Red Wine-Braised Beef Shanks with Mushrooms and Basil-Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 (1-inch thick) "soup cut" beef shanks, about 3 pounds total
• 1 tablespoon Essence, recipe follows
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
• 2 large carrots, finely chopped
• 1/2 pound button mushrooms, stems trimmed
• 8 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• 8 sprigs thyme
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 2 1/2 cups dry red wine
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1/4 cup chopped basil
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Basil Mashed Potatoes, recipe follows
• Sauteed Fennel and Leeks, recipe follows

Directions

In a large Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over high heat until very hot.

Season shanks on both sides with the Essence, transfer to Dutch oven and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer shanks to a plate and set aside. Add onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms to the Dutch oven and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 7 minutes.

Add garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes. Add red wine and stir well with a wooden spoon, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any bits. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, beef stock, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper and stir well to combine.

Return shanks to the Dutch oven and bring sauce to a boil. Cover Dutch oven, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 5 hours, stirring occasionally, or until shanks are tender. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, with sauce ladled over Basil-Mashed Potatoes. Serve with Sauteed Fennel and Leeks.

Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Basil-mashed Potatoes:

• 2 1/2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped basil

In a saucepan combine potatoes with enough water to cover by 1 inch and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Drain potatoes in a colander. Add butter and milk to the saucepan and heat until butter is melted. Return potatoes to the saucepan, add sour cream, and mash with a potato masher until desired smoothness is achieved. Season with more salt (if necessary) and black pepper. Stir in chopped basil and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Sauteed Fennel and Leeks:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 bulb fennel, top removed, cored and sliced thinly
• 1 large leek, greens removed, cleaned and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon butter

Heat a medium sized saute pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil. Add fennel and saute for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add leeks and season with salt and pepper. Saute until fennel and leeks are tender, another 4 minutes. Add lemon zest and butter and toss. Adjust seasoning and serve.