Draadjesvlees

I had dinner with my aunt tonight. She cooked my new favorite Dutch meal. It takes some time to prepare, but it is so very worth it. Eets makkelijk.

This dish has very few ingredients so they should be of high quality. Your beef should be not too lean (nicely marbled with fat).
Two other secrets to success: the flavor of the gravy depends on your patience while browning the beef. You really need to do this very, very slowly.
And one other thing, do not be tempted to add any other aromatics. This dish is about the pure flavor of good beef.
Perfect with brussel sprouts, green beans or braised red cabbage, and mash or steamed potatoes to soak up the lovely gravy.

500 g stewing beef
75 g butter
2 bayleaves
2 whole cloves
salt and pepper

Leave the slab of beef whole or cut into chunks, whatever you prefer.

Choose a sauteeing pan that will accommodate all the pieces of beef lying flat. You are going to brown the pieces for a long time, so it's not very practical to do it in batches.

Make sure your beef is at room temperature, and season it with salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in the pan over moderate heat. When the foam is subsiding slip in the pieces of meat. Now brown them slowly over moderate heat until they pieces are deep brown and the butter is a dark golden brown. As long as the heat is not too high, the butter won't burn. Allow at least 15-20 minutes for the browning process.

When it's browned, I like to transfer the pieces and the butter to a pan that is not as good for browning, but better for braising (like a Creuset). But still make sure the pieces of beef are lying flat in a single layer.

(If you are making a larger amount and the beef cannot ly flat in the pan, just add enough water to come almost to the top of the meat. Your gravy will be more watery so it might be good to reduce it when the beef is done)

Now add the bayleaves and cloves.

Add lukewarm water to come almost to the top of the beef. Turn the heat to low (best to use an asbestos mat or something) cover, with the lid very slightly ajar (I use a lid that has a small hole in it) so that some of the steam can escape, and simmer for hours. 3 hours is good, 4 won't hurt.

By that time the meat should be so tender that it falls apart into shreds (draadjes - which is where it gets its name, draadjesvlees, thready meat).

(Recipe and photo from Recipe Gullet)