HACHIS PARMENTIER
Ingredients for 8 – 10 servings:
Beef Stew:
Canola oil
3 pounds beef stew meat
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 head fennel, halved and sliced
1 1/2 cups red wine
1 28 ounce can diced San Marzano plum tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
Potato Puree:
3 pounds Idaho (russet) potatoes
6 – 10 tablespoons butter
1 + cups scalded milk
Freshly ground salt and pepper
Directions:
Beef: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Heat a thin layer of oil in a skillet. Wipe dry and sauté stew meat, season with salt and pepper and saute in several batches, turning to brown all sides of the meat. Collect meat in a bowl. Add a bit more oil to the pan and sauté onions until they wilt, stir in the fennel and cook 5 minutes longer. Deglaze the pan with ½ cup wine. Return the meat to the pan and add the tomatoes and their juices. Pour in more wine as needed to just cover the meat. Add the bay leaves. Bring liquids to a simmer, cover the pan and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Strain the cooking juices and bring them to a simmer. Dissolve the cornstarch in cool water. Stir in two cups of hot meat juices then reverse the cornstarch mixture into the reducing juices. Stir and cook until thickened to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
Distribute the meat and vegetables in a deep gratin dish. Ladle the thickened sauce over the meat and reserve.
Potato Puree: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub the potatoes and place in a saucepan with water to cover by 1” and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook at a bare simmer until a knife pierces the potatoes easily. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and pass them through a food mill. Heat the potatoes in a heavy saucepan beating continuously with a wooden spoon for a minute or two to dry them. Alternate the addition of butter by the tablespoon and milk until the desired consistency is reached. Season to taste. Spoon the potato puree over the stew. Scatter small pieces of butter over the top and bake until the potatoes begin to brown. Serve immediately
