Classic Beef Burgundy Stew Recipes

CLASSIC BEEF BURGUNDY STEW

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper. Add beef in batches and brown thoroughly.
• Put beef into a soup pot with wine, beef base, consomme, onion, celery, parsley, basil, bay leaves and garlic salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes, until meat is tender.
• Add carrots and potatoes; simmer until tender. Add mushrooms and cook a few minutes longer until mushrooms are cooked through. Adjust seasonings, to taste.
• To thicken, mix cornstarch with enough water to form a smooth, slightly thick mixture; stir into stew, remove from heat and serve.

BURGUNDY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Put a large, heavy-bottomed, ovenproof pot over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pot and reserve for serving.
• Pat the beef dry and season it with salt and pepper. Turn up the heat under the pot to medium high and brown the beef on all sides in batches, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside. If there is a lot of oil left, pour off all but 2 tablespoons.
• Add the onion, celery and finely chopped carrot to the pot and cook until the vegetables begin to wilt, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, flour and garlic and cook for another minute or 2. Pour in the wine, whisking to combine, and bring to a boil. Add the mushrooms, pearl onions and 1-inch carrot pieces. Return the beef to the pot. Pour in enough broth to just cover the meat and bring to a simmer. Cover and put into the oven. Cook until the beef is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Skim off any excess fat from the top of the stew and serve garnished with parsley and the reserved bacon.

BOEUF EN DAUBE - CLASSIC FRENCH BEEF BURGUNDY STEW (BOURGUIGNON)

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine beef, Cognac, cloves, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, sage, thyme, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, orange peel, wine, and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for up to 2 days, stirring from time to time.
• Bring the meat and vegetables to room temperature. Drain, reserving the marinade.
• Blot the beef and veggies dry with paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 325F/175°C.
• In a large heavy oven proof dish (such as a cast iron dutch oven or Le Creuset), fry the bacon over medium heat until it renders its fat, about 3-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to paper towels and reserve.
• Working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan, add the meat and vegetables to the fat in the pan, and brown them on all sides over medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper as they brown, about 7 minutes per batch.
• Transfer to a platter. Add the marinade to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-third, about 8 minutes. Skim off the foam from the surface. Add the stock or consomme, and simmer another 8 minutes, until reduced again by one-third. Stir in the pinch of sugar and the tomato paste, (and add the diced tomatoes and green olives now, if using).
• Return the meat, vegetables and reserved bacon to the pot. Cover and bake in the oven until the meat is tender, 2 1/2-3 hours. -OR- alternately, at this stage you can cook in the crock-pot on LOW heat 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH heat 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve with a rustic bread for mopping the juices, along with a green salad and a platter of cheeses.
• Freezes and reheats beautifully. Leftovers will make a lovely Cottage-Shepherd's Pie a la Provencale, see my recipe #355446.