Yesterday I mentioned making my version of Beef Carbonnade in the crockpot. I will include pictures from that post so as to have only one recipe link that includes everything.
This is probably the best dish I have ever made in the crockpot. It isn’t a dump all the ingredients in the crockpot kind of recipe. I did use a skillet for the “prepping”. I’m not sure what made a difference but I am encouraged.
Dinner
It may have been my lucky day, but I’m going to try more crockpot dishes while I’m thinking I might be on the road to figuring out how to make this work. We had the meat mixture over noodles, served with fried eggplant, which Vince said tasted so much better than usual, and my sourdough turned out close to perfect. That’s why I’m thinking my yummy crockpot meal may have been a fluke . . just everything worked out too good yesterday.
Sourdough
Also, the beef that I pulled from the freezer was in a FoodSaver bag that I had labled “Use in the Pressure Cooker” which told me it was tough .. probably from a larger package of meat I had bought on sale. About 2:00 p.m. I tasted the meat and it was still tough so I was getting concerned but by 5:30 when we ate, it was fork tender.
Crockpot Almost Beef Carbonnade
2 pounds beef such as round steak, cut into serving size pieces
2 large onions, sliced into thin slices
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large bell pepper, chopped
6 T. oil, divided
3/4 cup flour plus an additional 3 T. for making roux
1 tsp. dried Italian herbs
1-1/2 tsp. each – dried basil and oregano
1-1/2 tsp. black pepper
Seasoned Salt (I use Lawry’s)
Black Pepper
2 T. Better than Bouillon Beef Flavor
1 cup red wine or beer
3 large tomatoes, quartered and peeled if desired
4 carrots, sliced
Directions:
1. Add salt and pepper to flour. Dredge meat in flour and brown on both sides in the 4 T. oil. Add more oil if needed. Drain on paper towels and add to slow cooker.
Almost Beef Carbonnade
2. Saute onion, garlic and bell pepper. Remove with slotted spoon, leaving oil in the pan. Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper to the slow cooker.
Almost Beef Carbonnade
3. Add oil if necessary so there’s about 3 T. oil in the pan. Add the remaining 3 T. flour and stir constantly til the flour is brown. Stir in the Italian herbs, basil, oregano and additional black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring for one minute. Add about 4 cups water and the Better than Bouillon. Stir til the flour is blended and the “gravy” is smooth. Pour in the wine. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes and pour into the slow cooker.
Almost Beef Carbonnade
4. Add the tomato and carrots. Cook on low for 5 – 6 hours. Taste to see if additional salt and pepper is needed.
Almost Beef Carbonnade
Serve over noodles and sprinkle with shaved parmesan cheese.
Donna says
I don’t usually like meat cooked in a crockpot..I do have one exception. I make what I call Italian pork roast in the crock pot and we love it. I just use country style pork ribs or pork roast and lay it in the bottom of the crock pot..add diced onions, baby carrots and zucchini (sometimes new potatoes). I add fresh rosemary and dried basil and oregano and pour a can of tomatoes on top. I cook on low for 7-8 hours and we love it.
Teri Jordan says
I agree not everything is good in the crockpot, but I’m going to try yours and this is a very good posole….you might try it….
Easy Posole Soup
3lbs pork roast-Boston Butt trimmed of fat
2-large onions chopped
1-15oz can mild green chili Enchilada Sauce
4-4oz cans chopped green chilies
1-14.5oz can chicken broth
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
8- cloves of garlic minced
Place roast in slow cooker add onion and next 5 ingredients onion to garlic
Cook on med 6-8 hours until meat is fork tender
Remove meat shred w/2 forks.
Place back in slow cooker. Add hominy and adobo sauce
2-15 oz cans white hominy undrained…
3-TLB chipolte in adobo sauce from a can of chipolte peppers.
Garnish with sliced radish and cilantro
Can serve with shredded cheese
Chop the chipolte peppers for garnish
Pat Peele says
We usually enjoy slow cooker meals more when there is browning, sautéing veggies,roux than just dump type meals. That extra bit of prep adds depth and more flavor.
Donna F says
Oh I love this! I make it about every other month but I’ve never put tomatoes in it. If you say it’s good then I’m going to add some next time and try it. After all, we are tomato freaks at my house!