Cheap and Easy Beef Bourguignon Recipe #livepeasant Challenge

This week Simply Beef and Lamb asked me to take the #livepeasant challenge and create a ‘peasant’ recipe using cheap ingredients. We were asked to look out for the ‘Red Tractor’ logo on either beef or lamb. You may not be aware of the Red Tractor logo, but buying meat with that little red tractor on the packaging means you are buying farm assured meat.

Simplybeefandlamb.co.uk tells us more about the Red Tractor scheme…

“Many farmers have both cattle and sheep on their farms and the Red Tractor scheme covers quality beef and lamb production as well as a range of other agricultural produce. The assurance standards encompass food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection and traceability from farms to pack. The welfare needs of sheep and cattle must not be compromised at any stage of their lives including transporting them in safe, suitable vehicles and farmers must ensure that their farming practices do not damage the environment. Animals need to be identifiable and traceable back to their farms of origin, and the beef and lamb produced meets standards of hygiene so that it is free from contamination and safe to eat. – See more at www.redtractor.org.uk”

I was recently sent some Aldi wine to try out as part of their Mamia Parent Panel, but of course I can’t drink it, so I decided to cook with it instead! I’ve never made Beef Bourguignon before but it turns out it’s a really simple recipe with limited ingredients needed! I actually managed to buy everything in Aldi, meaning this is also a super cheap recipe too.

INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4)

* 700g Diced Beef – remember to look out for the red tractor!
* 200g smoked bacon lardons.
* 100-200g chestnut mushrooms – chopped. I’ve put 100-200g because I like a lot of mushrooms. so tend to put in a whole packet!
* 2 cloves of garlic – peeled and sliced.
* 400 g carrots – peeled and sliced.
* 1 medium onion – peeled and sliced.
* 6 sprigs of thyme.
* 425ml red wine.
* Salt & pepper.
1 medium potato per person.

METHOD

This couldn’t be simpler… chuck it all in your slow cooker and cook for a couple of hours! I served our beef bourguignon with fluffy mashed potatoes.

I love using my slow cooker. As a soon to be mum of 2 I find preparing an evening meal quite challenging, especially as my 3 year old likes to go to bed later than he should. I’ll soon have a newborn attached to me feeding around the clock, so my slow cooker will be my life saver when it comes to making evening meals. It’s so convenient for busy families. I can make our dinner first thing in the morning and leave it to cook slowly throughout the day. I can also batch cook to pop in the fridge or freezer for another day. I’ll be doing lots of this over the next couple of weeks in preparation for our new arrival!

The approximate total for these ingredients is £7.35. A bottle of red wine from Aldi costs around £5. The total cost per person for this meal is just over £3! Incredible how cheaply you can create such a delicious meal.