Italian Meat Recipes - Rich Beef in Red Wine (Carbonata alla Val d' Aosta) Recipe

Ingredients

• 750 g/1 1/2 lb chuck steak, cubed

• 45 ml/3 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 15 ml/1 tbsp sugar

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 45 ml/3 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup butter

• 1 large onion, thickly sliced

• About 3/4 bottle full-bodied red wine

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Hot polenta, to serve

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Method:

1. Place the cubes of steak in a large bowl and sprinkle with the vinegar and sugar.

2. Stir in the crushed garlic, cover and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

3. Lift out the meat, reserving the marinade, and dry on kitchen paper. Toss the meat in the flour.

4. Place the butter in a large pan and fry (sauté) the meat quickly until browned on all sides. Remove the meat and keep aside.

5. Fry the onion in the butter until soft, then return the meat to the pan. Add half of the wine and cook until it has been absorbed into the meat.

6. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the remaining wine and cook again in this way.

7. Return the reserved marinade to the pan and cook gently, stirring until the gravy thickens. Serve with hot polenta.