We quite often make a good soup or stew on Saturday so we have it ready for lunches for ourselves and our hubbies. You can bet that we will be trying these out this Saturday!
Ultimate Beef Stew
From Tyler Florence
Serves 4-6
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, for frying, plus more to drizzle
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 to 3 pounds beef chuck shoulder roast, cut into 2-inch pieces (this cut is also called chuck shoulder pot roast and chuck roast boneless)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bottle good quality dry red wine (recommended: Burgundy)
8 fresh thyme sprigs
6 garlic cloves, smashed
1 orange, zest removed in 3 (1-inch) strips
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 cups beef stock
9 small new potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut in 1/2
1/2 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups frozen pearl onions, a large handful
1 pound white mushrooms, cut in 1/2
1/2 pound garden peas frozen or fresh
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish
Horseradish Sour Cream, recipe follows, for garnish
Toasted Peasant Bread, recipe follows, for serving
Preheat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.
While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. Season the cubed beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat. Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful not to over crowd the pan, you might have to work in batches. Thoroughly brown all of the cubes on all sides. Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and reserve.
Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits. Once the wine has gotten hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic, orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring the mixture up to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours.
After 2 hours add halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine. Turn the heat up slightly and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the vegetables and meat are tender. Add the frozen peas during the last minute of cooking. Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme sprigs.
To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, garnish with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and add a dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream. Right before serving add a slice of Toasted Peasant Bread, half way submerged in the stew.
Download this recipe.
Southwestern Soup
Robin Miller
Serves 4
1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14-ounce) can pink beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced fresh avocado, for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish
Cornbread, optional
In the bottom of a slow cooker, combine pork, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir to combine. Add broth, tomatoes and beans, cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
When ready to serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with avocado and cilantro. Garnish soup with lime wedges.
Serve with cornbread, if desired.
Download this recipe.
Lamb, Sausage and White Bean Soup
Emeril Lagasse
Serves 4-6
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, crumbled
1 pound lamb stew meat
1 cup small diced onion
1/2 cup small diced carrots
1/2 cup small diced celery
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 pound white navy beans
2 teaspoons roughly chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 cups chicken stock
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
Skillet Garlic Bread, recipe follows
Add the olive oil to a pressure cooker and, once hot, add the crumbled sausage. Saute the sausage until the meat is caramelized and most of the fat has rendered from it, about 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pan and transfer to a plate. Set aside. Add the lamb meat to the pan and sear until caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the lamb from the pan and transfer to the plate with the sausage. Add the onions, carrots and celery to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and beans and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the rosemary, chicken stock, reserved sausage and lamb meat to the pan and stir to combine. Place the lid on the pan and, when a steady stream of steam is emitted from the lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans and lamb meat are tender. Remove the lid, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and garnish with the parsley. Serve with garlic bread.
Download this recipe.
Skillet Garlic Bread
1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 whole cloves garlic
Crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
6 thick crusty bread slices
Heat the butter and oil together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and herbs and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the bread to the skillet and cook until golden and bread has absorbed some of the seasoned butter. Turn bread pieces over and repeat on other side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with the stew.
Download this recipe.
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