Homemade delicious tender beef casserole, using fresh ingredients, full of flavor. Recipe for stove top, oven, slow cooker. A perfect dinner on a cold day!

I really enjoy eating beef, but it is getting so expensive now, that I have to think up easy and tasty ways to use the cheaper cuts and still have enjoyment.

Here I made a simple Beef Casserole, and it a little pre-marinade.

Once you've done that, your beef really can be lovely and tender, and full of great flavour.

I also added fresh winter vegetables to the casserole. This adds to the flavor of the dish, and of course, all the vitamins and goodness remain in the casserole.

Serve with some mashed potato, warm bread from the oven or some couscous.
Choose vegetables that won't go mushy whilst cooking, see the suggestions below.

Ingredients

1 lb or 500 g cheap cut lamb or beef such as Braising or chuck steak
1 onion sliced
5 cloves garlic chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into chunks.
½ swede/rutabagas/turnip/ other root vegetables, Whole baby onions if you like them!
a handful of mushrooms (whole or cut smaller)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ Tablespoons flour ( you may need cornstarch & a drop of water at the end to thicken to your liking)
2 Bay Leaves
3 Tablespoons balsamic Vinegar PLUS 3 Tablespoons of White wine (optional)
1 stock cube / beef broth / bouillon dissolved in 2 ½ cups / 500 ml boiling water
1 teaspoon thyme / parsley - you choose your favorite.
Salt & Pepper to season
Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

You can serve this with a selection of steamed vegetables, such as zucchini, cabbage, carrots and broccoli.

Instructions

Set your oven to 170 C, Gas 3, 325 F (you can also cook on your stovetop)
1. First of all, cut your beef into bite-sized pieces.
2. Transfer the beef pieces to a bowl and add the balsamic vinegar, white wine if using, olive oil, crushed garlic and pepper. Do not add salt. Mix it all together very well. Leave for 30 minutes.

3. In the same pan you will use for the oven, add a drop of olive oil, chopped onion, mushrooms and fry until translucent.
4. Add the meat and fry until brown to seal the juices.
5. Add the flour and combine it all.
6. Add your other vegetables. They should all be bite-sized pieces and add the remaining ingredients including the broth. The season now with salt if you like.
7. Place in the oven with a lid or cook on the stovetop under a gentle simmer for 1 -2 hours. Mine took 1 hour before my beef was really tender, so check after an hour, if the meat is nice for you. Every oven and every piece of beef is different!

For Slow Cooker

Place everything in the slow cooker and cook on Low for 6 hours.

For the Stove top

Allow pan to gently simmer for 2 hours on low heat with the lid on. Once the beef is tender to the bite, it's ready.

When it's ready, serve on it's own or with some mashed potato or cous cous. Delicious!

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