Slow cooked beef cheeks

by Valentinas

Slow cooked beef cheeks

Transcribed from https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-cooker-red-wine-beef-cheeks/

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp olive oil , separated
• 1.5 kg/3lb beef cheeks , (4 large or 6 small beef cheeks)
• 1 onion (white, brown or yellow), roughly diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 celery stalk , roughly diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 carrot , roughly diced (about 3/4 cup)
• 4 garlic cloves , minced
• 6 stems of fresh thyme or 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 4 dried bay leaves (or 3 fresh bay leaves)
• 1 cup / 250 ml beef stock
• 2 cups / 500 ml red wine (full bodied eg. cabernet sauvignon or merlot)
• 2 - 3 tsp salt , separated
• Black pepper

1. Prepare the beef cheeks: cut off any large, fatty membrane. Pat dry then use 1 tsp of salt and black pepper to season the beef all over.
2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy based pan (or casserole dish with a lid if you are baking or pot if you are cooking on the stove) over high heat. Sear the beef cheeks on each side until nicely browned. If your pan is not large enough, work in batches rather than crowding the pan. Remove beef cheeks onto a plate, loosely cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Turn down the heat to medium high and heat the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic, onion and carrots. Sauté for 3 minutes until onion is becoming translucent, then add the celery and sauté for a further 3 minutes.
4. Pour the onion mixture into the slow cooker and place the beef cheeks on top.
5. Pour the wine into the fry pan and return to heat. Turn the heat up to high, bring to simmer and let it simmer for 1 minute (to cook out the wine a bit). Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan so it mixes in with the wine.
6. Pour the wine into the slow cooker, then all the remaining ingredients, starting with a pinch of salt and pepper (add more to taste later).
7. Cook in the slow cooker on Low for 8 hours or High for 6 hours for 250g/8oz size beef cheeks or Low for 10 - 12 hours or High for 8 hours for 350g/12oz beef cheeks.
8. Open the slow cooker and remove the beef cheeks. Discard the thyme stems and bay leaves.
9. Use a handheld stick blender to puree the braising liquid into a smooth Sauce - it will change from a dark brown to a lighter brown colour. If using a slow cooker without a sauté setting, pour the Sauce into a saucepan. If you have a sauté setting, leave it in the slow cooker.
10. Put the saucepan over medium heat (or set the slow cooker to sauté setting) and bring to simmer.
11. Simmer until the Sauce turns a darker brown colour and reduces by about 1/4 to 1/3, to a gravy consistency - about 10 minutes.
12. Do a taste test and adjust the seasoning (salt and pepper) to your taste.
13. Remove from heat, return beef cheeks to the Sauce, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.