Ingredients
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1.2kg/2½lb stewing beef, chopped
2 marrow bones (ask your butcher for these)
1 onion, peeled, chopped
3 potatoes, peeled, chopped
1 swede, peeled, chopped
2 leeks, trimmed, chopped
2 carrots, peeled, sliced
2 bay leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1.5 litres/2½ pints beef stock
crusty bread, to serve (optional)
Method
1. Preheat oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large casserole dish over a medium heat. Add the beef pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned all over.
3. Add the marrow bones to the pan and continue to cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove the beef and marrow bones from the pan and set aside on a warm plate.
5. Add the chopped onions to the casserole the beef was cooked in. Fry in the pan juices for 1-2 minutes, or until softened.
6. Stir in the potatoes and swede and continue to cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
7. Add the chopped leeks, carrots and bay leaves and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Continue to cook for a further 1-2 minutes, or until just softened.
8. Return the beef and marrow bones to the casserole, then pour over enough beef stock to just cover the casserole contents.
9. Cover the casserole with a lid, then transfer to the oven and cook for 2½-3 hours, or until the beef is tender.
10. To serve, spoon some of the lobscouse casserole into the centre of four to six serving plates and serve with crusty bread, if desired.
