Tender beef and sweet shallots in a tangy, aromatic sauce make my version of beef stifado one you'll surely want to try! Be sure to serve it with crusty bread to dip in the sauce. Top the stew with crumbled feta and pickled red onions.
Ingredients
- boneless beef chuck roast: 3 pound (cut into 2-inch cubes)
- black pepper: 2 tsp (freshly ground)
- kosher salt: 1 Tbsp
- olive oil: 4 Tbsp (divided)
- small shallots: 1 pound
- onion: 0.5 cup (diced)
- garlic: 4 clove (minced)
- pinch kosher salt: 1 piece
- tomato paste: 3 Tbsp
- red wine vinegar: 0.25 cup
- white wine: 1 cup
- white sugar: 2 tsp
- ground cinnamon: 0.25 tsp
- ground allspice: 0.125 tsp
- pinch ground cloves: 1 piece
- oregano: 1 tsp (dried)
- bay leaves: 2 piece
- sprigs fresh rosemary: 2 piece
- beef broth: 2 cups (or more if needed)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Gather all ingredients. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Place beef in a bowl and season generously with pepper and kosher salt. Cover and transfer to the refrigerator until ready to use; up to 1 day is fine. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Leaving the root ends in place, cut off the shallot tops. Remove and discard skins. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add ½ of the beef and cook until nicely seared, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and repeat to sear remaining beef. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD.
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Turn off the heat and add 1 tablespoon oil to the empty skillet. Add shallots and let the skillet cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the heat back on to medium and toss shallots until browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove shallots to a plate. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet with onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt; cook and stir for about 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook until toasted, about 2 minutes. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Add red wine vinegar and white wine and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Increase heat to medium-high and add sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, oregano, bay leaves, and rosemary sprigs. Stir to combine and cook until reduced by about half, 2 to 3 minutes. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Add browned beef and shallots to the skillet and toss carefully until coated. Pour in 2 cups beef broth and bring to a simmer. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Reduce heat to low or medium-low. Cover and cook at a gentle simmer for 1 hour, then uncover and cook for at least 1 more hour, stirring occasionally to move the beef and shallots around. Add more broth if needed during the cooking time and skim off some fat if preferred. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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The meat is done when a fork slides in easily, but the meat isn't falling apart on its own; it may take longer than 2 hours. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Taste and adjust seasonings before serving. ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
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Serve and enjoy! ALLRECIPES / KAREN HIBBARD
