Sunday 17 June 2012

Smoky chilli braised beef with cornbread dumplings

Found this Donna Hay recipe in the Sunday paper a few weeks ago.  They are the best savoury dumplings I have ever tasted.  Really good!!

2 tbs olive oil
1.5  kg beef brisket, cut into 2cm pieces
sea salt and cracked black pepper
1 brown onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
2 dried Chipotle chillies, chopped
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbs tomato paste
2 x 400g tined tomatoes, chopped
2 cups beef stock
Sour cream to serve.
Dumplings:
1 ½ cups plain flour
1 tbs baking powder
1 cup instant polenta
1 ½ cup buttermilk
Salt & pepper
1 cup grated vintage cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped coriander leaves
1 long red chilli
Heat 1 tbs oil in large heavy base saucepan.  Sprinkle beef with salt & pepper and brown In batches. Set aside.  Heat remaining oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft.  Add paprika and chipotle chilli and cook 1 minute.  Return beef to pan, and add brown sugar. tomatoes, tomato paste, and stock.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 3-3 ½ hours.
Preheat oven to 200 C.  To make dumplings: place all ingredients in bowl and mix to just combine.  Place spoonfuls into top of casserole.  Bake uncovered in oven for 15-20 mins.  Serve with sour cream.