This is a very traditional South African dish that is typically cooked over open coals. Now we know that is not possible for every household, so we have adapted it to a stovetop version. I am sure the coals give the dish some extra flavor. If you are wanting to mimic the effect, you can always add a capful of liquid smoke. Like a lot of the dishes in this section, it may look like there are a lot of ingredients but don’t let that put you off from an amazing slow cooked stew that delivers for the entire family.
Serves: 6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 4 ½ hours
Ingredients:
2 pounds beef brisket, chopped into bite sized chunks
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups yellow onions, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
1 package meaty bacon, diced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 medium-sized Yukon potatoes, medium cubes
2 cups butternut squash, medium cubes
2 large zucchinis, sliced ½ inch thick rounds
2 medium carrots, sliced ½ inch thick rounds
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2/3 cup Pinot Noir
1 cup Passata, crushed
1 cup beef stock
Instructions:
Season the beef with the salt and pepper then sprinkle on evenly, the salt and pepper. Hea the butter and oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. In batches, brown the meat well and remove from the pan once done. Set aside until needed.
Stir in the onions, celery, bacon, thyme, coriander and cumin allowing them to start to break down, 4 minutes. Add the meat back to the pot then layer in the potatoes, butternut squash, zucchinis and carrots turning the heat down to low.
In a bowl, combine the tomato paste, Pinot Noir, Passata and the beef stock, giving everything a good stir to combine. Pour the liquid over the contents of the pan and cover allowing it to simmer on low for 4 hours. Check the dish every so often to make sure the pot is still simmering and not on boil. You don’t want to stir this dish but simply let it cook on its own. When the meat is tender, remove the lid and give a gentle stir. If you want a thicker stew, let the liquids cook off without the lid until you have the desired consistency. Ladle into bowls over fresh brown rice and enjoy your family’s newest best friend.