Description
This Beef Stifado is a rich, cozy, easy dinner packed with tender beef, sweet onions, tomatoes, and warm Greek-inspired spices. It is a perfect comfort food recipe for family dinners, weekend cooking, dinner ideas, and make-ahead food ideas when you want a hearty beef stew that tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound pearl onions, peeled
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup dry red wine
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound baby potatoes
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Pat the beef dry and season it with salt and black pepper.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
3. Brown the beef in batches until deeply seared on several sides, then transfer it to a plate.
4. Add the pearl onions and chopped yellow onion to the pot and cook until softened and lightly golden.
5. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
6. Add the tomato paste and stir for 1 to 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
7. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and red wine, then scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
8. Return the beef to the pot and add the beef broth, red wine vinegar, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, and baby potatoes.
9. Bring everything to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the beef is very tender.
10. Remove the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and cloves if desired.
11. Taste and adjust seasoning, then sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Browning the beef well at the start gives the stew a much deeper flavor.
Pearl onions are classic in Beef Stifado, but small shallots can work if needed.
The stew tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Greek-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: beef stifado, greek beef stew, easy dinner, hearty beef stew, comfort food, dinner ideas, make-ahead dinner, family dinner, beef recipe