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Summary

Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 15 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine European
Servings (Default: 4)

Ingredients

Braised Veal Cheeks
Braised Veal Cheeks
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Instructions

  1. Pat the 8 veal cheeks dry and season with salt and pepper from the grinder.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large roasting pan over medium-high heat.
  3. Sear the veal cheeks until golden brown on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
  4. Cut the onions, carrots, and celeriac into large cubes.
  5. In the same pan over medium-high heat, roast the vegetable cubes with 1 tablespoon tomato paste, stirring occasionally, for about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Deglaze the pan with 400 ml dry red wine and 1 tablespoon sugar beet syrup, scraping up browned bits. Boil until reduced by about half, roughly 5-8 minutes.
  7. Wash and dry 3 sprigs thyme and 3 sprigs rosemary. Add them to the pan along with 1 bay leaf and 8 juniper berries.
  8. Pour in 500 ml veal or beef stock. Return the seared veal cheeks to the pan.
  9. Cover and braise in the oven at 160°C / 320°F (convection, on the 2nd or 3rd rack from the bottom) for 2 to 2.5 hours. Every 30 minutes, baste the cheeks with some of the braising liquid.
  10. Transfer the veal cheeks to a warm plate. Pour the braising liquid through a sieve into a saucepan, pressing the vegetables gently to extract liquid.
  11. Over medium-high heat, reduce the sauce by about half, roughly 10-15 minutes.
  12. Season to taste with salt and pepper from the grinder. Stir in 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Do not boil after adding mustard.
  13. For best flavor, prepare this dish up to 1 day ahead; cool completely and refrigerate. The veal cheeks will rest and absorb more sauce flavor. They are typically very tender after 2.5 hours of braising.