French beef stew (pot-au-feu)

Ingredients

• 1 kg beef shoulder, cut into four pieces
• 1 beef cheek
• 8 cloves
• 2 onions, peeled, halved
• 2 beef bones with marrow
• 6 leeks, white parts only
• 2 celery roots, peeled
• 1 bouquet garni (2 bay leaves, 1 thyme sprig, 4 parsley stalks)
• salt and pepper
• 6 litres cold water
• 4 potatoes, peeled, halved
• 8 small turnips
• 5 baby carrots
• ½ head small cabbage, cut into six pieces
• 5 black peppercorns
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• finely chopped parsley, to serve

Accompaniments

• cornichons
• sea salt
• Dijon mustard

Instructions

Place beef shoulder and beef cheek in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Bring to boil and skim surface to remove impurities. Remove from heat and transfer beef to a plate. Discard water and clean the pan. Return meat to pan.

Push cloves into onion, then add to the saucepan. Add beef bones, leek, celery and bouquet garni and season with salt and pepper. Cover with the cold water.

Bring to the boil and skim surface to remove impurities. Reduce heat to a slow simmer, skim surface again and cook, uncovered, for 2½ hours.

Add potato, turnips, carrots and cabbage and cook for another 30 minutes or until soft.

Transfer the meat, vegetables and broth into a deep bowl and scatter with parsley. Serve with accompaniments.