If you cook the meat slowly, it will be tender, juicy and incredibly tasty. Yes, it will take more time to cook, but the result is worth it. Cooking meat slowly is pretty easy. All you need for this is a slow cooker or oven, as well as a choice of meat.
Ingredients
- 1.4 kg beef collar
- 3 carrots
- 2 large reddish brown potatoes
- 1 large white onion
- 3 stalks of celery
- 1 pack of instant onions
- 1 can of mushroom soup with condensed cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) red wine
- ½ cup (120 ml) beef stock
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Slow Cooking
Step 1. Buy a good piece of meat
Choose a piece from a group of hard muscles, such as a neck or a ham. These muscle groups contain a lot of connective tissue, as well as a moderate amount of fat, which, when cooked slowly, allows you to get tender and juicy meat. Here are some of the cuts that make the most delicious meat:
- ham;
- neck;
- rump;
- brisket;
- beef round steak.
Step 2. Season the meat
Rub the meat with coarse salt and pepper. Certain fresh herbs and spices, such as cumin or red pepper, add flavor to the meat. Wait for the meat to warm to room temperature before cooking.
Step 3. Cut the vegetables to be cooked with the meat
Use a range of hard vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, celery and onions; cut them into 2 cm pieces, then place a layer of vegetables on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the remaining vegetables after placing the meat in the slow cooker.
Step 4. Place the meat fat side up in the slow cooker
Cover the meat with the remaining vegetables.
Step 5. Add liquid and seasonings to the slow cooker
There are several ways to make meat juicy and tasty. For this, you can use beef broth, red wine, or the condensed cream of canned soups. Start with this basic recipe:
- 1 pack of puree onion sauce;
- 1 can of mushroom soup with condensed cream;
- ½ cup (120 ml) wine (merlot or cabernet)
- ½ cup (120 ml) beef stock.
Step 6. Cook the meat over low heat for 5-7 hours
Meat should be cooked for about two hours for every pound of weight. Adjust the time according to its weight.
Step 7. Serve the meat
Slice the meat across the grain to keep the pieces tender. Serve the meat along with a handful of vegetables and cover with the juice from the slow cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy the delicious meat!
Method 2 of 2: Cooking in the oven
Step 1. Choose a good piece of meat
With slow cooking, you have complete freedom in your choice of meat. Pork or beef tenderloin, as well as the back of the beef carcass, are good choices for cooking delicious meat in the oven.
Step 2. Preheat oven to 120 ° C
Place the meat in the oven and adjust the temperature. Make sure the oven is preheated before placing the meat in the oven. This will ensure an even cooking from the beginning to the end of the baking process.
Step 3. Fry the meat so that all the juices remain inside
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Place the meat in a hot skillet and brown it on all sides. Fry the meat for 30 seconds on all sides until a golden brown crust appears on the outside.
Step 4. Place the meat in a shallow baking dish with a wire rack at the bottom
The grate allows the meat to be lifted from the bottom of the mold, which will allow the air to circulate better and the meat will cook evenly. The grill will also prevent the meat from boiling in its own juice and softening at the bottom. If you don't have a wire rack, place the meat on solid food, such as potatoes or carrots, so it doesn't get too wet.
Step 5. Set the oven to 93 ° C and cook for about 1 hour per pound of weight
If you are cooking 1.5 kg of meat, check the meat with a thermometer after 2.5 hours. Follow these instructions to find out the degree of doneness of the meat when you check the temperature:
- 54 ° C - meat with blood;
- 57 ° C - lightly rare meat;
- 65 ° C - medium rare meat;
- 71 ° C - fried meat.
- Note: Even when you remove the meat from the oven, it will continue to cook. The final temperature may change after you remove the meat from the oven.
Step 6. Set the meat aside for 15 minutes before chopping it
The meat should rest so that the slices are juicy when slicing. Do not cut the meat too early to avoid losing all the juices and flavor.
Step 7. Cut the meat across the grain and serve
After a few hours of cooking, you can finally enjoy the incredible taste of the meat. Cut the meat perpendicular to the muscle fibers to keep the pieces tender.
Advice
- Do not open the oven while the meat is cooking, otherwise you will release the heat and the dish will take longer to cook.
- Ask the butcher which cuts of meat are best cooked in one way or another.