Gluten Free Slow Cooked Beef and Porter Casserole

Beef Totty Pot

This slow cooked beef and porter casserole is everything proper comfort food should be. Rich, glossy, deeply savoury and made with minimal effort thanks to the slow cooker.

The wife stole half a bottle of Totty Pot Porter from Cheddar Ales for this casserole, and it genuinely made all the difference (don’t worry the other half wasn’t wasted, what a deliciously smooth Porter). Malt forward, smooth and not overly bitter, it gave the sauce depth without overpowering the beef.

This is pub style food done at home and completely gluten free. Perfect with mash and even better the next day.

🧺 Ingredients

• 400 g diced beef chuck or braising steak
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 tablespoon oil or beef dripping
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 medium carrot thickly sliced
• 100 g mushrooms halved
• 1 tablespoon tomato puree
• 200 ml gluten free porter
• 150 ml gluten free beef stock
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or half a teaspoon dried
• 1 bay leaf
• Half a teaspoon sugar optional but recommended
• Salt and black pepper

🛠️ Tools for the Job

• Slow cooker with sear function (If you don’t have a sear function on your slow cooker click here to see the notes below for instructions using a frying pan).
• Wooden spoon
• Chopping board
• Sharp knife
• Measuring jug

👨‍🍳 Method

1. Set the slow cooker to sear mode and add the oil
2. Toss the beef in the cornflour with a good pinch of salt and black pepper
3. Brown the beef in batches directly in the slow cooker until well coloured then remove and set aside
4. Add the sliced onion to the pot and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until soft and lightly golden
5. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute
6. Stir in the tomato puree and cook for another minute to deepen the flavour
7. Pour in the porter and scrape up all the sticky bits from the base of the pot
8. Add the stock carrot mushrooms thyme bay leaf sugar and return the beef to the slow cooker
9. Stir well then switch to low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 and a half to 4 hours
10. Remove the bay leaf taste and adjust seasoning before serving

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Buttered greens or cabbage

📖 Notes

• Slow cookers hold in moisture so if you want a thicker sauce remove the lid for the final 30 minutes on high or stir in half a teaspoon of cornflour mixed with cold water and cook for 10 to 15 minutes
• This casserole freezes well and tastes even better the next day
• Avoid hoppy porters as they can turn bitter when slow cooked
• A small amount of sugar helps balance the roasted malt flavours from the porter
• If your slow cooker does not have a sear function, you can do the first steps in a frying pan instead. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat and brown the beef in batches until well coloured. Remove the beef and set aside, then gently cook the onions in the same pan until soft and lightly golden. Add the garlic and tomato puree, cook for a minute, then pour in the porter and scrape up all the flavour from the pan. Transfer everything to the slow cooker, add the remaining ingredients, stir well and cook as per the timings above.

This recipe was made using Totty Pot Porter from Cheddar Ales. Always check individual beers for current gluten free status.