Ingredients

  • canola oil
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 3 12-4 lbs beef chuck or 3 12-4 lbs beef round steak, cut into 2-inchx2-inch cubes
  • sea salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 12 cup all-purpose flour
  • 14 cup cognac
  • 1 approximately 3/4 liter bottle dry red wine, such as Burgundy
  • 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can low sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • 8 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 strip leek
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cups white pearl onions, blanched and peeled
  • 1 lb white mushroom, stems trimmed
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped for garnish

Method

  • Gather the rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, and tie together with a strip of the leek.
  • Place a large Dutch oven over medium heat and drizzle with 1/2 count of oil.
  • Fry the bacon until crisp and remove to a paper towel.
  • Brown the beef in batches.
  • Season each batch with salt and pepper (this is a key step).
  • After the meat is browned, put it all back in the pot.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the meat, then stir to make sure the meat is well-coated and there are no chunks of flour.
  • Pour in the Cognac and stir to scrape up the delicious browned bits at the bottom.
  • Cook and stir to evaporate the alcohol.
  • Pour in the red wine and beef broth, then add the tomato paste and bouquet garni.
  • Stir everything together and bring the pot to a simmer.
  • Cook until the liquid starts to thicken and is the consistency of a sauce; about 15 minutes.
  • Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour.
  • Uncover the pot and add the garlic, pearl onions, and mushrooms, along with the pinch of sugar to balance the acid from the red wine.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Turn up the heat slightly and simmer 30-45 minutes longer, until the vegetables and meat are tender.
  • Remove the bouquet garni and then stir in the butter to finish the sauce.
  • Crumble the bacon.
  • Shower the bacon and parsley just before serving.