This slow cooked dish isn’t going to win me points for authenticity but it is tasty, easy to make and kid friendly :).

My youngsters insist on having the sour cream (that you would normally mix through) on the side and they are not mushroom fans. I feel however, that you need mushrooms for a richer flavour. My solution is to use whole ‘cup’ or button mushrooms and that seems to avoid turning dinner into a picking out bits of chopped mushroom exercise :).

You will be:

1. Preparing your ingredients.
2. Browning the beef and softening the vegetables.
3. Cooking low and slow.
4. Serving.

You will need:

• Ingredients:
  • 1kg of beef (I used rump steak), cubed
  • A few slugs of olive oil
  • 1 large brown onion, sliced
  • 2 -3 garlic cloves, finely diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Tbsp paprika, ground
  • 3 medium mushrooms (I used ‘cup’), whole or chopped
  • 2 Tbsp plain flour
  • Table salt to taste
  • Black peppercorns to taste, ground
  • 2 cups home-made stock (I only had chicken to hand)
  • A good slug of tomato paste
  • A good slug of Worcestershire sauce
  • A handful of small or chopped mushrooms (optional)
•  Equipment:
  • 1 long sharp knife
  • 1 chopping board
  • 1 fry pan
  • 1 slow cooker
  • 1 mixing jug
  • 1 whisk or fork

Prepare your ingredients

1. Turn your slow cooker onto medium and add a slug of oil, lid on.
2. Cube the 1kg of beef and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Slice the 1 brown onion.
4. Peel and finely dice the 2 -3 garlic cloves.
5. Peel and chop the 2 carrots.
6. Rinse the 3 ‘cup’ mushrooms and rough chop them if you prefer.

Browning the beef and softening the vegetables

1. Heat a slug of olive oil in a fry pan over medium heat.
2. Brown the beef and then add it to the slow cooker along with the whole or chopped mushrooms.
3. Add a bit more oil to the fry pan if you need it (I didn’t).
4. Throw into the fry pan the
   • onions
   • garlic
   • carrots
   • tomato paste
   • stock
   • 2 Tbsp plain flour
   • 1 Tbsp ground cumin
   • a good slug of Worcestershire sauce
5. Give everything a gentle but thorough mix, cooking on medium heat until the onions have softened.
6. Pour the contents of the fry pan into the slow cooker.

Cooking low and slow

1. Cover and cook on medium for 4  to 5 hours and the sauce is somewhat reduced.

Serving

My kids prefer that I take the mushrooms out before I serve the dish on a bed of rice and steamed greens. I then give everyone a very healthy dollop of sour cream.

Enjoy,

PK