Stoverij (Beef, and Chocolate Stew)

Serves: 6

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 2 ½ -3 hours

Total time: 3 hours 20

Dietary:

Meal type: mains

Misc:

Occasion: supper

Author: dghchocolatier

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Ingredients

  • 500g beef chuck, in large chunks
  • 1 carrot peeled and diced
  • ½ spanish Onion diced
  • 1 stick of celery, sliced
  • ¼ leek
  • 1 clove garlic peeled & crushed
  • 30g smoked bacon lardons
  • 1 splash olive oil
  • 1L beef stock
  • 25g butter
  • 1 sprig thyme + for garnish
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 sprig thyme + for garnish
  • 500 ml bottle porter (stout)
  • 50 g 70% dark chocolate
  • freshly ground sea salt and pepper

Method

Heat a large frying pan with a small amount of olive oil on high heat.  Add the beef and brown remove beef and place on the side.
Put the pan to the stove and turn the heat to medium-high heat and brown the bacon lardons and sliced onions, Add the celery, leek, carrot and garlic.  Fry for 5 minutes and add the meat back into the pan.
Turn up the heat, add stout and bring to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes add the stock, thyme, bay leave, rosemary, salt and pepper.  Bring to the boil and reduce to a very low heat simmer with the lid on for about 2.5-3 hours.
Remove the thyme sprig, bay leave and discard.  Remove the beef and cover and put aside.  Use a hand blender to blitz the sauce.  

Add the brown sugar.  Boil the sauce on a high rolling boil to reduce it by half. Add the chocolate to the stew and stir it through just before serving. 

Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed put the meat back in the pan and cook for another 5 minutes  garnish with a sprig of thyme