Dalmatinska pasticada (Dalmatian Stewed Beef)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 pounds beef round
• 6 to 8 slices smoked bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup mustard
• 3/4 cup cooking oil
• 3/4 pound soup vegetables such as carrots, celery or parsnips, chopped
• 1 large onion, minced
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 fresh figs, slivered, or dried figs
• 3 pitted prunes, slivered
• 1 apple, peeled and sliced
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf

Directions:

1. Cut the meat all over with little half-inch or so pockets, then stuff the pockets with the bacon and garlic. Rub salt and pepper into the meat.
2. Heat a half cup of cooking oil over a medium high flame and brown the meat all over. Remove and set aside. Add the vegetables to the same pot and cook until soft, then return the meat to the pot.
3. Cover the meat with water and add the wine. Stew for two hours, then add the tomato paste and fruit and keep cooking until the fruit is soft. Add the rosemary, thyme and bay and cook for another 10 or 15 minutes. Take the meat out of the pot and let rest, then slice.
4. Strain the sauce and pour over the meat.