Beef and Porter Stew

By Chef Michael Lomanaco

 

This recipe will serve 6-8 people.

 

Ingredients Needed

· 1/4 cup vegetable oil

· 2/12 lbs beef chuck stew meat, 1 in. cubes

· 1 large onion diced

· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

· 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

· 2 bottles or 24 oz. porter beer

· 2 cups low-sodium beef broth

· 1/4 cup tomato paste

· 3 carrots, peeled and diced

· 3 parsnips, peeled and diced

· Grilled rounds of buttered country bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         This month, we’re going to do something a little opposite of what we have done so far. Provide a recipe for pairing with beer rather than wine! I know this is called Hawaii Wine Lover, but beer is also an exquisite beverage that deserves its attention, and many wine lovers that I know love beer too.

 

         This recipe is actually something that I saw on the Today show not too long ago. So, here is where I will insert the proper credit due to the chef responsible: Michael Lomanaco. He is the owner of a restaurant in New York called, Porterhouse New York. I was enthused when I saw it and had to try it myself It came out great and it added a dimension to the stew that I have never tried before. The addition of one of my favorite styles: Porter! Before you think that this is an adult-only recipe, please remember that the alcohol in the beer will cook off, and only the wonderful flavor of the beer will be left over. After the recipe, be sure to read a little about the history of Porter beer.

Beef and Porter Stew

By Chef Michael Lomonaco, Porter House New York

Serves 6 to 8

  

DIRECTIONS

1)    Put the oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot and heat it over medium-high heat.  Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add the beef to the pot in a single, not-too-tightly-packed layer and brown the beef well on all sides, approximately 8 minutes total. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside. This may be done in batches to brown all the beef evenly.

 

2)    Add the onion and butter to the casserole and cook until golden and                                                                      caramelized, approximately 15 minutes. Sprinkle the onions with the flour and stir to combine well.

 

 3)   Return the beef to the casserole, add the porter ale, beef broth, tomato pasted diluted in 1 cup warm water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 1 1/4 hours. 

 

4)    Add the carrots, parsnips, celery and potatoes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Return to a boil then simmer for 45 minutes before serving with toasted         or grilled country bread.

 

 

 

You may add whatever brand of Porter you desire, and a hearty dark beer can be substituted for the porter if none is available. This is a great meal that has a flavor that beer lovers will appreciate!

             Most folks don’t really know what to make of Porter. Why does it exist? Isn’t stout the same thing? Actually, no. Stout came from porter! Porter was traditionally a blend of 3 different ales. 1, older basically stale brew, 1, new ale, and 1, mild ale. It became popular with the river porters of England, hence the name. It began in the 1700’s and was actually the 1st engineered beer in history.

 

           Porter was also made by mixing different kinds of hearty malts, but no roasted malts were used in the brew as they are in stout. Porter was also a beer that needed to be kept or aged in large barrels. As time went on and taxes rose, porter became a more and more difficult beverage to produce and the brew began to become a beverage of more mixed grains and spices instead of its original blend of 3 different batches. Nowadays, the brew is usually made from mixes of malts, and then aged depending on the brewer to make it as authentic as possible.

 

           If you haven’t tried a porter, go to the right store and make a selection for your own education. It will taste a lot like a stout, but there are differences. One of my favorite stores: SWAM, has a great little selection that you may be interested in trying. The current porters available there are: Kona Brewing, Pipeline Porter; Black Butte, Porter; Maui Brewing Co., Coconut Porter, and Steelhead, Scotch Porter. SWAM is located in the Waimalu Shopping Center across from City Mill and next to Diner’s. Follow this link for more info: http://swamwine.com/