Hearty Braised Beef Poutine with sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions
Think poutine can’t possibly be good for you? I dunno about that! This Hearty Braised Beef Poutine with sauteed mushrooms and caramelize onions might very well change your mind…
I find it a bit ironic that I should be kicking off the new year with such a bold, beefy and meaty recipe, seeing as how I just recently decided that I wanted to transition towards a more plant-based diet. Or well, to at least give it a decent shot over the next couple of months and see where it takes me.
But hey, I’d already created this healthier poutine recipe just shortly before Christmas and simply couldn’t stand to see it go to waste. Cuz this thing, it’s pretty darn good, you know. And even though I feel I need a little break from meat and dairy products, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rest of the world is in with me. So here goes…
In case you’re not familiar, here in Quebec, poutine is a true staple, a popular and well loved comfort food.
Sadly, though, in its original version, it’s not the healthiest! Traditionally made with French fries, which then get topped with oodles of cheese curds and drenched in rivers of gravy, it’s not exactly what you could call the epitome of health foods… But that doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved upon! This hearty version, made with oven roasted potatoes — as opposed to deep fried — and topped with chunks of slowly braised beef, sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions, totally qualifies as a complete, wholesome meal!
While this dish is what Emeril would most likely refer to as “food of love” — you’ll need to have a few hours ahead of you in order to bring this tasty dish to the table — I think it’s totally worth the effort.
Plus, a lot of the steps can be made simultaneously, so it’s not so bad after all. Still, you might want to save this one for a chilly, lazy week-end day. One where you need a soupçon of comforting and feel like indulging a little.
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F
Then, in a large skillet that can handle some serious heat, melt about a tablespoon of ghee (or healthy cooking fat of your choice) over high heat. While that pan is getting hot, pat the roast real dry and sprinkle it fairly generously with salt and pepper. Then, place the roast in the hot pan and sear it on both sides until a beautiful golden crust forms.
Meanwhile, combine some bone broth, amber beer, tamari sauce, Dijon mustard, pure maple syrup, oregano, rosemary, thyme, coriander, salt, pepper and chili pepper flakes (if using) in a large glass measuring cup. Whisk that vigorously until well combined and keep it handy.
As soon as the roast is seared to your liking, remove it to a large Dutch oven and deglaze the pan with a little bit of that liquid you just made…
Then, pour that over the roast, along with the rest of the liquid that’s still in the measuring cup. Put the lid on and then place your roast in the preheated oven, where it will bake for a total of 3 hours, or until it’s fall apart tender.
Now you get to rest for a little while; that meat will be taking care of itself for a few hours.
After your roast has been in the oven for about 2-1/2 hours, start working on the roasted potatoes: in a large mixing bowl, combine some baby potatoes, avocado oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika and chili pepper flakes (again, if using). Toss until the potatoes are evenly coated.
If you can’t get your hands on the baby potatoes, don’t sweat it! You could very well use the standard ones and cut them into bite size chunks, or even wedges!
Arrange your potatoes on a large baking sheet, in a single layer, cut side down. Place the potatoes in the oven with the roast (use the lower rack) where they will bake for a total of 45 to 50 minutes, until they’re soft and golden brown.
Don’t hesitate to use 2 smaller baking sheets if you don’t have one that’s large enough to accommodate all of the potatoes on a single layer…
Now, while the potatoes are roasting, place a large skillet over medium-high heat (you can use the same skillet you used to sear the meat) and in it, melt a few tablespoons of ghee, then add the sliced mushrooms. Cook them until they are nice and golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Remove the mushrooms to a plate and then return the skillet to the heat source. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions and garlic (add more cooking fat if needed).
You will want to cook those onions for about 25 minutes, stirring from time to time and adding water as needed, about 1/4 cup at a time, until the onions are super soft and a beautiful caramel color.
This is what your onions should look like when all is said and done, but while they are happening, let’s check on our beef, shall we?
By now, that braised beef should be good and done; so while the onions are caramelizing, take your roast out of the oven and test it for doneness: the meat should easily fall apart when you pull on it with a fork.
Carefully lift the roast out of its cooking liquid and into a plate, then pull the meat out with a fork; discard any bones and other refuse, but hold on to that beautiful meat! We’ll be using it in just a couple of minutes.
For now, add 4 cups of water to the cooking liquid that’s still in the Dutch oven and bring that to a boil. Dilute the corn starch in a cup of cold water and pour this into the boiling liquid while whisking constantly, and continue cooking until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and return the meat to the Dutch oven, followed by the sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions, then stir delicately to combine.
Technically, you could serve this stewed meat as is, if you wanted to, maybe over a bed of egg noodles or with a side of mashed potatoes or even cauli-mash, why not?
But to continue with our original plan… Your oven roasted potatoes should be done by now. If that’s the case, take them out of the oven…
All that’s left to do is assemble this lovely hearty poutine! Simply divide your potatoes between 6 serving bowls and then top them with some of that delicious braised beef stew…
For the finishing touch, top each bowl with a handful of cheese curds and garnish with a little bit of chopped parsley, for added color, if desired.
Enjoy, while it’s still piping hot!
Hearty Braised Beef Poutine
Ingredients
For the braised beef
- 1-2 tbsp ghee, or other healthy cooking fat of your choice
- 3 lbs grassfed blade (chuck) roast
- Generous sprinkle salt and pepper
- 2 cups bone broth
- 1 8 oz bottle of amber beer
- 1/4 cup tamari sauce
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp salt, I use Himalayan salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes, optional
For the roasted potatoes
- 4 lbs baby new potatoes, cut in half or into bite size chunks
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt, I use Himalayan salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes, optional
For the sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions
- 3-4 tbsp ghee, or other healthy cooking fat of your choice
- 12 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 5 large yellow onions, sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
- About 3/4 cup water
For the sauce
- 4+1 cups water
- 3-4 tbsp corn starch
To top things off
- 14 oz cheese curds
- Freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- In a large skillet that can handle some serious heat, melt some ghee (or healthy cooking fat of your choice) over high heat.
- While the pan is heating, pat the roast real dry and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, then place the roast in the hot pan and sear on both sides until a beautiful golden crust forms.
- Meanwhile, combine the bone broth, beer, tamari sauce, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, oregano, rosemary, thyme, coriander, salt, pepper and chili pepper flakes (if using) in a large glass measuring cup. Whisk vigorously to combine.
- When the roast is seared to your liking, remove it to a Dutch oven and deglaze the pan with a little bit of the liquid you just made, then pour that over the roast, along with the rest of the liquid that's still in the measuring cup. Put the lid on and then place your roast in the preheated oven where it will bake for a total of 3 hours, or until it's fall apart tender.
- When the roast has been in the oven for about 2-1/2 hours, start working on the roasted potatoes: in a large mixing bowl, combine the baby potatoes, avocado oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika and chili pepper flakes (if using). Toss until the potatoes are evenly coated and then place them on a large baking sheet, in a single layer, cut side down.
- Place the potatoes in the oven with the roast where they will bake for a total of 45 to 50 minutes, until soft and golden brown.
- While the potatoes are roasting, place a large skillet over medium-high heat and in it, melt a few tablespoons of ghee (or healthy cooking fat of your choice); add the sliced mushrooms and cook them until they are nice and golden, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Remove the mushrooms to a plate and then return the skillet to the heat source. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions and garlic (add more cooking fat if needed). Cook the onions for about 25 minutes, stirring from time to time and adding water as needed, a few tablespoons at a time, until the onions are super soft and a beautiful caramel color.
- By now, your meat should be good and done; so while the onions are caramelizing, take that roast out of the oven and test it for doneness: the meat should easily fall apart when you pull on it with a fork.
- Carefully take the roast out of its cooking liquid and pull the meat out with a fork; discard any bones and other refuse.
- Then, add 4 cups of water to the cooking liquid that's left in the Dutch oven and bring that to a boil. Dilute the cornstarch in a cup of water and pour this into the boiling liquid while whisking constantly, and continue cooking until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and return the meat to the Dutch oven, followed by the sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions, then stir delicately to combine.
- Take the potatoes out of the oven and divide them between 6 serving bowls; top with the braised beef stew and followed by a handful of cheese curds. Garnish with a little bit of chopped parsley, for added color, if desired.
Nutrition
If you’ve tried this recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and let me know how things went for you in the comments below. It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you!
You can also FOLLOW ME on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and TWITTER for more delicious, healthy recipes!
4 Comments on “Hearty Braised Beef Poutine with sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions”
This looks fantastic! Instead of cornstarch for a thickener–what can I use instead?
Tapioca starch would work well, if you can get your hands on it!
Same question. Allergic to corn and often wonder what can be substituted.
Same answer! 🙂
Tapioca starch would be my preferred replacement, if you can find it. Works exactly the same.