Beef Stew with Winter Squash
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 2 cups Dashi (page 162), chicken stock, preferably homemade (page 160), or water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin, honey, or sugar
- 10 nickel-sized slices peeled fresh ginger
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 lemon
- 1 1/2 pounds peeled and seeded butternut, pumpkin, or other winter squash, or sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
- In a large skillet, preferably nonstick, sear the meat over medium-high heat in two batches until nicely browned, only about 5 minutes per batch, since its sufficient to brown the meat well on one side.
- As you finish, transfer the chunks to a medium-sized flameproof casserole with a lid.
- When the meat is all browned, add the stock to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring and scraping occasionally, until all the solids are integrated into the liquid.
- Pour into the casserole with the soy sauce, mirin, ginger, and a couple of grindings of pepper.
- Peel the lemon and add the peel to the mixture; juice the lemon and reserve the juice.
- Cover and cook on top of the stove (or in a 350F oven), maintaining a steady simmer.
- Stir after 30 minutes and begin to check the meat at 15-minute intervals.
- When the meat is tender, or nearly so, stir in the squash and continue to cook as before, checking every 15 minutes, until the squash is tender but not mushy.
- (If you choose to prepare the dish in advance, undercook the squash slightly and stop cooking here.
- Let sit at room temperature for up to a couple of hours or cover and refrigerate for up to a day.
- If you like, skim excess fat before reheating and proceeding, adding a little water if necessary.)
- Taste and add salt if needed, then stir in the reserved lemon juice and serve.
- Use beef tenderloin (filet mignon).
- Brown the meat as directed and reduce the liquid in the pan.
- Combine the meat, liquid, and all the other ingredients except the lemon juice.
- Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes; stir in the lemon juice and serve.
boneless beef chuck, chicken stock, soy sauce, mirin, fresh ginger, salt, lemon, pumpkin
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/beef-stew-with-winter-squash-386319 (may not work)