Beef Casserole With Spice

Ingredients

• 1 kg shin beef, cut into large chunks
• 100 g bacon, roughly chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery ribs, washed and chopped
• 1 cup tomato puree (or 2 T gently fried tomato paste)
• 1-2 star anise
• 1 piece orange rind (use a potato peeler, wide strip)
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 turnips or swedes, peeled and chopped

Directions

1. 1

   Perheat the oven to 200°C.

2. 2

   Throw all the ingredients into a really big casserole. Add enough water to cover (about 1 litre or a little less should be right) and about 2 teaspoons salt.

3. 3

   Turn the oven down to 160C, pop the lid on the casserole and cook for about 3 hours or so. (Much of this time - about 1 hour - the casserole is coming up to heat so to speed things up you can bring it to a simmer on the stove in a flame proof dish).

4. 4

   Check for salt, add a few grinds of black pepper and serve.