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• 0.6 kg beef cheeks
• 1.6 large carrot
• 1.6 stick celery
• 1.6 clove garlic
• 0.4 whole onion
• 0.8 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1.6 leaf bay leaf
• pinch ground cloves
• pinch black pepper
• 300 ml burgundy or pinot noir
• 20 g plain flour
• 8 g unsalted butter
• olive oil
• 2.4 rasher higherwelfare smoked streaky bacon
• 80 g shallots
• 160 g button mushrooms
• 0.2 bunch flatleaf parsley
• 300 ml boiling water

Steps

1. Chop the beef cheeks into 5cm chunks.
2. Wash, trim and chop the carrots and celery into 3cm chunks.
3. Peel the garlic and onion, then roughly chop.
4. Place the beef, carrots, celery, garlic, onion, mustard, bay, cloves, a generous pinch of black pepper and the wine in a large bowl, mix well, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
5. Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/gas 3.
6. Pour the contents of the beef bowl into a colander set over another bowl and reserve the liquid; pick out just the beef and pat dry with kitchen paper, then toss with the flour.
7. Put a large casserole pan on a medium heat and melt the butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
8. In batches, brown the floured beef all over, turning with tongs and removing to a plate with any crispy bits once browned.
9. Tip the veg into the pan, and cook for 10 minutes, or until starting to caramelize, stirring occasionally and scraping up any sticky bits.
10. Return the beef to the pan, pour over the reserved wine and 750ml of boiling water, then bring to a simmer.
11. Cover with a scrunched-up sheet of damp greaseproof paper and transfer to the oven for around 4 hours, or until the beef is beautifully tender, topping up with splashes of water if needed.
12. When the beef is perfect, turn the oven off.
13. Slice the bacon, then place in a large non-stick pan on a medium-high heat.
14. Peel, chop and add the shallots, tossing regularly; trim and halve or quarter the mushrooms and add to the pan as you go.
15. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden, stirring regularly.
16. Finely chop and toss through the parsley leaves, then pour the contents of the pan over the bourguignon and season to perfection, tasting and tweaking.
17. To make ahead: cool and transfer to reusable containers – keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat until piping hot, then stir through the finely chopped parsley leaves to serve.