1litre(4 ¼ cups) beef stock3 stock cubes plus water is fine, or use homemade stock or bouillon for gluten-free
300g(10.5 oz) chestnut mushroomsthickly sliced
1tbspcornflour cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water, to make a slurry (optional)
120ml(½ cup) double (heavy) cream
small bunch fresh parsley roughly chopped
pinchblack pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 160C/320F (fan).
Heat the oil in a large casserole pan over a high heat.
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Place the chopped beef in a bowl and sprinkle on the flour, salt and pepper. Toss everything together, then add the beef to the casserole pan. Cook for 6-8 minutes, turning regularly until browned all over (you can do this in batches if you like, but I find it doesn't impact the look or taste of this recipe to cook it all in one go)
1.5 kg (3.3lb) braising beef or casserole beef, 3 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Once the meat is browned, turn down the heat to medium and add the onion. Continue to cook for a further 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly until the onion starts to soften.
1 large onion
Stir in the garlic and tomato puree, cook for a further minute, then add the brandy/whisky, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, and mushrooms.
Stir everything together, being sure to scrape up any bits that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Bring to the boil, stir again then place a lid on the pan and place the pan in the oven* to cook for 3 hours, until the beef is tender. Check a few times during the last hour of cooking to ensure the casserole doesn't cook dry. Add a good splash of boiling water or stock if it starts to look too dry.
Once the meat is tender, remove from the oven. If you'd like to thicken the sauce a little, stir in the cornflour slurry.
1 tbsp cornflour cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water, to make a slurry
Add the cream and stir, then top with freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkling of black pepper.
120 ml (½ cup) double (heavy) cream, small bunch fresh parsley roughly chopped, pinch black pepper
Serve with mashed potato and green veg such as broccoli, green beans, and kale
Notes
Make in the Slow Cooker:
If you're cooking in the slow cooker, you'll need to use less stock, as it won't evaporate as it does in the oven or on the hob/stove top. Reduce the stock by half to 500ml (a little over 2 cups). Once you've brought the casserole to the boil in step 6, transfer the contents to your slow cooker and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours. This is the crockpot (<– affiliate link) I use. It has a searing function, so you can cook it all in the slow cooker without having to use a pan at all.
Make on the hob/stove top:
Instead of placing in the oven, you can cook this casserole over a very low heat on the hob/stovetop, with the lid on for 2-3 hours. Check the casserole and give it a stir a few times during cooking to prevent it from sticking. If it starts to look a little dry, you can add in a splash of water or stock
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, make the casserole, then cool, cover and refrigerate it.Reheat in a lidded dish in the oven at 160C/320F for 35-45 minutes until piping hot throughout. Stir once or twice during this time to ensure it heats evenly.You can reheat on the hob if you prefer, although you will need to be careful when stirring so you don't break down the tender chunks of beef too much. Reheat over a low-medium heat, stirring often until piping hot throughout - which should take 10-15 minutes.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, cool, cover and freeze the casserole, then defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat as per the 'Can I make it ahead?' instructions above.
Best cut of beef to use for Steak Diane Casserole:
Chuck steak (also called braising steak) – comes from the forequarter - consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade, and upper arm.
It’s a tough but very flavorful cut of meat. It has a lot of connective tissue, which needs long slow cooking to break down and become tender. This is the cut I always use for this casserole.
Silverside (bottom round) – comes from the hindquarter – just above the back leg. This is a good alternative.
It’s a leaner, inexpensive cut of meat with little marbling. The lack of fat means it doesn’t have as much flavour as chuck/braising steak, so make sure you use good quality stock to cook it in. It’s good for slow cooking, but must be cooked with moisture/liquid so doesn’t dry out and become tough.
Nutritional information is per serving, not including the serving suggestions of mashed potatoes and green veg.