Beef and ale stew with cheese and mustard croûtes
Serves: 6

Recipe photograph by Maja Smend
Beef and ale stew with cheese and mustard croûtes
Beef and beer are a classic match for good reason. Here, ale brings a natural sweetness and savoury depth to this comforting one-pot
Serves: 6
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Nutritional information (per serving)
Calories
558Kcal
Fat
20gr
Saturates
7gr
Carbs
41gr
Sugars
10gr
Fibre
6gr
Protein
46gr
Salt
1.8gr
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 100g plain flour
- 900g diced stewing beef
- 4 carrots
- 2 onions
- 375ml ale
- 500ml beef stock
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 bay leaves
For the croûtes
- 1 small white baguette, about 200g
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 75g Gruyère, finely finely
Step by step
Get ahead
The cooked stew (without the croûtes) will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge, or can be frozen. Reheat until bubbling, adding some extra water, then top with the croûtes and grill
- Preheat the oven to 150°C, fan 130°C, gas 2.
- Heat half the oil in a heavy-based casserole. Season the flour and toss the beef in it so that it is lightly covered. Add half the meat to the casserole and brown well, then lift out to a plate. Repeat with the rest of the oil and meat, reserving any excess flour.
- Dice the carrots and onions into 1cm chunks, and add to the casserole along with all of the browned meat and the reserved flour. Mix together well, then pour in the ale to deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping away at any caramelised bits.
- Add the beef stock, vinegar, mustard and bay leaves, and bring up to a simmer. Cover the casserole and place in the oven for 3 hours, checking at the 2 hour mark and adding a little water if it’s looking dry rather than saucy.
- When the stew is ready, heat the grill to medium high, and slice the baguette at an angle. Discard the ends of the baguette, and spread the other slices with a little Dijon mustard. Arrange on top of the stew, as tightly together as possible so that the stew is covered. Scatter with the Gruyère cheese, and place under the grill for 5 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and stringy.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving with some greens.