Brown Beef Gravy With Allspice And Port

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef (gravy beef, scored)
• 1 oz butter
• 1 slice fat ham or bacon
• 1 medium onion
• 1.5 cups boiling water
• 1 slice toasted brown bread crust
• 1 sprig winter savory or lemon thyme
• 1 sprig parsley
• 1 strip thin lemon peel
• 12 allspice berries
• 12 black peppercorns
• 1 oz butter (for thickening)
• 2 tbsp flour (for thickening)
• 1 tbsp mushroom ketchup (optional)
• 1 tbsp port or claret (optional)
• Juice of ½ lemon (optional)
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

1. 1 Place butter, ham/bacon, and onion in a stew-pan. Add the scored beef.
2. 2 Cover and cook on slow fire until meat browns slightly, turning occasionally.
3. 3 Pour in boiling water. Skim scum, then add bread crust, herbs, lemon peel, allspice, and pepper.
4. 4 Cover and stew gently for 2 hours. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve.
5. 5 Melt 1 oz butter in a clean pan. Stir in flour until dry and mixed.
6. 6 Add a little strained gravy to the roux, stir well, then add remaining gravy gradually.
7. 7 Simmer for 15-20 minutes until thick as cream. Skim fat and strain again.