Swedish Sailor’s Beef and Potato Casserole
Slow cooking and a beer tenderize beef in this Swedish-inspired layered dish of meat, potatoes and onions. Top with chopped bright green parsley and pickle.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds bottom round steaks, 1/4-inch thick
- Salt and coarse black pepper
- Flour, for dredging
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 large or 3-4 medium onions, sliced
- 1 large bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 4 large starchy potatoes (2 pounds), peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 bottle warm lager (light-colored) beer
- Chopped flat leaf parsley, for garnish
- Chopped cornichons or bread-and-butter pickles, for garnish
Preparation
Pre-heat the oven to 275ºF.
Season the beef with salt and pepper on both sides and dredge with flour.
Heat a large skillet with 1 tablespoon EVOO and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Brown half of the meat on each side and remove to a plate. Add more oil and butter and repeat. Once all the meat is browned, add the remaining butter, the onions, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until light golden, 10-12 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
Arrange one-third of the potatoes in a casserole dish, season with salt and pepper and cover with half of the onions and half of the meat. Repeat the layers and top with the remaining potatoes. Pour the beer evenly over the casserole and cover. Bake for 2 1/2-3 hours, until very tender.
Garnish with the parsley and chopped pickles and serve.
