Styou bef

Name: Styou bef
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 185 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Seychelles
Ingredients: 800 g stewing beef, such as chuck, trimmed of excess fat and large sinews; 400 g peeled potatoes; 150 g sliced onion; 3 chopped garlic cloves; 12 g grated fresh ginger; 15 g wheat flour; 20 ml neutral oil; 800 ml hot water, plus small additions if needed; 2 small washed thyme sprigs; 2 cloves; A 2 cm piece of cinnamon stick; Up to ½ teaspoon salt initially, adjusted later; Black pepper to taste

Seychellois beef and potato stew with ginger, thyme and a gently thickened brown gravy, without wine.

Ingredients

800 g stewing beef, such as chuck, trimmed of excess fat and large sinews
400 g peeled potatoes
150 g sliced onion
3 chopped garlic cloves
12 g grated fresh ginger
15 g wheat flour
20 ml neutral oil
800 ml hot water, plus small additions if needed
2 small washed thyme sprigs
2 cloves
A 2 cm piece of cinnamon stick
Up to ½ teaspoon salt initially, adjusted later
Black pepper to taste

Preparation

Cut beef into even 3 cm cubes and pat dry with food-safe paper. Prepare aromatics; keep potatoes for later so they do not disintegrate.

Heat oil in a heavy casserole and brown beef in two or three batches, about 15 minutes total. Reserve in a clean dish and retain brown, unburnt pan juices.

Lower heat and soften onion for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger for a minute, then 15 g flour and stir another minute.

Return beef and its juices. Gradually add 800 ml hot water, loosening the pan juices. Add thyme, cloves, cinnamon, part of the salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and partially cover.

Simmer gently for about 1 hour 40 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding hot water if the sauce reduces too far. When beef begins to soften, add potatoes in 3 cm pieces and cook about 25 minutes more.

Check beef is fork-tender and potatoes cooked. Extend simmering if needed. Remove thyme, cloves and cinnamon, adjust salt and rest 10 minutes off the heat. Divide into four portions with gravy.