This basic casserole or stew recipe is a modified version of the one I've used for the past 26 years. It can be made with any meat, from beef or lamb to chicken, rabbit, deer, duck or other game. It can be cooked on the stove, in the oven, or in a slow cooker, and most of the ingredients can be varied to suit. Once you understand the method and basic ingredients, the rest is up to you!
Basic Ingredients:
1 kg of meat - use anything you like - excellent for cheap cuts of stewing meat - diced
2 onions, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely diced
Vegetables - 2-3 sliced or diced carrots and 2-3 stalks diced celery, or other
1 tsp dried rosemary or 1 TBSP fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
2 tsp soy sauce (optional)
1 jar or 400g can of diced tomatoes
300 ml home made stock or water
Rice or corn flour to thicken
Method:
Oven - place all ingredients except in large oven-proof casserole dish with a well-fitting lid. Don't worry if it seems like there isn't a lot of liquid - as the casserole begins to cook, more fluid will come from the meat and veges. Bake at 180C (350F) for 1.5-2 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking.
Stove-top - (least recommended) - heat a little oil in a pot, add garlic and onions and cook until softened. Add meat and brown, then add remaining ingredients except flour. Cover and simmer for 1 - 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more liquid if needed.
Slow cooker - place all ingredients except flour in slow cooker and cook on low all day, or high for 5-6 hours
ALL: near the end of cooking, mix approx. 3 TBSP flour with enough water to make a runny mix, and stir into casserole. Cook a little longer to thicken.
Variations:
* If you don't have any stock available, add 2-3 TBSP tomato paste for extra flavour
* If using a gamey meat such as venison, wild pork or duck, add 2 TBSP vinegar to the mix - this tenderises the meat and removes the gamey flavour but isn't noticeable in the finished casserole
* Chunks of potato or kumera may also be added. The potato soaks up stock and tastes great.
* Vary herbs and seasonings to suit
* Use beef stock with red meats, and chickens stock with whiter meats
1 kg of meat - use anything you like - excellent for cheap cuts of stewing meat - diced
2 onions, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely diced
Vegetables - 2-3 sliced or diced carrots and 2-3 stalks diced celery, or other
1 tsp dried rosemary or 1 TBSP fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
2 tsp soy sauce (optional)
1 jar or 400g can of diced tomatoes
300 ml home made stock or water
Rice or corn flour to thicken
Method:
Oven - place all ingredients except in large oven-proof casserole dish with a well-fitting lid. Don't worry if it seems like there isn't a lot of liquid - as the casserole begins to cook, more fluid will come from the meat and veges. Bake at 180C (350F) for 1.5-2 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking.
Stove-top - (least recommended) - heat a little oil in a pot, add garlic and onions and cook until softened. Add meat and brown, then add remaining ingredients except flour. Cover and simmer for 1 - 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more liquid if needed.
Slow cooker - place all ingredients except flour in slow cooker and cook on low all day, or high for 5-6 hours
ALL: near the end of cooking, mix approx. 3 TBSP flour with enough water to make a runny mix, and stir into casserole. Cook a little longer to thicken.
Variations:
* If you don't have any stock available, add 2-3 TBSP tomato paste for extra flavour
* If using a gamey meat such as venison, wild pork or duck, add 2 TBSP vinegar to the mix - this tenderises the meat and removes the gamey flavour but isn't noticeable in the finished casserole
* Chunks of potato or kumera may also be added. The potato soaks up stock and tastes great.
* Vary herbs and seasonings to suit
* Use beef stock with red meats, and chickens stock with whiter meats
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