2472. OX CHEEKS with SNAILS, BACON and MUSHROOMS

serves six


For the ox cheeks
3 pairs of ox cheeks
1 medium onion
1 carrot
1 stick celery
1 head garlic
5 sprigs of thyme
1 pint red wine
1/4 pint port
5 pints beef or veal stock
flour

For the bacon and mushrooms
2 shallots
5oz (150g) button mushrooms
5oz (150g) baby onions
5oz (150g) snails
3 rashers of streaky bacon
handful of parsley, chopped
1oz (25g) butter

For the mashed potato
12.5oz (375g) peeled potatoes
12.5fl oz (375ml) water
1 teaspoon salt
2oz (50g) cream
2oz (50g) butter

Trim all skin and sinew off the ox cheeks

Roughly chop one onion, one carrot, half a head of garlic and one stick of celery. Place this in a heavy roasting pan along with the cheeks, thyme, red wine and port, making sure the beef is covered. Leave this to marinate in the fridge for a minimum of 24 hours, but the longer you can marinate, the better it will taste.

Remove the ox cheeks from the wine and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly coat in flour and seal in a hot frying pan with a little oil until dark and golden in colour.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Botanist, No.7 Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8EE England