Remember to remove your beef shin from the packaging, pat dry
and bring to room temperature.
Pre heat your oven to 135°C temperature.
Next choose a suitable sized oven proof casserole with a tight
fitting lid.
Season the meat just prior to coloring with good quality sea
salt.
Make a mirepoix by neatly chopping equal amounts of onion,
carrot and celery or my preferred choice of celeriac, the root of
the celery plus a bay leaf, sprig of thyme and a few black
peppercorns, another nice addition can be a head of garlic split in
half.
Take a large, heavy based frying pan, and add a few drops
pomace or vegetable oil.
Fry the shin on all sides in small batches then transfer to the
casserole dish.
Next fry the mirepoix until lightly coloured.
Then add half a bottle of red wine, or a favorite local ale and
reduce by two thirds then add 500ml of essential cuisine beef stock
,1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)and reduce a little, thicken
with a tablespoon corn flour mixed with a little cold water and
stirred into the boiling broth.
Pour the sauce over the shin and cover.
Place in the centre of the oven and cook for approximately 3
hours, the meat should be tender when pierced with a meat
fork.
Remove from oven, carefully take out the cheeks and keep
warm.
Pass off the juices through a fine sieve into a clean sauce pan
and reduce to a glossy finish then pour back over the cheeks ready
to serve.