Braised Beef In Stout - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/4 kg chuck steaks
25 g butter
2 tablespoons oil
3 onions, chopped
1 tablespoon brandy
600 ml stout beer
2 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs rosemary
1 teaspoon vegemite
500 g baby carrots
500 g eggplants, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt & freshly ground black pepper
6 mushrooms, medium sized
2 tablespoons chopped basil
1 sprig basil
rind of half a lemon, shredded
6 kalamata olives

Preparation

Cut the steaks into 5 x 7cm pieces.
Heat the butter and oil in a large casserole dish or pot.
Add the beef and fry until well browned. It is OK if the bottom of the pan gets brown and sticky, but dont let it burn.
Add the onions and cook until beginning to soften. You will see the brown sticky stuff at the bottom of the pan start to dissolve and come away.
Add the brandy.
Add the Stout beer, Vegemite (dissolved in a little water) sprigs of thyme and rosemary, carrots, eggplant, and salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to the boil and cook very gently for about 3 hours, until the meat is very tender. Add the whole mushrooms for the last 30 minutes.
remove the sprigs of rosemary and thyme.
Mix the chopped basil and lemon rind together and sprinkle over the top.
Scatter over the olives and garnish with the basil sprig.
Serve with crusty bread or mashed potato.