Saffron Veal Stew

• 4 pounds veal stew meat, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 3 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2 leeks
• 1 large onion, halved and studded with 2 whole cloves
• 2 carrots, quartered
• 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 lemon, peel removed in strips with a vegetable peeler
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• 4 cups chicken broth, divided
• 1 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 cup peeled pearl onions
• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz.) salted butter, divided
• 2 (8-oz.) pkg. button mushrooms
• 1 cup creme fraiche
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves

1. Sprinkle veal with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle with flour, and toss to coat.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over high. Add veal, and cook, in batches if necessary, until browned on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer veal to a paper towel-lined sheet pan. Add wine to Dutch oven, and stir, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until wine is reduced by half.
3. Cut and discard root ends and dark green tops from leeks, reserving white and pale-green parts only. Cut into 1-inch pieces, and rinse thoroughly.
4. Return veal to Dutch oven. Add leeks and next 7 ingredients, and cook, stirring often, until vegetables begin to soften, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 3 cups broth, and bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to low, add saffron, and cover. Simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour.
5. Meanwhile, bring remaining 1 cup broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add onions, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain over a small bowl, reserving onion liquid. Set cooked onions aside.
6. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter with remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high. Add mushrooms; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Saute until mushrooms are browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
7. Pour veal mixture in Dutch oven through a colander into a large bowl. Remove veal pieces, and reserve; discard vegetables. Transfer veal sauce in bowl to Dutch oven, and bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in creme fraiche and Parmesan until blended and smooth, adding desired amount of reserved onion liquid if sauce is too thick. Stir in cooked veal, pearl onions, and mushrooms. Stir in chives and tarragon.

veal stew meat, kosher salt, black pepper, allpurpose, olive oil, white wine, leeks, onion, carrots, celery stalks, garlic, lemon, bay leaves, thyme, chicken broth, saffron threads, pearl onions, butter, button mushrooms, creme fraiche, parmesan cheese, fresh chives, tarragon

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/saffron-veal-stew (may not work)