The selfish part of me doesn't want to publicly share how ah-mazing beef cheeks are for braising!  Beef cheeks are at once lean and tender.  When slow cooked or pressure cooked, it is extremely flavorful and yields lusciously to your fork.  Or should I say, spoon because that's the utensil to use for this dish.  It's how wonderfully tender it is!  For some reason, beef cheeks is not a popular cut of beef in North America which keeps them relatively inexpensive.  I get grass-fed beef cheeks for $9/lb CAD which is a total bargain.  Makes me giddy.  I feel like that lady in the Ikea commercial from a few years back who hurries out of the store with loads of purchases screaming across the parking lot at her waiting husband to "start the car! start the car!" because she thought they made a mistake charging her too little.  You know that one?  That's the kind of steal we're talking here ;)  

When I cook bulky cuts of meat like this, I love to include other healthy plant-based ingredients to fill up our plates and balance out the meal.  In this recipe, chickpeas and kale are added towards the end of cooking and braised in the same pot as the beef.  To serve, I steamed some fresh English peas which were in season (hellooo Spring!), sliced avocado and a poached egg for some oozy yolky goodness.  Finally, the lemon-basil gremolata is the perfect finish by adding a touch of herbaceous acidity to balance out the richness of the beef (and yolk).  Don't skip the gremolata - I've just recently discovered that it is necessary in life.  

If you're feeling all this, go get yourself some beef cheeks, make this recipe and revel in what a savvy home cook you are.  Do it and tell me about it but let's keep it our little secret!   

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INSTANT POT & CONVENTIONAL SLOW-BRAISE:  I made this recipe in both an Instant Pot (not sponsored) using the pressure cooker function and in a dutch oven slow-braised in the oven.  I include directions for both methods in the recipe below.

MAKE IN ADVANCE + NOTES:

• Pressure Cooker or Slow-Braise in Conventional Oven: there are TWO SETS of cooking instructions below - one for conventional slow-braise method (steps 1-4) and one for Instant Pot pressure cooker method (steps A-D). My Instant Pot is the 6-Quart medium size.

• Beef Substitution: if you don't have access to beef cheeks, any braising cut such as shoulder aka chuck, brisket, round or short ribs work just as well.

• Other Substitutions: chickpeas can be subbed with a different legume like cannelini or navy. Kale can be subbed with another hardy leafy green like Swiss Chard or Collard Greens. Tender baby spinach would work too but reserve and add only at the last minute just to wilt.

• Make Ahead: this recipe be made 1 or 2 days before serving. In fact the flavors will deepen as it sits so this is a perfect make-ahead dish. Cool, then refrigerate tightly covered. Skim fat off and reheat on the stove or inside Instant Pot.

• Freezing: as with most braises and stews, this dish freezes very well for up to 2-3 months. Cool, then freeze in freezer-safe container with tight-fitting lid (or in freezer bags). Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove.

• Lemon-Basil Gremolata: can be made and kept in airtight container in the fridge overnight. The basil will fade from vibrant green to a dull brown color but the flavor is not compromised.

Braised Beef Cheeks, Chickpeas, Kale + Lemon-Basil Gremolata {gf, paleo}

Recipe serves 5-6

INGREDIENTS

For the braised beef:

2.5-2.75 lbs beef cheeks (about 4 pieces)

2 C white onions, rough chopped

3 garlic cloves, rough chopped

1/2 tsp smoked Pimentón aka Spanish paprika

2 C tomato puree or sauce, unsalted or low sodium

2.5 tsp kosher salt 

28 fluid oz (1 large can or 2 x 14oz cans) cooked chickpeas aka garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

2 bunches Kale, stem removed and rough chopped crosswise

Dried chili flakes (optional)

For the Lemon-Basil Gremolata:

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 C finely chopped basil leaves 

1 lemon, zest and juice

To serve (optional):

Poached eggs, 1 per person

English peas, steamed and seasoned with salt

Sliced avocado

METHODS

CONVENTIONAL SLOW-BRAISE METHOD  (steps 1-4)  

[ Scroll down for Instant Pot pressure cooker method steps A-D ]

1. Preheat oven to 325f.  On the stovetop, preheat a large (6-7 Quart) dutch oven on medium heat.  Meanwhile, pat dry and season the beef cheeks generously with kosher salt and black pepper, and set aside.  When heated, add ghee and sear beef cheeks on all sides until brown, working in batches to not overcrowd.  Set aside.

2.  Depending on amount of oil that came out from browning the beef, drain excess or add additional ghee so you have about 1-2 tablespoons of it in the pot.  Saute the onions and garlic a few minutes until onion are just turning translucent.  Add smoked pimentón and stir a minute, allowing its flavor to bloom.  Then add tomato puree or sauce, salt and chili flakes (if using) into the pot, stir and bring to a boil.  Simmer for 3-5 minutes then lower the beef cheeks into the pot.  Depending on the size and shape of your pot, you may need to top up liquid so that the meat is 3/4 covered. Use chicken / beef broth or water to top it up.  Cover with lid and place in the oven for 3 hours or until the beef is fall-apart tender. 

3.  Remove from oven and place the dutch oven on the stovetop.  Taste the sauce.  Add more salt as required, bearing in mind you are salting for the chickpeas and kale that is about to go into the pot too.  Add drained chickpeas and kale and simmer with the lid on over medium heat until the chickpeas are warmed through and kale is tender but not mushy. 

4.  Depending on tightness of pot lid and resulting amount of evaporation during braising (tighter lid = less evaporation = thinner sauce and vice versa), you may wish to thicken the sauce either by simmering with the lid off to reduce it, or make an arrowroot starch (or cornstarch) slurry to thicken.  If using starch to thicken, the result is less lumpy if you mix the starch with enough cooking liquid from the pot in a separate small bowl and whisk into a thick slurry with minimal lumps, then pour back into the pot.  Mix it in and continue simmering until thickened, 8-10 minutes or until desired consistency.  Ladle into serving bowls and top with poached egg, peas, avocado slices and the lemon-basil gremolata.  Enjoy!  xx

INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER METHOD 6-Quart Size (steps A-D)

[ See above for Conventional Slow-Braise Method steps 1-4 ]

A. Set Instant Pot (IP) to "Saute" function and while it heats up, pat dry and season the beef cheeks generously with kosher salt and black pepper.  When IP is ready, add the ghee, onions and garlic and saute a few minutes until just turning translucent.  Add smoked pimentón, tomato puree or sauce, salt and chili flakes (if using) into the pot and stir. Lower the seasoned beef cheeks into the pot.  They don't need to be completely covered in the sauce.  Lock the lid into position, press "Cancel" then select the "Manual" option and set the time to 70 minutes.  Allow the IP to depressure naturally at the end of pressure cooking cycle, which is about another ~22-25 minutes.

B.  Meanwhile, make the lemon-basil gremolata by chopping and combining the garlic and basil, and adding the lemon zest and juice in a small bowl.  Set aside.

C.  Once depressurization is complete, open the IP and taste the sauce.  Add more kosher salt as needed, keeping in mind you are also salting for the chickpeas and kale about to go into the pot too.  Once the drained chickpeas and kale are in, cover, select "Manual" and set the time to 7 minutes.  Again, allow to depressurize at the end of cycle. 

D.  At this point, if a thicker sauce is preferred, you can do so either by simmering with the lid off to reduce it, or make an arrowroot starch (or cornstarch) slurry to thicken.  If using starch to thicken, the result is less lumpy if you mix the starch with enough cooking liquid from the pot in a separate small bowl and whisk into a thick slurry with minimal lumps, then pour back into the pot.  Mix it in and set the pot to "Saute" function to bring it to a boil.  Allow it to simmer uncovered ~5 minutes or until desired consistency.   Ladle into serving bowls and top with poached eggs, peas, avocado slices and the lemon-basil gremolata.  Enjoy!  xx

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If you like this recipe, pin it to Pinterest!  You can also leave me a comment below to let me know what you think of this post - I would love that.  If you make the recipe and post it to Instagram, tag your post with #saltnpepperhere so I can peep you :)