Beef Bourguignon from Chef Jean-Pierre and Barefoot Contessa recipes

 Recipe inspired by this video and recipe posted here.

I also watched this video 

INGREDIENTS

  

• 2 to 3 tablespoons Clarified Butter or Extra Virgin Butter Olive Oil (I have used a mix of regular butter with olive oil when needed but used the bacon fat as much as possible)
• 8 ounces thick sliced Bacon cut into ¼ inch pieces
• 4 pounds Beef Chuck Roast, well trimmed, cut into approx. 1 ½ inch cubes
• 1 cup Flour sifter
• 2 cups Onions diced or Pearl Onions  
• 1 cup Pearl Onion, optional the chef used Aunt Nellie’s (I Have used frozen pearl onions)
• 2 cups Mushrooms quartered - Here I suggest to use 4 cups, it does taste really good
• 2 cups Carrots sliced into ¼ inch slices - Here again I suggest using 4 cups, they also taste great and are more healthy than potatoes
• 2 tablespoons fresh Garlic minced
• 1 bottle 750ML of a good Red Wine (Bordeaux, Shiraz or Burgundy) - I have used half a bottle since my family is not so much found of wine
• 2 tablespoons fresh Thyme minced - first time I used half of the amount that I got at supermarket, but second time I used a lot since I had plenty at my vegetable garden (keep the branches all together in a corner, so you can remove them later)
• 2 cups Beef Stock (I used 1 liter - the box you get at supermarket)
• 2 to 3 dozen of very small Raw Potatoes, if they are big slice them in half (Small potatoes with skin are the best - red and yellow)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• ¼ cup Parsley finely chopped (used maybe 1/2 cup)

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• The Chef does in two separate pots in the video to save some time but you can do it all in one pot.  This is how….
• In a Dutch oven, heat clarified butter or the olive oil when hot, add the bacon (you really do not need that much butter here, you can use a little bit of olive oil if you want).  Cook at low heat for a few minutes to release some of the fat from the bacon.  Remove the cooked bacon and put it aside
• Add as many meat cubes as you can without crowding (if the skillet is too crowded, the meat won't brown properly)  Brown the meat well on all sides, remove each batch as it browns and set them aside.  
• Add the onions and cook them until golden brown.  It may be necessary to add a little Clarified butter or Butter olive oil.
• When all the onions are golden brown add the mushrooms, add salt on top of the mushrooms and cook until they have release most of their water.  Add the carrots, reserved beef cubes, garlic and when fragrant, add the wine, bring to boil and let reduce by half.  This could take about 3 to 5 minutes depending on your pot and your heat source.  Add the potatoes, fresh thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
• To thicken, use the chef’s technique with the flour or if you have use a roux and thicken to your liking.  Add half of the chopped parsley, bring to boil, reduce to VERY LOW heat, cook for about 2 ½ to 3 hours or until the beef is fork tender. Here I have transfered the pot to the oven and cooked in the oven for 1:30min 2 hours. 
• When finished, add the Cognac, the rest of the chopped parsley and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.