Alsatian Meat Stew
The casserole is sealed with a flour-and-water dough to prevent the wine from evaporating during the long cooking process.
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 4 hr 17 min
- Prep: 45 min
- Inactive: 12 min
- Cook: 3 hr 20 min
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
4 pigs feet, halved lengthwise
2 pig tails
1/2 pound boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound boneless breast of beef, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 1/2 cups dry white wine, preferably Alsatian
3 small onions, 1 roughly chopped, 2 thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, 1 halved, 2 minced
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 fresh flat-leaf parsley stems
1 bay leaf
3 fresh thyme sprigs
1 tablespoon lard
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Salt
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only, well washed and thinly sliced crosswise
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine feet, tails, lamb, pork, beef, 3 1/2 cups wine, chopped onion, halved garlic, and ground pepper. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight.
- Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place marinated meat mixture in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; skim surface, and discard foam that rises to the top. Prepare a bouquet garni: Tie the parsley stems, bay leaf, and thyme together with kitchen twine; set aside.
- Coat a 5-quart covered casserole or Dutch oven with lard. Season potatoes with salt and pepper. Line the bottom of the casserole with half of the potatoes. Top with half of the sliced onions and half of the leeks. Remove meat from marinade, and transfer to casserole. Strain marinade over meat, discarding solids. Top with remaining onion and leek, minced garlic, and bouquet garni. Distribute remaining 1 pound potatoes evenly in casserole. Pour remaining 3 cups wine over potatoes. Cover casserole.
- Make the seal: In a medium bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup warm water. Stir until mixture comes together and forms a dough. Roll dough into a log long enough to go around the casserole. Place dough over the seam between the casserole, and the cover to seal. Brush dough with egg. Bake for 3 hours. Remove dough seal, and serve immediately.
