POTTED BEEF WITH PEARS AND CIPOLLINI ONIONS AND HORSERADISH CREAM

Potted Beef with Pears and Cipollini Onions and Horseradish Cream image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 3h45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

Kosher salt
2 pounds cipollini onions (about 2 sacks) or 1 1/2 pounds red or yellow pearl onions
3 pounds stew beef or beef chuck, cut into 2- to 2 1/2-inch pieces
Freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch ground cloves
Freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup dry sherry
1 1/2 to 2 cups beef stock
4 large underripe brown-skin pears, peeled and cut into 4 to 6 wedges each
1 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
1/4 cup finely chopped chives
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons prepared horseradish, such as Gold's

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Bring a medium pot of water to boil for the onions. Salt the water and boil the onions for 5 minutes. Then drain the onions and cool to handle. Peel the onions by squishing the root end out of the skins.
Bring the beef to room temperature and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven and add the beef in batches, browning until deeply caramelized all over. Repeat until all the beef has been browned, adding more oil when necessary. Remove the browned meat to a plate, covered with foil and reserve for later use.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter to the same pot used for browning the meat. When the butter foams, add the onions to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, and add in the thyme, allspice, cloves and some nutmeg. Cook until light caramel in color, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drizzle in the honey. Then add the sherry to deglaze the pan. Next, add the stock and the browned beef. Cover and roast in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes. Add the pears and stir to combine. Roast until the beef is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour more. Cool and store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal.
When ready to serve, reheat the potted beef in a 325 degrees F oven or on the stove-top, covered over medium-low heat.
Stir up the sour cream with the chives, heavy cream and horseradish. Season with salt and pepper. Serve atop the beef and onions with pears.