A former MasterChef contestant has shared a fuss-free way to make an elevated beef stew at home, swapping the hob for a slow cooker to deliver tender, "hug in a bowl" results.
Dean Edwards, who finished as runner-up on MasterChef in 2006, demonstrated how to prepare an impressive beef bourguignon without unnecessary hassle or washing up. The recipe requires no hours toiling over the hob; instead, an underrated kitchen appliance does the hard work.
In a TikTok video, Dean said: "Right, that's it, I've given up, the heating's on and I need some comfort food. And this banging slow cooker beef bourguignon is definitely gonna hit the spot."
Why the slow cooker works
There is no need to stand over a hot pan watching every move. The appeal of using a slow cooker lies in simply throwing all the ingredients into the pot and allowing the appliance to do the work, reports the Express.
Dean opts for beef cheeks in his recipe, a cut that lends itself brilliantly to slow-cooking. To guarantee tender beef and a thicker sauce, he suggested coating the meat in cornflour.
He added: "My beef bourguignon is a proper hug in a bowl. And just look at how tender this meat is."
Recipe and reaction
At the time of writing, Dean's video has amassed more than 48,400 views, along with 1,320 likes and 17 comments. Lily said: "Mine's in the slow cooker as we speak, smells amazing." A second wrote: "Looks so good, I'm going to give that a try." Di commented, "Right up my street this," while another agreed, "Looks bloody lovely."
For a straightforward and fuss-free recipe to see you through the crisp autumn days, here is how to recreate Dean's dish at home.
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Ingredients (serves four)
- 700g beef cheeks cubed approx. two small cheeks
- One tbsp corn flour
- 300g shallots peeled
- 150g baby carrots
- 150g baby chestnut mushrooms
- 100g smoked bacon lardons
- Two tbsp tomato puree
- One tsp salt
- One tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 100ml beef stock made from one beef stock pot and 100ml boiling water
- 100ml red wine
Method
Coat the beef cheeks in the cornflour and shake off any excess. Add all of the ingredients into the slow cooker pot, then stir thoroughly to ensure everything is well combined.
Place the lid on and cook on the low setting for nine hours. Serve alongside some buttery mashed potatoes.
