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![[VIDEO] Slow-cook beef stew (with star anise)](http://www.mydaddycooks.com/wp-content/themes/eVid/timthumb.php?src=http://www.mydaddycooks.com/beefstewicon.jpg&h=185&w=185&zc=1)
Okay, this is the one where we really cheated and broke all the rules! First the rules – always seal meat before stewing it and always fry off and soften the onions. But the circumstances around this stew meant we literally had 5 minutes to throw it together and get it in the oven. It was recorded before Christmas when Jo was still seeing clients at home (she is a psychotherapist). Everything had got late and Archie and I had to be out of the house before her next client arrived (chatty 3 year olds are not very conducive to good therapy!). This meant there was only time to throw everything into a cold casserole dish and then bung it in the oven – no sealing, no browning, no heat, no nothing.
And… it was still delicious! I was speaking to Becky from Englishmum.com (who is a food blogging Don. Or is that Donna?) and she pointed out that slow cooker recipes don’t involve sealing and browning. So there you have it, I made a slow-cook beef stew without even realising it!
As for the star anise, that was a great idea from Barney Desmazery, food editor of BBC Good Food Magazine. He was a brilliant guest on my BBC Radio Show and made a beef cheek stew (the “proper” way!), with added star anise. It may sound like an odd match to use an oriental spice but it works so perfectly with the richness of the beef and the “tomato-ness” of the sauce. It adds an aromatic sweetness to the stew and Archie lapped it up.
I love this slow cook beef stew because it backs up something I say very often – if you are using good ingredients and flavours, there really is only so “wrong” it can go, even if you are not a confident cook. And let’s face it, when your cooking during a busy week, practicality matters more than anything…
Serves 4
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 4 hours (can be prepared in advance and left in an oven with a timer to start cooking when you are out!)
500g stewing beef. We used shin, which is relatively cheap.
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 red pepper, finely sliced
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 beef stock cube
About 400ml water
3 (or more!) star anise
A sprinkle of thyme (fresh or dried)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to season
Preheat your oven to 160-170C/ 325F
Throw all the ingredients into an oven-proof casserole dish, mix well, cover and bake for 4 hours.
Keep an eye from time to time if you can, the dish may need a little more water occasionally.
Serve with simple steamed potatoes or mashed potatoes.
This sounds like a great recipe for a busy day when you need a hearty family meal that doesn’t require much effort. Love the idea of star anaise – such a fab spice. Will certainly be giving this a try. Hope you and the family had a good Christmas and Jo is putting her feet up!
Thanks Katy, yes it is very quick to literally throw together. Thanks, we had a quiet Christmas – and Jo is well into the "get this thing out of me" stage!!! xx
Star fish stew!! Sounds yummy, Archie. I'll be trying this next time we have stew here!
Just make sure you use the right kind of starfish
!!
Ooh first comment! Nice to see you've blamed me for your bad cooking ways, Nick! Glad the stew came out okay
LOL it's not blaming you!!! You just reminded me that you don't always have to follow the rules!!!
Will be trying this one out. Looks lovely. Love that you had only 5 minutes in the kitchen and still managed to video it for us to watch. Consummate professionals, the pair of you.
LOL it was actually completely unplanned! But we were in such a good mood that I just thought why not, switch on the cameras! It was a bit manic but worth it!!
It's v late, I should be in bed and I haven't had time to watch the vid yet – but just had to say every digit is crossed for Jo. Love to you all.
Sounds like a great recipe. While testing Vanessa Kimbell's Chocolate Beef recipe I discovered using Star Anise in recipes. Couldn't believe how much it transformed the taste!
Thanks Jules. It's crazy, isn't it? Almost impossible to describe in writing, it just makes a huge (and lovely) difference…
Another tried and tested success in the Robinson household. Even though I forgot to put the garlic in because I was rushing to get it all in pan before heading out the door it was still a lovely meal. Thumbs up from Mark my hubby and there was left overs for him to take to work the next day! I didn't get a look in…
)
Made this the other day, doubled the quantities as got a really big lecreuset for christmas, and fed me, my husband, the two kids (age 3 & 10 months), and 4 friends who came to dinner the next night. Delicious thank you!
yum yum yum yum yum! so good to see you breaking the rules just like I do more often than not! a really lovely change to our normal slow cook beef in beer. the star anise really do change the flavour. can't wait for the book =)
Slow roasts and stews are AMAZING in a wood fired oven! we just got one from the stone bake oven company http://www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk, after a friend got one, really excited about using it this summer, i am going to try to adapt the above recipe… eak!