Beef stew with olives and fennel (paleron de boeuf aux olives)

This hearty winter beef casserole is delicious and a superb match with a full-bodied shiraz. It may take a few hours in the oven, but that gives you the perfect excuse to kick back and relax while your dinner bubbles away.

• serves

  4

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  3:20 hours

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 4 pieces oyster blade beef, about 250 g each
• 1 brown onion, sliced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 sprigs thyme
• 2 cloves
• 1 tbsp Pernod (see Note)
• 125 ml (½ cup) full-bodied red wine
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 250 ml (1 cup) strong beef stock
• 3 anchovies, chopped
• 20 black olives
• 2 fennel bulbs, trimmed each cut into 6 wedges, fronds thinly sliced to serve
• ⅓ cup chopped parsley

Marinating time overnight

You will need to begin this recipe 1 day ahead.

Instructions

Place the beef, onion, carrot, garlic, thyme, cloves, Pernod and wine in a large bowl, then cover and refrigerate overnight. 

Preheat the oven to 120ºC.

Place the flour in a heavy-based casserole. Stir in a little of the marinade to make a paste, then whisk in the remainder until well combined. Add the beef, marinade vegetables and half the stock and stir gently. Cover with foil, then a tight-fitting lid and cook for 3 hours until the meat is almost tender. 

Stir in the anchovies, olives and fennel. Cover again with foil and a lid and cook for another 20 minutes until the meat is tender.  Check the seasoning, then serve sprinkled with parsley and reserved fennel fronds. 

Note

• Pernod is a French absinthe-flavoured liqueur.

Photography by Benito Martin. Styling by Jerrie-Joy Redman-Lloyd. Food preparation by Alice Storey. Creative concept by Lou Fay. 

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Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.