You’ll discover why beef bourguignon has captured hearts for over two centuries: the ultimate comfort food transforms simple ingredients into something magical.
This beloved French dish starts with humble cuts of beef and everyday vegetables, but through slow-cooking in rich Burgundy wine, it becomes an incredibly tender, flavor-packed masterpiece.
The combination of crispy bacon, pearl onions, and mushrooms creates layers of taste that have delighted generations of families gathering around the dinner table.
Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or a cozy family meal, this timeless recipe holds secrets that make every bite memorable.
French Peasant Dish Origins
Beef bourguignon’s origins trace back to eastern France’s Burgundy region, where peasant families transformed tough cuts of meat into tender, flavorful stews.
You’ll find that these resourceful cooks developed this dish out of necessity, using wine to tenderize less expensive cuts of beef unsuitable for roasting.
In those days, you’d see families gathering around their hearths, letting their pots simmer for hours while the meat slowly became tender in the region’s famous red wine.
They’d add readily available vegetables from their gardens – carrots, onions, and mushrooms – creating a hearty meal that would keep them warm through cold winters.
What started as a humble way to feed large families has become one of France’s most beloved dishes, cherished in homes and restaurants worldwide.
Recipe
Beef Bourguignon is a classic French stew that transforms humble ingredients into an elegant dish through slow-cooking techniques. Originally a peasant dish from the Burgundy region of France, this recipe features beef braised in red wine with mushrooms, pearl onions, and bacon.
The key to a perfect Beef Bourguignon lies in selecting the proper cut of beef and allowing sufficient time for slow cooking, which helps develop deep, complex flavors. This recipe typically takes about 3-4 hours to prepare and cook, but the result is a rich, hearty dish that exemplifies French cuisine at its finest.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 8 oz bacon, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bottle red Burgundy wine
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 bouquet garni (thyme, parsley, bay leaf)
- 24 pearl onions, peeled
- 1 lb mushrooms, quartered
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Steps
- Pat the beef dry and season generously with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, cook diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Working in batches, brown the beef in the bacon fat over high heat until well-seared on all sides. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
- Lower heat to medium and add carrots and diced onion to the pot. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste and stir to combine.
- Return meat and bacon to the pot. Add wine and enough beef stock to barely cover the meat. Add bouquet garni, bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to a preheated 325°F oven for 2.5-3 hours.
- While the stew is cooking, sauté pearl onions in butter until browned. Set aside. In the same pan, sauté mushrooms until golden. Set aside.
- When meat is tender, remove from oven. Add pearl onions and mushrooms to the pot. Simmer on the stovetop for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Adjust seasoning, remove bouquet garni, and serve hot garnished with fresh parsley.
For best results, prepare this dish a day before serving and reheat it. This allows the flavors to develop further and makes it easier to remove any excess fat that solidifies on top when chilled.
Always use a good quality wine you’d drink, as it dramatically impacts the final taste of the dish.
Final Thoughts
After mastering this recipe, you’ll understand why Beef Bourguignon has stood the test of time. This beloved French dish brings people together, creating memories around your dining table that’ll last for years.
The rich aroma of wine-braised beef, tender vegetables, and savory herbs will fill your home with warmth and comfort.
You’ve now joined countless home cooks and chefs who’ve embraced this classic, making it their own while honoring its traditional roots.
Don’t be surprised if this becomes your go-to dish for special occasions or when you’re craving something truly soul-warming.
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