Le Backeoffe Recipes

BAECKEOFFE

Steps:

• The day before:Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and put them in large nonreactive container with the pig's feet.Toss with the salt, pepper, herbs, garlic, celery leaves, and parsley. Moisten with the wine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Assembling and cooking: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Select a large ovenproof casserole with a lid. Grease the bottom and sides with the butter lard. Lay the pig's feet on the bottom and cover with half the potatoes, onions, leeks, and carrots. Remove the meat from the marinade and add, covering it with the remaining vegetables, ending with the potatoes. Strain the marinade through a sieve and pour the liquid over the contents of the pot. If necessary, add some extra wine or water to bring the liquid barely to the top of the vegetables.Work the sealing paste ingredients into a dough and roll this out into a rope long enough to wrap around the casserole. Press it firmly against the join between the lid and the casserole. Put the sealed pot intro the oven and cook for 1 hour. At this point, reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue cooking for 1 1/2 hours more.For the most dramatic presentation, bring the casserole to the table, set it on a trivet, and break away the seal with the edge of a table knife. Otherwise, of course, this can be done in the kitchen and servings of the baeckeoffe brought to the table in shallow bowls. Serve with green salad, a loaf of crusty bread, and some of the same white wine used for making the marinade.

LE WAGYU BURGER

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until golden brown and caramelized, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the thyme and mix well. Set aside on low heat until ready to serve.
• Divide wagyu into 4 equal patties (see Cook's Note). Spread 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard on one side of each patty. Place the patties, mustard-side down, in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the mustard sides of the patties have cooked through and become a caramel brown color, then flip the patties over and cook until the centers of the patties have reached the ideal temperature for diners' tastes, using an instant-read thermometer. (Without a thermometer, a patty that is firm to the touch in the center but not tough and has a thin line of pink through the middle is around medium-well.) Remember, you still have to melt the cheese on top, so you may want to cook a little under your normal preference at this stage, because it will continue to cook while the cheese melts.
• Add 1 ounce (1/8 cup) sauteed onions to the top of each wagyu patty. Add 1 slice of Gruyere on top of each serving of onions. Cover the skillet for about 30 seconds to allow the steam to melt the cheese.
• Butter brioche buns and lightly toast using a separate skillet, if desired. Place a patty on each brioche bun. Serve with lettuce and tomato on the side for garnish, along with desired condiments.

GIGOT D'AGNEAU ANDREW

Steps:

• Carefully remove bones from lamb, except for the last "shin" bone. Scrape meat off bones. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large saucepan, add 1/4 cup clarified butter and onions, carrots, and leeks. Stir and add in bones and 2 cups cold water. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and reduce by half. Season with sprig of parsley, bay leaves, and crystallized salt.
• Heat small frying pan. Add bread crumbs and pour remaining butter on top. Cook gently. Add orange segments and continue to cook. Meanwhile, combine orange rind and 3/4 cup water in small pan and bring to a boil. Add arrowroot and sugar and reduce to low heat until it begins to thicken to a glaze. Transfer bread crumbs and orange segments to a mixing bowl. Season stuffing with Grand Marnier, salt, white pepper, and chopped parsley.
• Stuff lamb and close pouch with skewers, lacing up with string in between, like a big boot. Make shallow diagonal slashes over top of lamb. Season flour with salt and pepper. Dust lamb with flour. Place in baking dish and roast for 1 hour 40 minutes. Remove lamb from oven and place in a bain marie (small baking dish set in a larger baking pan which is filled half way with water). Increase heat to 500 degrees F. and cook for another 15 minutes. Baste with orange glaze.

LE BACKEOFFE

Steps:

• Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie together the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf into a bundle.
• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine the onions, pork, beef, lamb, carrots, ham hocks, garlic, and herb bundle. Pour in the wine, stir to combine, and let marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Butter the inside of the baking dish. Strain then separate the meat and vegetables; reserve the wine.
• In the baking dish, layer half of the vegetables, potatoes, leeks and all the meat, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper, to taste. Repeat with the remaining vegetables, potatoes, and leeks. Pour over the reserved wine from marinade. Dot the top with the 6 tablespoons of butter.
• Cover the baking dish with the lid. Roll the bread dough, if using, into a rope the circumference of the baking dish. Press the dough rope around the edge of the lid, pressing it slightly to seal. Brush the bread with some of the beaten egg. Bake for 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove the bread, uncover, and serve immediately.

BAECKEOFFE / LAUNDRY DAY STEW OF BEEF, PORK, AND LAMB

Steps:

• In a large bowl or very large plastic bag with a secure seal, mix together the onions, leeks, carrot, garlic, bay leaves, juniper berries, thyme, parsley, wine, beef, pork, lamb, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Mix well, seal, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Mix the meats and marinade occasionally; if they are in a bag, just turn it over once or twice.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350°. Smear the olive oil all over the bottom of a 6- or 8-quart Dutch oven.
• Peel the potatoes if you like; using a mandoline, slice them thinly and season well with salt and pepper. Do not wash the potatoes after slicing. The potato starch thickens the broth. Cover the bottom of the pot with half of them. Strain the solids and meat from the marinade, reserving both separately. Spread the meats and vegetables on top of the potatoes and then top with the remaining potatoes. Carefully pour the reserved marinade over the potatoes. If the liquid does not cover the top of the potatoes, add more wine or water until they are just covered.
• Cover the pot and bring the stew to a gentle simmer on top of the stove. Place the pot in the oven and bake until the meats are very tender, about 3 1/2 hours. Serve, directly from the casserole, in warm, generously sized soup plates.

BAECKEOFFE (MEAT AND POTATOES CASSEROLE)

Steps:

• Place the meats in a large bowl with the onions, carrots and garlic. Add the thyme, bay leaves, parsley, cloves, peppercorns and salt. Pour the wine over and stir. Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate 12 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Peel and wash the potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Drain the meat, reserving the vegetables and the marinade. Arrange a layer of the potatoes in a 2 qt flameproof, earthenware pot with tight fitting lid. Scatter some vegetables from the marinade over the potato layer, then add a layer of meat. Continue alternating layers, finishing with a layer of potatoes. Pour the marinade over the potatoes.
• Lutage - This is the method of sealing the lid so that no evaporation can take place. In a small bowl, mix enough water with the flour to produce a smooth, thick paste. Roll it into a long sausage shape and place it around the edge of the pot. Place the lid firmly on the pot, pressing down to ensure a perfect seal.
• Bake for 3 hours. Remove the pot from the oven and break the circle of pastry. Carefully remove the lid. Serve the baeckeoffe directly from the pot with a loaf of crusty bread.