Cookbook:Mediterranean Beef Stew

| Meat recipes

This is a hearty and flavoursome beef stew inspired by the Mediterranean. It is based on a dish cooked by Keith Floyd in his Floyd around the Med TV series. The olives make this a filling meal in itself, but it could be served with rice or simply with bread to mop-up the gravy.

Ingredients

 * 500 g (1.1 lb) of lean beef stewing/braising steak (in steaks, not diced)
 * 600 g (1.3 lb) of green olives, stones removed
 * 6 large tomatoes, diced
 * 1 onion, finely chopped
 * 1 large clove of garlic, finely chopped
 * Olive oil

Procedure

 * 1) In a large saucepan or casserole dish, gently fry the onion and garlic in plenty of good olive oil for a few minutes, taking care not to brown them.
 * 2) Season the beef well with salt and black pepper and immediately add to the pan. Fry until evenly sealed and lightly browned.
 * 3) Add the olives and tomatoes to the pan and simmer gently for two hours with the lid on.
 * 4) Serve.

Notes, tips and variations

 * If you buy olives in brine, it's a good idea to soak them in fresh water before use so that the resulting dish is not overly salty.
 * Adding red wine or a dark beer such as a dunkel or stout could result in a richer gravy but may overpower the fresh flavour of the vegetables.