Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

photo by Michael Kraus for The New York Times

from The New York Times

submitted by Anne Halsted

preparation time: about 3 hours

serves 4 to 6

¼ pound salt pork, diced

1 large onion, finely diced

3 shallots, chopped

2 to 4 tablespoons butter, as needed, divided

2 pounds beef chuck, in 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons flour

salt and freshly ground black pepper

¾ cup Cognac

2½ cups beef stock

½ cup Dijon mustard, divided

4 tablespoons Pommery (or other whole grain) mustard

4 large carrots, peeled and cut into half-moon slices

½ pound mushrooms, stemmed, cleaned and quartered

¼ cup red wine

Place salt pork in a Dutch oven or a large heavy kettle over low heat, and cook until fat is rendered. Remove solid pieces with a slotted spoon, and discard. Raise heat, and add onion and shallots. Cook until softened but not browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a large bowl.  If necessary, add 2 tablespoons butter to the pan to augment fat. Dust beef cubes with flour, and season with salt and pepper. Shake off excess flour, and place half the cubes in the pan. Cook over medium-high heat until well browned, almost crusty, on all sides, then transfer to a bowl with onions. Repeat with remaining beef.

Add Cognac to the empty pan, and cook, stirring, until the bottom is deglazed and the crust comes loose. Add stock, Dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon Pommery mustard. Whisk to blend, then return meat and onion mixture to pan. Lower heat, cover pan partway, and simmer gently until meat is very tender, about 1½ hours. Add carrots, and continue simmering for 30 minutes, or until slices are tender. As they cook, heat 2 tablespoons butter in medium skillet over medium-high heat, and sauté mushrooms until browned and tender.

Stir mushrooms into stew along with remaining mustard and red wine. Simmer 5 minutes, then taste, and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.