Recipe

Beef And Baby Root Vegetable Fricassee

Ingredients

3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup bleached all-purpose flour
1 pound beef stew meat, such as top round or bottom round, trimmed of fat and cut into 2-inch chunks
Essence to taste
1 cup chopped yellow onions
1 cup chopped celery
Salt and cayenne to taste
2 bay leaves
1 cup dry red wine
5 cups water
1/2 pound pearl onions, peeled
1/4 pound baby carrots, peeled
1/4 pound baby turnips, peeled
1/4 pound new or small red potatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cheesy Bacon Grits

Combine the oil and flour in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir slowly and constantly until the roux is the color of chocolate, 15 to 20 minutes.
Season the meat with Essence. Add the roux and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to coat the meat with the roux. Add the onions and celery, season with salt and cayenne, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the bay leaves and wine. Stir for 1 minute, until a paste forms. Add the water and stir to blend. Add the pearl onions, carrots, turnips, potatoes, garlic, and thyme, season with salt and black pepper, bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook until the meat is very tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Serve over the grits.