A really thrifty piece of meat (80p) that’ll feed two. Long and slow cooking needed! You could technically make this meal for 2 with just beef stock, a few herbs and whatever root veg u have going. Meal for two, less than £2
What you need
- Ox cheek
- salt
- bacon
- mushrooms
- garlic cloves – whole
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- flour
- tomato puree
- red wine
- thyme
- bay leaf
- optional – tin tomatoes
Extra tips.
- Flour helps thicken the sauce.
- Could also use milk to tenderise the beef.
- Wild mushrooms or little button ones would be perfect.
- A spoon of redcurrant jam added just before the wine
Take yer Ox Cheek out of the fridge, pat it bone dry and allow to come up to room temp. Season with salt and fry at a high temp till browned all over! Place it in casserole when done
Fry bacon, mushrooms and whole cloves of garlic till browned, then also add to yer casserole
Fry a mirepoix (equal onion, carrot and celery) till soft then add a tbsp of flour. Stir through for 2 mins then add a big squirt of tomato puree
Add a good amount of red wine, stir like crazy then reduce by half. Add thyme and a few bay leaves.
Add some strong beef stock, check seasoning. Then put the sauce into the casserole. Bang in the oven at 160c till beef is tender and falls apart easily (up to 4 hours). Continue to turn the beef whilst it’s cooking.
It turned out fantastic! So tender I could break it up with a spoon. If you want the sauce to be more of a gravy I’d suggest thinning it out with a bit more water, or chuck a tin of tomatoes in it
Wit Scots Eat 