Preparation time:

20 minutes

Cooking time:

120 minutes

Makes:

10 cups (2.5 L)

 
Yvonne Duivenvoorden

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb (250 g) pancetta or bacon
• 3-lb (1.5-kg) sirloin-tip roast or outside-round roast
• 12-oz (340-g) pkg mixed mushrooms, preferably a mix of oyster, cremini and shiitake
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 large red or white onion, cut into chunks
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (500 mL) beef broth
• 1 cup (250 mL) sake
• 1/2-oz (14-g) pkg dried mixed mushrooms
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tbsp (15 mL) dried thyme leaves
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions

• Slice pancetta into thick bite-sized pieces. Heat in a large pot set over medium. Stir often until crisp around the edges, 10 to 14 min. Scoop into a small bowl. Drain off fat, leaving 3 tbsp (45 mL) in pot. Meanwhile, cut beef into bite-sized cubes.
• Pat beef with paper towel to remove excess moisture. After removing pancetta from pan, increase heat to medium-high. Add one-third of beef to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 min. Remove to a large bowl. Repeat with two more batches. Meanwhile, slice large fresh mushrooms in half.
• Remove beef to a bowl. Add mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the pot. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables soften slightly, 2 to 3 min. Return beef and bacon to pot. Sprinkle with flour. Cook, stirring often, for 2 min.
• Pour in broth and sake. Stir in dried mushrooms, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, until beef is tender, 11/2 to 2 hours.
• Remove and discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Serve with crusty bread. If making ahead, cool stew. (See Secrets from the chef, below.) Store, covered and refrigerated, up to 3 days or frozen up to 2 months.

Secrets from the chef

Sake Basics

This Japanese wine is made from fermented rice and has a mild flavour, making it good to cook with. It’s often served warm — great for washing down this stew.

Stew switcharoo

A small tweak is all it takes to turn our sake version into hearty Irish stew or traditional beef bourguignon. To make it Irish, skip the sake and use a strong stout instead. To create a classic French version, use 2 cups (500 mL) full-bodied red wine in place of sake, and only 1 cup (250 mL) beef broth.

Safe storage

The best way to cool a stew? Partially covered, in the fridge. Leaving it out at room temperature can cause spoilage.