Stifado (Greek Beef Stew)
A hearty Stifado, a traditional Greek beef stew, featuring tender chunks of beef and pearl onions in a rich, flavorful sauce.
Equipment
- Dutch oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil see product recommendations online
- 1 ½ pounds whole pearl onions, peeled frozen are fine
- 5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 leaves bay leaves
- 1 stick cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove
- 4 berries allspice or ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 cup full-bodied red wine
- ¼ cup Cognac or Brandy
- 1 can good quality whole or diced tomatoes 14 ounces
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Brown the beef in batches. Pat the meat dry, season it with salt and pepper, and sauté in olive oil until browned.
- Sauté the pearl onions in the same pot until softened, then add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Season onions and garlic with tomato paste, bay leaves, cinnamon, ground clove, and allspice. Return browned meat to pot.
- Deglaze the pan with red wine and cognac, scraping the bottom to release browned bits. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add canned tomatoes and enough warm water to cover meat, reduce heat, and cover pot. Cook until meat is tender, about 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours. Check occasionally for water.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, remove bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and allspice berries. Let sit uncovered for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Frozen pearl onions are a convenient way to save time peeling. Substitute with peeled shallots or leek pieces if needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 474.1kcalCarbohydrates: 16.4gProtein: 31.1gFat: 26.6gSaturated Fat: 8.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 15.4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 104.3mgSodium: 539.4mgPotassium: 891mgFiber: 3.2gSugar: 7.1gVitamin A: 148.9IUVitamin C: 16.2mgCalcium: 89.8mgIron: 4.5mg
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