potato topping

750g rib steak, well trimmed and cut into cubes

2 tbsp olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp soft dark brown sugar

1 tbsp plain flour

200ml stout

300ml water

Sprigs of thyme

1 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tbsp. good quality wholegrain mustard

Pinch of ground cloves

A little salt and freshly ground black pepper

850g large potatoes, peeled

50g mature cheddar cheese, finely grated

Set oven to Gas Mark 3, 160°C (325°F).

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan. Then brown the beef, a few pieces at a time. Remove the meat as it browns to an ovenproof casserole dish. Heat the rest of the oil in the pan then add the onions. Cook for a couple of minutes to soften then add in the garlic. Cook for another minute, being careful not to let the garlic burn.

Next, stir in the sugar and flour. Add in the stout and water or stock, stirring all the time. Then add a few sprigs of thyme, the red wine vinegar, mustard, ground cloves, a little salt and lots of black pepper. Bring to the boil then pour the sauce over the meat in the casserole dish. Cover with a lid or tin foil and cook in the oven for 1½ hours or until the meat is tender.

Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water for 8-10 minutes. Drain well. Slice the potatoes into 1cm rounds and overlap them on top of the beef in the casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle over the cheese.

Increase the oven temperature to Gas Mark 6, 200°C (400° F). Place the casserole dish back in the oven and continue to cook until the potatoes are golden and cooked through – approximately 15 minutes.

Serve with a selection of root vegetables which have been tossed in a little olive oil and seasoning and roasted along with the casserole for the last 30 minutes.

Serves
6

Cooking Time
120 minutes

Main ingredients
Beef, Vegetables

Recipe Type
Dinner, Family Dinners

Level of Difficulty
Moderately Easy