Beef Cobbler with Cheddar and Rosemary Scones

From Steve’s special friend Paul’s book ‘Paul Hollywood’s Bread’

Ingredients

For the stew

90ml/3fl oz vegetable oil

3 tbsp plain flour

salt and freshly ground black pepper

900g/2lb stewing steak in cubes

2 onions, sliced

2 carrots, cut into chunks

2 sticks celery, cut into 2cm/1in pieces

1 leek, washed and cut into thick rings

1 tbsp tomato purée

600ml/1 pint red wine

600ml/1 pint beef stock

1 bay leaf

For the wholemeal cheese scone topping

80g/3oz self-raising flour

100g/3½ oz wholemeal self-raising flour

65g/2¼ oz malted flour

pinch salt

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

150g/5½ oz cheddar cheese, grated

175ml/6fl oz full fat milk

1 free-range egg, beaten

extra flour for dusting

parsley, to garnish

Method

1. To make the stew, preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

2. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Toss the steak in the flour so each piece is coated.

3. Heat half the oil in a casserole dish and fry the meat in batches until browned all over. Remove from the pan and set to one side.

4. Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and fry the onion, carrots, celery and leek until just coloured. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for another two minutes.

5. Pour the wine into the pan and heat through. Using a wooden spoon, scrape any charred meat and vegetables from the bottom of the pan. Add the stock, bay leaf and return the beef to the pan.

6. Cover with a lid and cook in the oven for 1½ hours in the preheated oven (alternatively cook on the hob over a very low heat for 1½ hours).

7. Meanwhile, make the cobbler topping. Mix the flours in a bowl. Add

the salt, chopped rosemary and 100g/3½ oz of the cheese. Slowly add the milk and bring the mixture together. You may not need all of the milk. Try not to overwork the mixture by mixing it too much as this will toughen the end result.

8. Tip the mixture onto a floured surface and bring together to form a soft dough. Form the dough into a rough circle keeping it quite thick, about 2.5cm/1in. Cut out eight scone-sized circles. Brush the tops of the scones with beaten egg and sprinkle over the remaining cheese.

9. Remove the stew from the oven and place the scones on top of the stew. Increase the oven temperature to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Return the stew to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes until the scones are golden-brown. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.