INGREDIENTS
Beef cheeks
100 g salt
2 litres (8 cups) water
4 beef cheeks, cleaned of sinew
Olive oil
750 ml (3 cups) red wine
2 brown onions
1 head garlic, cut in half
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 piece kombu
2 litres (8 cups) homemade or store-bought brown chicken stock
2 bay leaves
Mushrooms
500 g mushrooms, such as pine mushrooms, swiss brown, Portobello or shitake
80 g butter
4 black garlic cloves, peeled, sliced
2 tbsp thyme, picked
Crispy kale
1 bunch kale, washed, stalks removed
Olive oil
Salt flakes, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
METHOD
Beef cheeks
- Dissolve salt in water. Place beef cheeks into a container and pour over the brine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the beef cheeks from the brine and discard liquid. Heat a gourmet oven dish on medium-high heat, induction setting 7 for 5 minutes. Add oil and beef cheeks. Sear on both sides until beef is brown, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add 60 ml of red wine to deglaze the pan. Simmer for a few minutes, induction setting 4 until the wine has almost evaporated. Remove cheeks and meat juice and set aside in a bowl.
- Cut onions in half, top to tail, leaving the skin on. Add a tablespoon of oil and place the onions cut side down into the casserole dish. Cook on medium-high heat, induction setting 7 for 10 minutes or until blackened.
- Add the garlic and remaining wine. Bring to the boil on induction setting 8. Add the peppercorns, kombu and stock. Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes on induction setting 4.
- Return the beef cheeks and meat juices back to the casserole dish and immerse in the braising liquid. Add the bay leaves.
- Place dish on shelf level 2. Select Combi mode: Fan Plus at 130°C + 60% moisture for 3 hours or until cheeks are tender.
- Check the beef cheeks are tender with a fork. If the meat is pulling apart with no resistance, it’s ready. Allow the meat to cool in the liquid for at least 1 hour. Once cooled, remove beef and strain broth through a sieve. Discard solids.
- Place a saucepan on high heat, induction setting 8 and reduce broth for 20 minutes to form a thick sauce, skimming any foam or fat.
- Once reduced to a glazing consistency, strain again through a fine sieve.
Mushrooms
- Clean the mushrooms with damp paper towel and a soft brush to remove any dirt. Cut into wedges.
- Place a frying pan on medium-high heat, induction setting 7. Add half the butter and cook until foaming.
- Add the mushrooms in batches and season well. Increase heat to induction setting 8 and cook until mushrooms are golden. Add the garlic and remaining butter.
- Once butter has melted, add thyme leaves and season well. Remove from heat.
Crispy kale
- Preheat the oven on Conventional at 180°C.
- Place the kale leaves on a baking paper lined universal tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes until crisp. Check halfway through cooking time.
To serve
- Slice the beef in thirds. Place the reduced beef broth into a pan and add a tablespoon of water. Bring to the boil on high heat, induction setting 7.
- Add the beef into the reduced sauce and glaze meat to coat.
- Serve the beef on a warm plate. Using a fork, break up the meat slightly.
- Place the mushrooms on top of the beef and pour over sauce. Cover the beef with crispy kale.
Hints and tips
- The beef cheeks can be prepared up to two days in advance. Cooked beef cheeks can be frozen for at least 1 month.
- Black garlic can be made using our warming drawers. Refer to this recipe for more details:
APPLIANCE / FUNCTION
Matt Stone
At just 22, Matt was approached to join Greenhouse Perth as Head Chef. Here he has embraced the Greenhouse by Joost philosophies of preparing fresh, sustainable, locally-sourced, whole-foods and made a name for himself as a serious innovator and progressive cook. Matt has put Greenhouse at the front of Perth’s dining culture and over the past year he has been awarded numerous accolades. Matt took out Gourmet Traveller’s prestigious Best New Talent Award 2011, West Australia’s Good Food Guide’s Best Young Chef 2011 – with Greenhouse Perth also awarded the Good Food Guide’s Best New Restaurant for 2011.
