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    Sunday, August 17, 2008

    Colourful Food...Beef with Kumara Mash and Prawn Chowder

    I think I have mentioned before how much I like leeks. They taste good and are so pretty.
    It’s winter and I am thinking of comfort food everyday Pity about low cal diet food. In my mind it doesn’t exist.

    So I devised this delicious casserole and took advantage of the colourful leeks and peppers. Not only does it look good but it tasted divine.


    The kumara mash absorbed all the gravy, and this is one excellent meal for those cold winter nights. Elegant enough for a dinner party, but just as good cuddled up in front of the TV.
    Don’t forget to season each layer as you go, it really does make a difference to the end product. Don’t overdo it though.

    Heat oven 175C

    Then you will need
    I tablespoon olive oil
    1 carrot finely chopped
    1 onion chopped
    1 stalk celery finely chopped
    1 clove garlic finely chopped

    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper


    I tablespoon olive oil

    500 gms blade steak cubed

    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

    White wine

    2 tablespoons butter
    2 tablespoons flour
    1 litre beef stock
    Worcester sauce
    Large sprig parsley 2-3 sprigs thyme 1 bayleaf

    Garnish

    2 tablespoons olive oil

    2 leeks finely sliced

    1 red pepper finely sliced

    1 chili, seeds and all chopped

    1 large or 2 med kumara (sweet potato)

    2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
    Butter large knob

    In a pan gently sauté the carrot, onion garlic and celery in olive oil till soft. Don’t brown.
    Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
    Remove and place in casserole dish

    Wipe the pan and add another tablespoon olive oil
    Apply high heat add beef and sear all over till golden brown
    Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper
    If you can’t do in one layer fry in stages. We don't want to stew it yet.

    Add meat to casserole dish
    Deglaze pan with good slosh of white wine and pour over meat and vege.

    Then melt 2 tablespoons butter
    Add flour cook for a few minutes to cook out the flour taste.
    Add parsley, thyme and bayleaf
    Add beef stock bring to boil stirring all the while so there are no lumps.

    A good dash Worcestershire sauce
    Check seasoning and adjust if necessary.

    Cover contents of casserole dish add some more stock or water so that meat is just covered.
    Into oven cook about 2 hours or till meat is tender.
    While this is bubbling away make the garnish.

    Gently sauté leeks in olive oil
    Add red pepper and chili
    Once again don’t brown looking for bright colour here.

    This should only take 4-5 minutes.

    Reserve.

    Cook kumara with garlic
    When fork soft, drain.
    Add large knob of butter and mash
    Then add chopped parsley

    When beef is ready remove herbs
    Add leek mixture mix well
    Serve with mash
    Just had to pop the photo in again to remind you how good it looks.


    More Comfort Food
    Prawn Chowder

    2 tablespoons butter
    1 onion finely chopped
    1 potato med finely chopped
    1 small carrot finely chopped
    Sea salt and white pepper
    White wine 100 mls

    Water

    1 cup corn kernels I used frozen
    600 mls milk
    200 gms prawns shelled, deveined and chopped
    2 tablespoons chopped parsley
    2 tablespoons grated cheese


    Garnish
    3 prawns per person
    Lime juice
    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
    Olive oil

    The Soup
    Saute onion in butter
    Add carrot toss
    Then potatoes toss
    Add wine and seasoning
    Evaporate wine

    Add enough water just to cover and simmer till potatoes and carrots are tender.

    While this is happening
    Prepare the garnish

    Marinate garnish in lime juice, oil and S & P for a few minutes
    Place in steamer.
    Pop steamer over the vege
    Nothing like a little multi tasking!
    This will take about 7-8 minutes
    Set the prawns aside

    Back to the soup.
    Make sure the vege are fork tender
    Add chopped prawns and corn kernels
    Stir well
    Add milk and gently bring just to the simmer.
    Turn off heat
    Let sit about 15 minutes for the flavours to meld.

    Just before serving
    Bring back to simmer
    Add grated cheese and parsley
    Garnish with steamed prawns
    Doesn't that look pretty as well!

    2 comments:

    Barbara said...

    It looks delicious Gilli.

    So So Simple said...

    Thanks Barbara it was