Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, for frying, plus more to
drizzle
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 to 3 pounds beef chuck shoulder roast, cut into 2-inch pieces (this cut is also called
chuck shoulder pot roast and chuck roast boneless)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bottle good quality dry red wine (recommended: Burgundy)
8 fresh thyme sprigs
6 garlic cloves, smashed
1 orange, zest removed in 3 (1-inch) strips

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 cups beef stock
9 small new potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut in 1/2
1/2 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups frozen pearl onions, a large handful
1 pound white mushrooms, cut in 1/2
1/2 pound garden peas frozen or fresh
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish
Horseradish Sour Cream, recipe follows, for garnish
Toasted Peasant Bread, recipe follows, for serving

Directions

Preheat a
large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.
While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. Season the cubed beef with
some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat. Shake off
the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful
not to over crowd the pan, you might have to work in batches. Thoroughly brown all of the

cubes on all sides. Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and reserve.
Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan
with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits. Once the wine has gotten
hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic, orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly
ground black pepper and salt, to taste, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring the mixture up to
a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to
thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours.

After 2 hours add halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with
a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine. Turn the heat up slightly and
simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the vegetables and meat are tender. Add the
frozen peas during the last minute of cooking. Season with salt and pepper and remove the
thyme sprigs.

To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, garnish with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and
add a dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream. Right before serving add a slice of Toasted

Peasant Bread, half way submerged in the stew.

Ingredients

Horseradish
Sour Cream:
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Chives, finely chopped, as garnish

Directions

Combine sour cream,
prepared horseradish and a drizzle of olive oil in a small bowl and mix until thoroughly
combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add a dollop of the mixture on top of the stew and
garnish with chopped chives.

Ingredients

Toasted Peasant Bread:
1 loaf peasant bread, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, halved
Chopped parsley leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Put a sheet pan in the oven so that it gets good and hot.

Place the bread slices on the hot sheet pan. Drizzle the bread with the extra-virgin olive
oil bake for 5 minutes, until the bread is nicely toasted. Rub the bread slices with the
garlic cloves, and discard garlic. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings