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Braised Ox Cheeks

Braised Ox Cheeks

When I worked in the butchers we certainly could get Ox Cheeks but having tried them we decided not to both again. They just wouldn’t sell. But then the TV Chefs got their hands on them! Suddenly Oz Cheek was the new Gold and the price increased accordingly. So generally this dish would have been out of our budget, but we were given the meat by a very kind friend and it deserved some special treatment….

This is a slow cook recipe, so sit back and enjoy the aroma as it cooks.

Ingredients:-

2 Ox Cheeks
Flour (Gluten free in our case)
Bacon Lardons
2 Onions, chopped
3 Bay Leaves
6 Cloves of Garlic, sliced
5 Tsp of Tomato Puree
1 Tsp of ground Cinnamon
500ml of Beef Stock
1 Sprig of fresh Thyme
1 Sprig of Rosemary
1 Star Anise
2 Carrots, chopped
2 sticks of Celery, chopped
2 Tbsp of Fish Sauce
175ml of Red Wine
3 Cloves
Salt & fresh ground Black Pepper
Butter (Margarine) & Oil

Method:-

(1) Season the Ox Cheeks with Salt & Pepper and coat in Flour.
(2) Fry in a little Butter & Oil and sear on both sides.
(3) Remove from the pan and set aside.
(4)Add a little more Oil to the frying pan and fry the Onions, Carrots, Celery and Garlic until softened.
(5) Fry for a further 2 minutes.
(6)Stir in the Tomato Puree and Red Wine and simmer for 2 minutes.
(7) Add the Beef Stock and continue to simmer for a few more minutes.
(8)Add the Cinnamon, Cloves, Bay Leaves, Star Anise, Fish Sauce, Rosemary & Thyme and simmer for 5 minutes.
(9) Transfer half of the the sauce to a slow cooker of casserole dish.
(10) Place the Ox Cheeks on top and cover with the remaining Sauce.
(11) Cook on high (Slow cooker) or 160c on the bottom shelf in the oven for at least 6 hours.
(12) Remove the Rosemary, Thyme, Bay leaves and Star Anise before serving.

We served ours over a bed of whole grain  Mustard mashed Potat6o and tender stem Broccoli. The Ox Cheeks were superbly tender and the sauce had a real depth of flavour. Well worth the time!
 

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Chinese 5 Spice Peking Duck

Technically this was over budget as the Duck was £5 although it was on special offer. But we’ll get a second meal out of the leftovers. This is one of those recipes that you might never have the time to try at home. But it was Bank Holiday Monday and we enjoy pottering in the kitchen together. Also it was an excuse to mangle a wire coat hanger to create a pivoting Duck Hanging. Which will live in our utensil draw and probably give us a chuckle further down the line.

Ingredients:-

1 Whole Duck
3 Tbsp of Honey
4 Tbsp of Shaoxing Wine
2 Tbsp of Spirit Vinegar
3 Thumbs of unpeeled Ginger
3 Tbsp of Cornflour
3 Tbsp of Chinese 5 Spice
4 Tbsp of Soy Sauce (Gluten free for us)
2l Litres of Water

Method:-

(1) If your Duck is frozen thaw it overnight in the fridge.
(2) Remove any excess skin from the tail area.
(3) In a very large pan bring the Water to the boil, adding the Ginger, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Shaoxing Wine and Honey. Stir to dissolve.
(4) Mix the Cornflour with a little water and add to the mixture in the pan.
(5) Dunk the Duck in the heated mixture and spoon the mixture over the Duck. Make sure the Duck is fully immersed and that the fat under the skin is rendered.
(6) Repeat the process for a further couple of minutes.
(7) Hang the Duck in a cool place with a fan directed at it.
(8) Place a pan underneath the Duck to catch any dripping.
(9) Rotate the Duck occasionally. It will take about 5 hours for the skin to become taught.
(10) Rub the entire skin with 5 Spice.
(11) Pre heat the over to 190c and place the \Duck on a roasting rack on the middle shelf.
(12)  On the bottom shelf on the over place a deep roasting tray full of water. This effectively steams the Duck, keeping the meat moist.
(13) Roast the Duck for 1 hour, rotating 2 to 3 times.
(14) Cook until tender. 175C if you have a probe.

We served ours with lots of salad, Asian dips and Gluten free wraps to replace the Wonton Wraps.

 

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