recipe: Red Wine and Beef Casserole

This dish is truly delicious. Plus, its really easy. You do need a bit of time do get the sauce to thicken and to soften the meat but its amazing what you can do with only a few simple ingredients. I have made it twice in the last week - first served with roast potatoes and second in a pie form that was divine! so, let me know how it goes, if you make it, I am sure you will love it, like we did.

Serves 4: 500g beef fillet diced in cubes, 1 diced onion, 2 garlic cloves crushed, about 10 button mushrooms cut into quarters, 2 tbsp plain flour, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp thyme, 1 glass red wine, 1x 400g can diced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut meat, place it in a bowl and add flour. Shake to coat;
2. Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add onion and garlic and cook until it softens;
3. Add beef and cook stirring for a couple of minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for a further minute; 4. Add wine, tomatoes and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours - check every 20 minutes so it doesn't stick to the bottom and add salt gradually so the flavours blend slowly;
5. Finally adjust flavours and serve. This dish is even better a day or two later and I hope you enjoy it.

recipe: SOY BRAISED STEAK WITH MUSHROOMS

This was a really nice meal touching the restaurant feel I wanted to get, it took a bit of time, but nothing crazy. You can do everything in less than an hour and it will taste and look great.

serves 2:

2x 180g eye-fillet steaks, 9 button mushrooms (would love to use enoki or eringi but couldn't find them...), 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1 tbs mirin, 1/2 tbs rice vinegar, 1/2 tbs sesame oil, 1 tea spoon grated ginger, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 cups salad greens, 3 small potatoes (I used purple organic potatoes from the garden), chopped rosemary, 2 tbs honey, salt, pepper and a pinch of 5 spice (if available), pinch of oregano, 5 tbs olive oil

1. Season the steaks with salt & pepper and trim any fat (use the 5-spice if you have - rub a pinch of it on each side of the steaks);
2. In a bowl, mix soy, mirin, vinegar, ginger, sesame and water. Add the mixture to a sauce pan and bring it to a simmer; add honey and quartered mushrooms simmering for about 5 minutes until they are tender; (taste and correct flavours if needed)
3. Heat some water in another sauce pan and boil the potatoes with the skin for about 10 minutes; then drain and transfer to an oven proof dish, season with salt, chopped rosemary and 1 tbs olive oil; bake for about 15-20 minutes at 190 C;
4. Wash the salad greens and season with 2 tbs olive oil, a bit of lemon or balsamic vinegar and the oregano;
5. Heat 2 tbs in a fry pan. Cook the steaks for about 5 minutes each side or until they are cooked to your liking. Transfer to a plate, cover with foil to rest for 5 minutes;
6. Place half of the mushrooms on a place, top with the steak and some of the soy sauce. Serve with the salad and the potatoes.

recipe: BEEF & MUSHROOM SOY & GINGER SKEWERS W/ NOODLES

Somehow I forgot to insert the memory card into my camera so you'll get only the finished product picture...., it was really good though, reminded me of when I used to live in Japan and it is a bit similar to the Poached Chicken Noodles but with Beef Skewers instead...

lets go then, for 4:


600g rump steak cut into small pieces, bamboo skewers, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 garlic cloves crushed, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup mirin, about 6 button mushrooms halved, 2x 270g ramen noodles, 4 choped spring onions, 1 carrot grated, 3 tbs soy sauce, 3 tbs mirin, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil


1. mix the ginger, garlic, 1/4 cup soy, 1/4 cup mirin in a bowl and pour over the sliced beef. Let it marinate for about an hour or longer if you have the time.
2. Cut the mushrooms and add them to the marinate 10 minutes before you make the skewers.
3. Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to packet instructions, rinse and let them cool.
4. In a bowl, mix the noodles, grated carrot, onion and remaining soy, mirin and sesame and let it rest.
5. Heat the grill in medium heat. Pierce the pieces of meet and the halved mushrooms with the bamboo skewers and place them in a baking tray (on foil(.
6. Grill them for about 8 minutes each side or until they are cooked to your liking.
7 Serve with the noodles.

recipe: SOY BRAISED BEEF WITH PASTA

I got a little busy the last couple of days so I'm going to leave you the recipe, but with no images, I'll post them later:

for 4 serves:
800 g beef cut into strips, 400 g dry fettucine, 1 cup red whine, 3/4 cup soy sauce, 1 (full) tbs of grated ginger, 1 tbs minced garlic, 15 cm orange rind peel, 5 cups chicken stock, 2 tbs sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, olive oil, dutch carrots

1. Place whine, stock, soy, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, sugar and orange peel in a sauce pan and bring it to a boil. When it boils, reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile heat the oil in a fry pan and cook the beef in batches.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 150C, and arrange the beef in an oven-proof dish.
4. Pour the sauce over the beef, cover with foil and cook for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours.
5. Serve with Fetuccine and steamed dutch carrots.

p.s. The longer you cook the tender the meat will get, and if you leave it to cool overnight and serve it the next day the flavours will blend perfectly.

This is a really easy recipe, but a bit time consuming so I'd recommend leaving it for a weekend or if you're having a dinner party.