Cheesy Beef Bourguignon Pie
Deborah
Beautifully tender and full of flavour beef filling, topped with a deliciously cheesy mashed potato topping.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Slow cooker timing 6 hours hrs
Total Time 8 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine British, French
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 800g beef shin or cheek diced into 5cm pieces (see Notes)
- 120g unsmoked bacon lardons
- 100g shallots peeled and halved
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 100g button mushrooms (see Notes)
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 250ml beef stock
- 600ml red wine
- 1 bay leaf and 0.5 a bunch of thyme tied together to make a bouquet garni
- buttered greens to serve
For the topping (see Notes):
- 1.2kg Maris Piper potatoes peeled and cut into small chunks
- 40g unsalted butter
- 60ml whole milk (I use semi-skimmed)
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 50g mature cheddar or gruyere grated
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
See Notes for using a slow cooker. Heat the oven to 150C fan/gas mark 3.5. Heat the oil in a large hob-safe casserole (with a tight lid). Season the beef with salt, then fry in 2 batches over a medium-high heat, turning with tongs, until a deep brown. Return all the beef to the casserole, stir in the lardons, shallots, garlic and mushrooms, then cook for 2 minutes. Add the plain flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato purée, then slowly add the beef stock and wine. Add the tied herbs, season, cover and either cook in the oven for 2 to 2.5 hours or until the meat is very tender, or transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
Put the potatoes in a large pan of cold salted water. Cover, bring to a simmer, then cook gently for 10 minutes or until tender to the tip of a dinner knife. Drain and leave to steam dry in the pan for 10 minutes. Mash or use a ricer, then beat in the butter, milk, mustard and two thirds of the cheese. Season to taste.
To assemble, spoon the mash on top the bourguignon in the casserole, sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, then grill for 5 minutes until the cheese is golden and melted (or see Make Ahead). Serve with buttered greens.
- I wasn’t able to get beef shin or cheek, so used shoulder braising steak – it turned out beautifully tender.
- I’m not a fan of white/button mushrooms, so I use chestnut mushrooms instead.
- Swap – use ready rolled puff pastry instead of the mash topping, if you like.
- Make ahead and freeze - assemble as 1 large or 6 individual pies, leave to cool then wrap well with cling film and then freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight, then heat in a medium oven (180C fan) for 20 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbling, or bake from frozen, adding an extra 30 minutes.
- Slow cooker - to make the bourguignon (step 1) in a slow cooker, reduce the liquid to 100ml stock and 200ml wine and cook on low for 6 hours.
- This cheesy beef bourguignon pie recipe is easily adapted if you’re cooking for less or more people.
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Keyword beef cheeks, beef shin, cheesy, comfort food, mashed potatoes, shoulder braising steak