A Dinner Entree with Loin of Beef and Idiazabal Cheese

This recipe is a bit involved and will take some time to prepare and cook but it will reward you in the end. This is an elegant dinner entree that will please your family and guests. Idiazabal  can be found in most good cheese shops or usually at Whole Foods or on line at Amazon. Idiazabal Cheese If you can not find Idiazabal you can substitute Manchego.

A Dinner Entree Recipe for Loin of Beef with Smoked Idiazábal Cheese
Serves 4:

800 gr (2 lb.) loin of beef
1/4 liter (1 cup) concentrated beef stock
100 gr (1/4 lb.) raisins
200 gr (1/2 lb.) smoked Idiazábal cheese
1 glass of herb eau-de-vie
4 cooking apples
Salt and pepperOlive oil
Mache (or watercress)

Preperation and Cooking

Soak the raisins in the herb eau-de-vie for half an hour before use.

Remove the rind from the cheese.

Cut the cheese into pieces and melt in a double saucepan over a medium heat with the brandy and a little of the stock, stirring all the time while adding more stock until a thick cream forms (about 10 minutes taking care that the cheese does not separate).

Put the sauce through a fine sieve and add the raisins.

Brush the beef with oil and place in an iron frying pan over a medium heat.

Sprinkle the top surface with plenty of rock salt and leave to cook on one side for 20 minutes.

Remove the salt with a spatula, turn over and place salt on the other side.

Again leave to cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes.

Remove the salt and cut into thick slices.

Peel the apples, cut into wedges and brown in oil.

Serve the meat with the sauce, the apple pieces and a few leaves of Mache or watercress.

Wines for this entree: A good red wine like Reserva