Marmite carbonnade

Marmite carbonnade

This big beef casserole is all the beefier for its crisp Marmite toasts

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 2 hrs 10 mins

Freezable

Can be frozen without toasts

Method

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Melt half the butter in a large cast-iron casserole over a medium heat, add the onions, then fry for 8-12 mins until golden, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic just before the end, then transfer everything to a bowl. Turn the heat up a little, season the beef with salt and pepper and seal it in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, adding a knob of the remaining butter with each one. Deglaze the pan with a little stock as you go along.
  2. Return the onions and beef to the pan, sprinkle over the flour, stir, then pour over the Guinness and stock. Add the herbs, sugar, vinegar, mushroom ketchup (if using) and some seasoning. Bring the liquid to the boil, cover, then cook in the oven for 1½ hrs. If serving on the day, skim the fat off at this stage.
  3. Remove the casserole and turn the oven up to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Discard the herbs, check for seasoning, then add the celery. Mix the remaining butter with about 2 tsp Marmite, then spread it over the slices of French bread on one side. Arrange the slices, Marmite-side up, overlapping on top of the casserole, then return to the oven for another 30-40 mins until the toasts are golden and crisp. Serve straight away.
Try

Know-how

Mushroom ketchup, a traditional condiment in use since Victorian times, adds an earthy richness to sauces, stews and soups. Geo Watkins is the most common brand - find it in the sauces section of most supermarkets for £1.09/170ml bottle.

PER SERVING

520 kcalories, protein 44g, carbohydrate 24g, fat 27 g, saturated fat 13g, fibre 2g, sugar 7g, salt 1.3 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, April 2009.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

  • 09 May 2009

    Jane Appleton oxon rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Made this for friends for a dinner party- really easy and very tasty. Never used mushroom ketchup before but now i have found it, use a splash of it in most beef dishes.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 December 2009

    Belkey rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This was tasty, I added a spoonful of marmite to the casserole and also two leeks that needed using up. Only comment is that there is a bit too much liquid - could have done with about 150ml less stock I think

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 10 September 2011

    pwhyton rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Just polished this off for the family on a saturday evening, went down really well, warm and rich sauce and the marmite toasts (though not appreciated by all) add an edge. Didn;t have Mushroom ketchup so used a splash of Worcester Sauce as an alternative which worked well. Stripped it down as only the 4 of us so half the stock and Stout was spot on.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 10 March 2012

    Louise Panks rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Lovely used blue cheese with the bread and it worked well

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 8

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 2 hrs 10 mins

Freezable

Can be frozen without toasts

Ingredients

  • 85g unsalted butter , plus extra for spreading
  • 4 onions , halved and sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves , peeled and smashed
  • 1.5kg/3lb 5oz stewing steak , cut into large cubes
  • 850ml beef stock
  • 1½ tbsp plain flour
  • 400ml can Guinness
  • about 10 thyme sprigs, tied into a bunch
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp light muscovado sugar
  • 2 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 2-4 tbsp mushroom ketchup (optional, see Know-how, below)
  • 1 celery heart, trimmed and sliced
  • about 2 tsp Marmite
  • about 25 thin slices French bread (about ¾ baguette - day-old is fine)
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

PER SERVING

520 kcalories, protein 44g, carbohydrate 24g, fat 27 g, saturated fat 13g, fibre 2g, sugar 7g, salt 1.3 g

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close