Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks

Slow-cooked beef cheeks are a delicious and tender dish that can be prepared using a slow cooker or on the stovetop. Here's a recipe to guide you through the process:

Ingredients:

• 4 beef cheeks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Begin by trimming any excess fat from the beef cheeks and season them with salt and pepper.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cheeks on all sides until they develop a brown crust. This will help seal in the flavors.
3. Once seared, remove the beef cheeks from the skillet and set them aside.
4. In the same skillet, add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté the vegetables until they become softened and slightly caramelized.
5. Deglaze the skillet by pouring in the red wine, scraping the bottom to release any browned bits. Allow the wine to simmer for a couple of minutes to cook off the alcohol.
6. Add the tomato paste, beef broth, bay leaves, and dried thyme to the skillet. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
7. Transfer the beef cheeks to a slow cooker and pour the vegetable and broth mixture over them. If you don't have a slow cooker, you can continue cooking the dish on the stovetop using a pot with a tight-fitting lid.
8. Set the slow cooker to low heat and cook the beef cheeks for 6 to 8 hours, or until they become extremely tender. If using the stovetop, simmer on low heat for about 3 to 4 hours, ensuring the pot is covered tightly.
9. Once the beef cheeks are cooked, remove them from the slow cooker or pot, and strain the cooking liquid into a separate saucepan. Discard the bay leaves.
10. Simmer the cooking liquid over medium-high heat until it reduces and thickens into a sauce-like consistency. This will intensify the flavors.
11. While the sauce is reducing, shred the beef cheeks using two forks. They should be incredibly tender and easily fall apart.
12. Once the sauce has thickened, pour it over the shredded beef cheeks and mix well to coat them evenly.
13. Serve the slow-cooked beef cheeks with your choice of accompaniments, such as creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread.

Enjoy your delicious and melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked beef cheeks!