Happy Saturday!
What is everyone up to this weekend? December weekends are simply magical aren’t they?! Don’t you love waking up in the morning and turning the Christmas tree on, sipping on hot coffee when you can tell that it’s blistering cold outside. Tonight we’re having a little date night and going to The Grotto for the festival of lights and listen to Christmas chorals. Apparently it’s the largest Christmas choral festival in the world! I’m also going to pick out my veil and accessories for the wedding today at BHLDN. So excited!
To continue date night once we’re home from the festival, we’re going to dive into this wine braised beef and parsnip purée with a big glass of red. Thomas and I live for comfort food on the weekends and this is the ultimate winter meal that is seriously my go-to around Christmas time. You braise the beef low and slow for several hours until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Parnsip purée is so good I could seriously eat in place of mash potatoes almost every time – which is big for me to say since I love potatoes so much. Boiled in milk and then blended until they are silky smooth, I promise you that these parsnips are the best possible cushion to all of the braised beef goodness piled on-top.
Wine Braised Beef + Parsnip Purée
Ingredients
For the Beef
– 5 lbs chuck roast
– 1 medium sized onion, finely diced
– 3 large carrots, peeled and finely diced
– 3 celery stalks, finely diced
– 5 garlic cloves, minced,
– 1/2 a bottle of red wine
– 3 cups of beef broth (or enough to cover the beef in the pot)
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1 lb crimini or white mushrooms (sliced)
– Flat leaf parsley for garnish
For the parsnips
– 3 large large parsnips, diced
– Half and half or heavy cream (enough to cover the parsnips in the pot)
– salt to taste
What to do
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Pat dry meat and generously salt and pepper all sides. In a large brainer or dutch oven heat oil until hot. Brown all sides of the meat. About 2 minutes per side. Set meat aside.
- Reduce heat to medium low and add onions, carrots, and celery. Saute until just tender. Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. place the meat back in the pot and slowly pour in wine and beef stock. The meat should sit just above liquid line. For a good braise, you don’t want it fully immersed in the liquid. Bring the dish to boil. Cover and place in preheated oven. Cook for 2 ½ -3 hours. Meat should gently fall apart with a fork when done.
- Once the meat is almost done, bring your parsnips covered in 1/2 and 1/2 or cream to boil. Boil for about 10 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat and purée in a blender until silky smooth.
- For the mushrooms: Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, placed your sliced or quartered mushrooms in the pan and sauté until browned. Sprinkle with salt and pepper as they are finishing cooking.
- Serve the beef in shallow bowls on a bed of the parsnip purée and topped with mushrooms and parsley.