Spiced beef with beetroot, crème fraîche & shallots

Creme fraiche complements spicy dishes perfectly and this one, with shallots and beetroot, is no exception

What you need:

• 1kg stewing beef or skirt cut into 3cm cubes
• 2 tbsp olive oil and a knob of butter
• 2 cloves garlic
• 16 whole shallots, peeled
• 1/2 litre beef or chicken stock
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 8 juniper berries, crushed
• 2 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 red chilli, finely diced (optional)
• Sea salt, black pepper
• 8 small uncooked beetroots, peeled and halved
• 2 tbsp crème fraiche
• 2 tbsp dry mustard
• 3 tbsp creamed horseradish
• 1tbsp flour mixed with 1tbsp butter (optional)

What you do:

1. Place the olive oil and butter over a high heat in a heavy, flameproof casserole. Brown the beef all over, remove and set aside.
2. Reduce the heat, stir in the shallots, garlic and chilli and cook till the shallots are softened.
3. Pour in the wine vinegar, stock and balsamic vinegar, raise the heat and bring it to the boil.
4. Stir in the spices and sugar, then add the meat and beetroot, season well with salt and plenty of black pepper.
5. Cover the casserole and put it in a preheated oven to 160DegC for 1 1/2 -2 hours.
6. Bring the casserole out and let it rest, skim off the fat if any. If the sauce is a little thin, thicken with a mixture of half flour and half butter, then mix together crème fraiche, mustard, horseradish, and stir into the casserole before serving.
7. Serve the casserole with plenty of celeriac and potato mash.

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