Italian Beef Casserole

Preparation time: 20 min • Cooking time: 2 hrs
Difficulty: Easy • Serves: 6

This is a great dish to make in the slow cooker. It’s simple to assemble the night before, in the morning just place it in the slow cooker, flip the switch and dinner will be ready when you get home from work. Heaven!

A casserole will keep for up to 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. Casseroles should be refrigerated immediately after the steam from cooking has evaporated. Place the hot casserole into a shallow container in the fridge so it cools quickly. Do not leave it to cool completely on the bench. To serve bring it slowly to the boil over a medium heat, reduce heat and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until the meat and sauce are both thoroughly hot.

INGREDIENTS

1 kg chuck or boneless shin/gravy beef
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 red capsicum, chopped
1 green capsicum, chopped
2 tbsp plain flour
2 cups beef stock
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp dried oregano
400g can diced tomatoes
400g can cannellini beans, drained

METHOD

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut the beef into 2.5cm-3cm cubes. Season with salt and pepper, add about 2 tablespoons of oil and mix well. Heat a large frypan over a medium-high heat. Brown the beef in 2 or 3 batches. Remove each batch and place in a casserole dish.
  2. Reduce heat in pan and add a little oil. Add the onion, garlic and capsicums, cook for 1–2 minutes and stir occasionally.
  3. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until the vegetables are coated. Gradually pour in the stock, stirring well. Add the tomato paste and oregano. Pour over the beef in the casserole dish and stir to combine. Cover the casserole dish, place in the oven and cook until the beef is very tender. In the last 30 minutes of cooking time, add the tomatoes and cannellini beans.

RECIPE NOTES

Cooktop method:

Place the browned Beef and other ingredients in a heavy-based pot. Partially cover, keep the heat low. Simmer until the meat is very tender. Stir occasionally, adding water if needed during the cooking time to keep ingredients just covered. In the last 30 minutes of cooking time, add the tomatoes and cannellini beans.

To cook in a Slow Cooker:

Brown the Beef well as per the recipe and place in the slow cooker. Place the garlic and capsicum in to the slow cooker with the Beef. Blend the flour with the Beef stock and tomato paste, add the oregano and diced tomatoes, add to the Beef. You may need to add a little Beef stock or water if it appears that the liquid does not cover the Beef. Cover the slow cooker with its lid, cook on Low Setting for 8-10 hours or the High Setting for 4-5 hours. Stir in the cannellini beans in the last 40 minutes of the cooking time.

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