SLOW-BRAISED BEEF NECK WITH CREAMY CHICKPEA PURÉE AND SPICY BUTTER GLAZE — INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS
A delicious, tender beef neck cooked low and slow in a Dutch oven, finished with a flavorful spicy butter glaze, and served atop a smooth chickpea purée. Perfect for intimate dinners or parties where small, elegant portions shine.
🕒 Prep Time: 20 min
🍳 Cook Time: 3 hours (+ resting)
🍰 Servings: 4
Ingredients
Beef Neck:
- 600–700 g beef neck, cut into 6 large chunks
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1 tsp chili flakes or chili paste (mild chili paste or sweet pepper paste if you prefer less heat)
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- Zest of ¼ lemon
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chickpea Purée:
- 250 g cooked chickpeas (+ 175 ml cooking water)
- 2 large garlic cloves
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
For Garnish:
- Parsley oil (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Season beef chunks generously with salt and black pepper. Place in a Dutch oven or oven-safe pot large enough to fit meat in a single layer with some space between pieces. Drizzle olive oil and rice vinegar over meat.
- Cover tightly and cook in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for 2.5 hours. After cooking, turn off oven and leave the covered pot inside for an additional 30 minutes or longer if time allows.
- While the beef cooks, prepare the chickpea purée: heat olive oil in a large skillet, add crushed garlic, chili flakes, torn bay leaf, and rosemary sprig. Sauté briefly (~30 seconds) until fragrant.
- Add cooked chickpeas, cooking water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf and rosemary.
- Blend the chickpea mixture until smooth. It may seem thin initially but will thicken as it cools for 15 minutes. Keep warm.
- Remove beef from oven and transfer pot to stovetop. The meat should be tender enough to pull apart with a fork. If not browned, increase heat to medium and brown meat pieces in the remaining fat until nicely caramelized.
- Add crushed garlic and chili paste to the pot and stir quickly for about 1 minute until aromatic. If the pot gets too hot and garlic risks burning, remove from heat and stir to coat meat evenly.
- Stir in butter until melted and coats the meat, creating a glossy glaze. Remove from heat and mix in lemon zest to infuse brightness.
- To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons of chickpea purée in the center of a small plate. Arrange 1–2 pieces of glazed beef on top and drizzle with some pan sauce. Finish with a few drops of parsley oil around the plate for color and freshness.
💡 Tips
- Slow cooking makes the beef neck tender and flavorful with minimal hands-on time.
- Using cooking water from chickpeas adds richness and creaminess to the purée.
- Adjust chili level to suit your taste—mild or spicy.
- Parsley oil adds a fresh herbal note and vibrant presentation.
🍽️ Perfect For
- Intimate dinners or tapas-style parties
- Serving elegant, small portions with big flavors
- Comfort food lovers seeking a twist
📝 Final Thoughts
This dish marries melt-in-your-mouth beef with a creamy, subtly spiced chickpea purée, elevated by a bright, buttery glaze. It’s impressive yet easy, perfect for memorable meals with friends or family.