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Apple Cider Braised Beef Shoulder: The Ultimate Fall Comfort Food

Apple Cider Braised beef Shoulder: The Ultimate Fall Comfort Food
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Apple Cider Braised Beef Shoulder is an ideal dish for cozy gatherings and autumn celebrations. This comforting recipe features tender beef shoulder slow-cooked in a rich blend of apple cider, fresh herbs, and sweet apples, creating a savory experience that warms the soul. Perfectly versatile, this dish can be served in hearty pulled beef sandwiches, delightful tacos, or over creamy mashed potatoes. With simple preparation steps and minimal hands-on time, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or weekend feasts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–5 pound boneless beef shoulder, excess fat trimmed
  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 large apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for thickening the sauce, optional)
  • 2 tablespoons water (for thickening the sauce, optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef shoulder dry with paper towels.
  2. Combine salt and pepper in a small bowl, and generously season the entire beef shoulder with this mixture.
  3. In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil.
  4. Carefully place the seasoned beef shoulder into the hot pot and sear each side for 4–5 minutes until deeply browned. Remove from heat.
  5. Add chopped onion to the Dutch oven; cook until softened (about 5–7 minutes). Stir occasionally to scrape any browned bits from the bottom.
  6. Add chopped apples and minced garlic; cook another 3–5 minutes until fragrant.
  7. Pour in apple cider vinegar to deglaze; scrape up any remaining bits from the pot.
  8. Pour in apple cider and chicken broth.
  9. Stir in Dijon mustard, brown sugar, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
  10. Nestle seared beef back into the pot; ensure liquid covers half of it.
  11. Bring liquid to a simmer over medium heat. Cover tightly with a lid; reduce heat to low.
  12. Braise for 3–4 hours until fork-tender.
  13. Remove beef from pot; let rest on cutting board for 10–15 minutes before shredding with forks.
  14. Skim any excess fat from braising liquid. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes until slightly thickened.
  15. For thicker sauce, whisk flour with water until smooth; gradually add to simmering liquid. Cook until desired thickness is reached.
  16. Return shredded beef to pot; stir well to coat with sauce. Simmer an additional 5–10 minutes before serving warm.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mealsavor.com/apple-cider-braised-beef-shoulder-the-ultimate-fall-comfort-food/

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