serves
4
prep
15 minutes
cook
2:25 hours
difficulty
Easy
serves
4
people
preparation
15
minutes
cooking
2:25
hours
difficulty
Easy
level
Ingredients
- 500 g oyster blade steak, cut into large chunks
- 3–4 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper, plus extra to serve (optional)
- 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery sticks, chopped
- 2 small brown onions, chopped
- 2–3 sage leaves, chopped, plus extra leaves to garnish
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (puree)
- 400 ml Chianti (see Note)
- 300 ml hot water
- salt flakes
- soft polenta or grilled sourdough, to serve
Instructions
On a plate or chopping board, dredge the beef pieces in the combined flour and pepper.
Heat 3–4 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-based frying pan or flameproof casserole dish over high heat. Add the beef pieces and cook for 3–4 minutes or until nicely caramelised. Try not to overcrowd the pan otherwise the beef will stew rather than sear – depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook it in batches. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and saute the carrot, celery, onion and chopped sage for 3–4 minutes over medium heat.
Return the meat to the pan. Add the tomato paste and then the wine and cook over high heat for 3–4 minutes or until the alcohol has evaporated. Pour in the water and season with 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and cook for 2–3 hours or until the meat is soft and the peppery aroma has permeated your kitchen and your soul.
When the meat is so soft that a blunt knife goes through it without any effort, turn the heat up and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes or until it has thickened slightly. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly. Dust with extra pepper if liked, scatter a few extra sage leaves over the top and spoon generously over soft polenta or simply serve with thick slices of grilled sourdough.
Note
• This success of this stew strongly relies on the wine it is cooked in. If Chianti is hard to come by, use a Sangiovese or other lighter-bodied red wine instead. Australia, of course, has an ever-expanding range of superb wines to choose from.
Recipe and image from Silvia's Cucina, Silvia Colloca (Penguin, $39.99 pbk)
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
