Recipe: Pot Roast Carbonnade (Melissa d'Arabian recipe)

POT ROAST CARBONNADE

1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into large lardons
2 medium onions, sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds beef chuck, cut into large cubes
5 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
Generous tablespoon all-purpose flour
12 ounces beer (dark or light, depending on your preference)
6 prunes
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 cup beef stock

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat, add the bacon and cook until it renders its fat and almost becomes crispy. Remove it with a slotted spoon to a plate.

Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook over low heat until they are deep in color and caramelized, about 30 minutes. Remove the onions to a plate, leaving as much fat in the pot as possible.

Add the vegetable oil and mix it with the bacon fat. Raise the heat to high. Season the beef liberally with salt and pepper and sear, in batches, until nicely browned on both sides.

Once the meat is browned, add the first batch of meat back to the pan along with the onions, carrots and bacon. Sprinkle in the flour and stir. Cook for 1 minute before deglazing the pan with the beer.

Add the remaining ingredients and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the pot and put it in the oven to braise until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.

Remove the pot from the oven and transfer the pot roast to a serving dish.

Makes 4 servings
Source: Food TV Network, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, Episode: Magical Meal