2½lbsbeef chuck, cut into 2-inch chunks & excess fat removed
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
1large onion, diced
3large cloves of garlic, minced
4tbsptomato paste
3tbsp flour
1cupred wine
4½cupsbeef broth
3large carrots, peeled & cut into 1/2=inch pieces
2stalks of celery, diced
3sprigsof fresh thyme
2bay leaves
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Cook the bacon pieces in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until cooked through and the fat has rendered down. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease from the Dutch oven; set the remaining bacon grease aside until needed. Return the Dutch oven to the stove and turn it up to medium-high.
Pat the beef chunks dry then season well with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
Add half of the meat to the HOT dutch oven and cook, until browned all over, about 3 minutes. Remove the beef from the Dutch oven to a plate.
Add the remaining beef to the Dutch oven and cook the beef until browned all over, about 3 minutes. Remove to the plate and cover loosely with a tin foil tent; set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of bacon grease to the Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 45 seconds.
Add the flour and cook, stirring it into the onion mixture constantly, for 2 minutes.
Add the red wine and whisk until the mixture is well combined and reduced a bit, about 2 minutes.
Add the beef broth along with the plate of cooked beef chunks and their juices and the carrot, celery, bacon crumbles, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves.
Stir then cover with a tight-fitting lid and place into the oven to cook for 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Remove the lid after 2 hours & 25 minutes and continue to cook for 15-20 minutes to allow the beef to finish cooking and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Remove from the oven and skim off any fat from the surface. Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.