Beef And Barley Stew A La Bourguignon - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 (1 pound) package thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups thickly sliced celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot
5 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups red wine
2 fluid ounces cognac
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, crushed
3 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
2 1/2 cups beef consomme
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons ground thyme
4 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup pearl barley
1 (8 ounce) package frozen pearl onions, thawed
1 pinch white sugar
1 (16 ounce) package frozen peas
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound crimini mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley

Preparation

Place beef in a bowl; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt. Toss with flour to coat, shaking off excess flour.
Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a large stock pot, reserving 2 tablespoons bacon fat in the skillet.
Place the floured beef cubes in the still-hot skillet; cook in batches until browned on all sides, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer beef to the pot with the bacon. Combine the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, celery, chopped onion, carrot, garlic, and red pepper flakes in the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until tender and lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer vegetables to the pot.
Remove the skillet from heat. Pour in red wine and cognac. Return the skillet to heat; light the liquid on fire with a long match or lighter to burn off the alcohol. Transfer the liquid to the pot once the flame has died out.
Heat the pot over medium-high heat. Stir in stewed tomatoes, beef broth, consomme, vinegar, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring stew occasionally, until flavors combine, about 1 hour. Add barley; continue cooking until tender, about 1 hour more.
Place pearl onions in the previously used skillet with water to cover; boil until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1 inch water in the skillet. Return onions to the skillet; sprinkle with sugar. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until water evaporates and onions are browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add to the stew; add peas.
Melt butter in a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; saute until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add to the stew; remove and discard bay leaves.
Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl to make a slurry. Add slurry, 1 1/2 teaspoons at a time, to the stew, bringing to a boil after each addition until desired thickness is reached, 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish stew with parsley.