Beef Stifado With Pearl Onions

Beef Stifado With Pearl Onions

A traditional Greek-style beef stew slowly braised with whole pearl onions, red wine, tomato, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice until rich and tender.

Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 160°C.

    Cookware: oven

  2. Step 2

    Pat the beef dry and place it in a mixing bowl. Season it with 1 ¼ tsp (8 gr) salt and all the black pepper.

    Timer: 5 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 1200.0 gr Beef Chuck, 2.0 gr Black Pepper, 8.0 gr Salt

    Cookware: Chef Knife, cutting board, mixing bowl

  3. Step 3

    Heat 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil in the Dutch oven over medium heat. Sear the beef in batches until browned on several sides, transferring each batch to a clean rimmed plate.

    Timer: 12 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 30.0 ml Olive Oil

    Cookware: Dutch oven, rimmed plate, tongs

  4. Step 4

    Add the remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil and the pearl onions to the pot. Cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, then transfer them to a clean bowl.

    Timer: 8 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 15.0 ml Olive Oil, 30.0 piece Pearl Onion

    Cookware: Dutch oven, mixing bowl, tongs

  5. Step 5

    Add the garlic, tomato paste, oregano, allspice, and ground cloves to the pot. Stir over medium heat until fragrant and the tomato paste darkens slightly.

    Timer: 2 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 2.0 gr Allspice, 2.0 gr Dried Oregano, 12.0 gr Garlic, 0.5 gr Ground Clove, 30.0 gr Tomato Paste

    Cookware: Dutch oven, wooden spoon

  6. Step 6

    Pour in the red wine and vinegar. Scrape up the browned residue and simmer over medium heat until the liquid is reduced by about one-third.

    Timer: 5 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 250.0 ml Red Wine, 30.0 ml Red Wine Vinegar

    Cookware: Dutch oven, wooden spoon

  7. Step 7

    Return the beef and its collected juices to the pot. Add the tomato, beef stock, cinnamon, bay leaves, sugar, and remaining ⅝ tsp (4 gr) salt; bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cover and transfer to the oven.

    Timer: 75 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 2.0 piece Bay Leaf, 500.0 ml Beef Stock, 1.0 piece Cinnamon Stick, 4.0 gr Salt, 8.0 gr Sugar, 400.0 gr Tomato

    Cookware: Dutch oven, oven, wooden spoon

  8. Step 8

    Stir the browned pearl onions into the stew. Cover and continue braising at 160°C until the beef is fork-tender and the onions are soft but intact.

    Timer: 50 min (fixed)

    Cookware: Dutch oven, oven, wooden spoon

  9. Step 9

    Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Let the stifado rest uncovered for 10 minutes before serving.

    Timer: 10 min (fixed)

    Cookware: Dutch oven, wooden spoon

Nutrition (Estimated)

Food safety

Caution: medium

Prevent cross-contamination after handling raw beef. The prolonged braise should take the beef well beyond the minimum safe internal temperature of 63°C and make it tender. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat them to 74°C.

Risk factors

  • handling raw beef
  • hot oil during searing
  • heavy covered pot and hot steam
  • cooling a dense meat stew