Description
Rustic summer beef casserole blends hearty Mediterranean flavors with tender slow-cooked meat and garden-fresh vegetables. Rich herbal notes and slow simmering create a comforting meal you’ll savor with every delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 600 grams (1.3 pounds) braising beef, chopped into chunks
Vegetables:
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small courgette/zucchini, chopped into chunks
- 1/4 red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons plain (all-purpose) flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 330 milliliters (11 ounces) Guinness or other ale
- 360 milliliters (1 1/2 cups) beef stock
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Freshly chopped parsley
Serving Suggestion:
- Cooked couscous (Ainsley Harriott’s Spice Sensation recommended)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a robust skillet, generating a sizzling medium-high temperature environment.
- Generously coat beef chunks with seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Create a rich caramelized exterior by searing beef pieces until golden brown and aromatic.
- Carefully transfer browned meat into slow cooker vessel.
- Introduce minced garlic, introducing deep flavor complexity to the brewing casserole.
- Pour Guinness and robust beef stock, creating a luxurious liquid foundation for slow cooking.
- Incorporate colorful bell peppers and zucchini, adding vibrant texture and nutritional diversity.
- Immerse all ingredients, allowing them to meld and develop intense flavor profiles during extended cooking.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature, allowing gentle transformation over 6-8 hours until beef reaches extraordinary tenderness.
- During final moments of cooking, fold in grated Parmesan cheese, enhancing richness and creating silky texture.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley and delicately sliced red onion for bright, crisp finishing notes.
- Present alongside fluffy, perfectly prepared couscous to complete this sumptuous summer casserole experience.
Notes
- Flour coating helps create a delicious golden crust and thickens the sauce, sealing in the meat’s rich flavors.
- Use low-sodium beef stock to control salt levels and prevent the dish from becoming too salty during the long, slow cooking process.
- Swap Guinness with non-alcoholic beer or beef broth for a family-friendly version that maintains deep, complex flavor profiles.
- Consider cutting vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (slow cooker)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Australian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg