Make Ahead

Hungarian braisedĀ beef

by:
February  3, 2010
5
1 Ratings
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

The idea for this recipe came from the Tasty Kitchen blog, and was made with short ribs. I thought it sounded wonderful, but I had chuck roast and no short ribs, and it didn't have as much onion and garlic as I thought I wanted, so I adapted a little. To be honest, I was dubious; but it was one of the most succulent, savory preparations for chuck roast I've ever had. The sauce is thick, velvety and unctuous, and the taste is more than the sum of the ingredients would lead you to believe. —Kayb

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 to 3 pounds chuck roast, cut into two-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large onion, diced fine
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup red wine (not overly dry)
  • 10 3/4 ounces can tomato puree
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 6 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
Directions
  1. Salt and pepper beef chunks, and sprinkle with Worcestershire. Working in batches so beef is not crowded, brown in olive oil in heavy pot. Make sure it gets a good, brown sear on all sides. Remove to a bowl or baking sheet.
  2. Reduce heat to medium and add onions; when they are softened and beginning to color, add garlic and saute for a minute or two (do not allow to brown). Deglaze pan with red wine and allow wine to reduce by 1/2.
  3. Dust beef chunks with paprika, making sure all sides are covered; rub it in to be sure all the paprika adheres. Use the ENTIRE six tablespoons, even though that looks like a tremendous amount of paprika.
  4. Add tomato puree to pot and stir to combine with onion/wine mixture. Return beef chunks to pot in a single layer, if possible. Add enough beef stock so liquid is even with top of beef chunks.
  5. Lower heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 1/2 hours, checking frequently to see if more broth is needed. Liquid level should stay within 1/2 inch of top of beef.
  6. Stir tomato paste into sauce, uncover, and continue to cook for 30 minutes, or until beef is fork-tender . Serve over rice or egg noodles.
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I'm a business professional who learned to cook early on, and have expanded my tastes and my skills as I've traveled and been exposed to new cuisines and new dishes. I love fresh vegetables, any kind of protein on the grill, and breakfasts that involve fried eggs with runny yolks. My recipes tend toward the simple and the Southern, with bits of Asia or the Mediterranean or Mexico thrown in here and there. And a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a float in the lake, as pictured, is a pretty fine lunch!

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