Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Creamy Polenta
and spring salad / oranges / almonds

Name: Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Creamy Polenta
Cook time: 390 min
Total time: 390 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 Onions, chopped; 2 Carrots, large, chopped; 3 cloves Garlic, chopped; 3 lbs Beef, boneless chuck, shoulder or round roast (enough for 2 nights); 2 Tbsp Oil, cooking; 1 can Tomatoes, diced (14 oz / 397 g); 3 Tbsp Tomato paste; 1 tsp Oregano, dried; 4 cups Water; 1 cups Milk (sub water); 1/2 tsp Salt; 1 cup Polenta, uncooked (sub grits); 2 Tbsp Butter; 2 Oranges, sliced into segments; 2 tsp Vinegar, white wine; 2 tsp Honey; 2 tsp Mustard, Dijon; 2 tsp Poppy seeds (opt); 2 Tbsp Oil, olive; 4 oz Lettuce, butterhead or Boston leaf (sub any mixed greens); 1/4 cup Almonds, sliced

Active: 30 min Total: 6 hr 30 min

Original GF Paleo Vegetarian

Slow-Cooker Braised Beef with Creamy Polenta

Use the slow-cooker to turn a relatively inexpensive cut of meat into enough tender braised beef for two nights of dinners. This night's dinner is classic comfort food with beef served over creamy polenta with a fresh spring salad on the side.

Dependency

Braised Beef Tacos

Ingredients

Metric

Servings:

Slow-Cooker Braised Beef (for two nights):

Onions - 1 , chopped
Carrots, large - 2 , chopped
Garlic - 3 cloves , chopped
Beef, boneless chuck, shoulder or round roast (enough for 2 nights) - 3 lbs
Oil, cooking - 2 Tbsp
Tomatoes, diced (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can
Tomato paste - 3 Tbsp
Oregano, dried - 1 tsp

Creamy Polenta:

Water - 4 cups
Milk (sub water) - 1 cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Polenta, uncooked (sub grits) - 1 cup
Butter - 2 Tbsp

Spring Salad with Oranges and Almonds:

Oranges - 2 , sliced into segments
Vinegar, white wine - 2 tsp
Honey - 2 tsp
Mustard, Dijon - 2 tsp
Poppy seeds (opt) - 2 tsp
Oil, olive - 2 Tbsp
Lettuce, butterhead or Boston leaf (sub any mixed greens) - 4 oz
Almonds, sliced - 1/4 cup

Prep

Onions / Carrots / Garlic - Prep as directed and combine in one bowl. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Brown beef - Season beef on all sides with some salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and then sear meat until browned on all sides.
Slow-cook beef - In your slow cooker combine beef, onions, carrots, garlic, diced tomatoes (including liquid), tomato paste and oregano. Set cooker to low and cook until beef is falling apart and tender, 6 to 8 hours (or 4 to 5 hours on high). (Note: If you prefer not to use the slow-cooker, you can also prepare the beef by browning it in a Dutch oven, adding all remaining ingredients, and baking it covered at 325F / 163C until tender, 2 to 3 hours.) (Can be done up to 4 days ahead)
Oranges - Slice into segments.

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Make

Roughly chop or shred beef using a fork and sharp knife. (Discard bone.) Return to slow cooker and toss with cooking liquid. Once tossed in liquid, set half of the meat aside for Thursday’s tacos.
Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat, and combine water, milk and salt. Bring to a boil, keeping a close eye on it because milk can easily spill over. Add polenta, stirring with a whisk to prevent lumps from forming. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until polenta becomes thick and creamy, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir butter in until fully melted. Season with additional salt, if needed.
While polenta simmers, make vinaigrette by combining vinegar, honey, mustard, poppy seeds (if using) and oil. Toss with greens, almonds and orange segments just before serving.
Spoon polenta into shallow bowls and top with beef and cooking liquid. Enjoy with salad on the side.

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