Beef Bourguignon
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Author Notes: During the winter season I make Beef Bourguignon at least once a month. It's rich, soul-satisfying and a definite crowd pleaser. There are a few key details to remember when making the stew: Be sure to brown the meat well in the beginning, use a good quality red wine that you would happily drink, and, if possible, make it a day in advance to let the flavors develop. Over time, I have also found that adding some tomato paste and a little brown sugar to the stock adds depth and sweetness which nicely rounds out the finished flavor. - TasteFood
Food52 Review: WHO: TasteFood is a well-traveled food blogger from the Bay Area.
WHAT: A beef bourguignon that tastes alive.
HOW: The beginning seems like any bourguignon recipe: brown the beef, deglaze, braise. But then you cook the carrots, onions, and mushrooms separately, and then simmer it all together for its final hurrah.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Unlike a soft, mushy, murky stew, the components of this bourguignon stay intact just enough -- so that you know what you're eating, but it still feels cohesive. We'll be making this in big batches all winter long. - A&M
Serves 6-8
- 3 pounds beef chuck, cut in 2-inch chunks
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup cognac
- 4 large carrots
- 1 large yellow onion, cut in chunks
- 4 large garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 750 ml. bottle full-bodied red wine
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 10 ounces pearl onions, peeled
- 1/2 pound white mushrooms, halved (quartered if large)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Preheat oven to 325 F. Pat meat dry. Season all over with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large Dutch-oven or oven-proof pan with lid over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add beef to pan in one layer. Brown on all sides. Transfer beef to a bowl.
- Add cognac to pan and deglaze pan over medium-high heat, scraping up bits. Allow to reduce by half. Pour cognac over beef.
- Coarsely chop 2 carrots. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in same pan. Add chopped carrots, onion and garlic. Sauté 3 minutes over medium heat. Add beef with cognac, wine, stock, tomato paste and thyme. (Beef should be covered by the wine and stock. If not, add more wine or stock to cover.)
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook 2 minutes. Cover and place in oven. Bake until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 -3 hours.
- About 30 minutes before beef is done, cut remaining carrots in 1/2" slices. Steam or blanch carrots until crisp tender; drain.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté pearl onions and mushrooms until light golden brown.
- Remove beef from oven. Strain liquid from stew into a saucepan. Separate beef from the cooked vegetables and discard vegetables. Boil liquid until reduced by half and thickened to a sauce consistency, skimming fat from surface. Add sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add beef, carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms to stock. Simmer 15 minutes to heat through. Serve in warm bowls.
- Beef Bourguignon may be prepared up to two days in advance. Cover and refrigerate. Before reheating, discard any solidified fat from surface. Reheat over medium-low heat on stovetop or in a 325 F. oven.
- This recipe is a Wildcard Contest Winner!
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Beef Stew
Tags: savory, serves a crowd, stew, winter
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3 months ago John-K46
I followed the recipe as written except that I cut quantities in half. The result was an excellent meal. I would like to complement TasteFood for a a recipe well written with proportions well thought out and no doubt tested.
4 months ago Erika Kotite
Erika is the founder of Toque magazine and is guiding us through classic cocktails from A to Z in the Booze52 series.
Hi TasteFood, I made this last night with just a few tweaks (didn't need to reduce the sauce it was already quite thick and lovely). My family turned into a pack of wolves; as I was ladling it into bowls they didn't want me to give any to my daughter's friends who were here studying for finals. The thin veneer of civilization vanished upon smelling this truly extraordinary dish. Thank you!!
4 months ago kbradley
I made this on Saturday. The house smelled amazing and the dish tasted even more amazing! Loved it!!
4 months ago kate h
I made this yesterday afternoon to serve for dinner tonight. I am in awe how the flavors improved and developed overnight. I can not wait to serve. I will be putting it over pappardelle and top with some fresh chopped parsley. Delicious!
4 months ago maam
I made this yesterday for dinner while finishing the drywall in the now kitchen/dining room...the aromas for the 3 hours while it was cooking were nothing less than heavenly. It caused me daydream about the meals I will be serving in my new dining area.
I have to agree with valerieg...those braised veggies are just too good to waste, both my daughter and I had the same thought...to blend them into the sauce. I am presently eating them reheated for lunch with a big cold glass of milk...while my final skim coat of drywall compound dries...yummy. The bourguignon was delicious! We made it with brandy instead of cognac and we served it with whole wheat biscuits, to absorb that fabulous sauce and finished with homemade whole wheat chocolate chip cookies...being the oven was already to go! An all round wonderful winter comfort food meal. Thank you TasteFood
4 months ago valerieg
I made it today for dinner tomorrow, and I tok the veggies from the braise, ground them up in the cuisinart, and added them to the sauce. It meant I reduced the sauce less (and more sauce is huge in this family), and its incredibly good. I'm counting on cooling time plus overnight refridge to seep flavor into the other veggies.
4 months ago looloo
Thank you. I cooked it yesterday for tonight dinner (my husband ate half of it already though !) Perfect dinner in snowy Paris ! But why not add all the vegetables from the beginning ? Tha carrots and onions that cooked the all time are so much better than the carrots, onions and mushrooms I put at the end ! Have a good week end.
4 months ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
A lovely wildcard pick; warm congratulations!
4 months ago annealene
great suggestion on the thyme and rosemary...and thanks to all those out there who made suggestions about how to go alcohol/brandy-free. I found another idea for alcohol-free Bourguignon which was to use Verjus or de-alcoholized wine. Has anyone attempted either or know of a brand recommendation for the latter?
4 months ago dymnyno
Lynda, thanks for a great recipe! Perfect for the very cold weather we are experiencing!
4 months ago Bkpesch
Love adding fresh thyme and rosemary as well. I don't mess with the pearl onions, just use a yellow onion with the rest of the veggies.
4 months ago Brooke Belobrajdic
A glorious step up from mom's pot roast! Close your eyes and pretend your in a Tuscan farmhouse.
4 months ago HRH
Beef bourguignon is one of my absolute favorite go-to meals! It is somehow homey and impressive at the same time. Thanks for the recipe, I'll give it a try.
4 months ago TasteFood
Thank you for the wildcard win, Food52! And thank you everyone for your comments. I hope this recipe keeps you warm and happy!
4 months ago fayehess
it won't have the same depth but still darn good; you could use all stock for the wine and cognac.
4 months ago annealene
thank you for your suggestions! I love this dish and can't wait to try it
4 months ago Bkpesch
I make this type of braised dish quite often in the winter - works wonderfully with my oven because I can set my stove on delay bake and it will cook while we are at church on Sunday mornings. Great smells welcome us as we come home. I love using short ribs as well. Bones give it a great flavor. I sometimes add fresh sliced ginger for a little different punch of flavor.
4 months ago annealene
any ideas on how to make a wine/cognac-free Bourguignon? I have an alcohol sensitive family
4 months ago loristreetames@verizon.net
I'd try a sugar-free grape juice(natural, unsweetened) or unsweetened prune juice
4 months ago annealene
thank you that's a good idea!
4 months ago Coffeecat
If it's alcohol to which you are sensitive, that shouldn't be an issue as all the alcohol cooks off this dish very quick. If it is other components in the red wine then a wine and Cognac free version may be called for, but the wine does have ingredients (other than alcohol) that help tenderize the meat and give added depth of flavor so it's worth keeping if you can.
4 months ago Pegeen
I am late to the party, but just wanted to mention it is not safe to assume that all alcohol cooks off a dish. I believe that technically, it does not. And there are medications that interact very badly with just trace alcohol. So if someone says they may not have alcohol, best not to serve any dish that contains it.
4 months ago TerriLouWhoCooks
I made this dish today without Wine--but with Balsamic Vinegar. You can put half the amount in the dish--and it was intense but amazing. So rich. I also like to add a tsp of horseradish or grainy mustard. No need to use any sugar with the Balsamic.
4 months ago Lizthechef
Congratulations to one fantastic cook whose talent has impressed me for 3 years!
4 months ago emmyloop
My little sister calls this "God's Beef Stew!" Invest in that bottle of cognac and you will deglaze anything and everything with it. My favorite chef, my heart and soul of the food world, strips fat pieces of lemon zest into his 'trinity', little tangy surprise diversions...there truly is nothing like this French classic.
4 months ago ElizabethQ
Oh my goodness! This is such a rich and wonderful recipe. My family will love it. Thanks for sharing this Beef Bourguignon!