Greek Stew Stifatho Recipes

STIFADO - TRADITIONAL BEEF STEW WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Add a generous splash of olive oil in a cooking pot and heat over high heat.
• Brown the beef chunks on all sides. Do this by adding the meat in the pot in batches. So the temperature of the oil won't drop, and the meat sill sear properly. After you're done with the first batch, remove the meat from the pot and then add the next batch. Once all the meat is seared and browned all over, add it all back in the pot.
• Pour in 2-3 cups of semi-sweet red wine, and 2-3 cups of water in the pot. The amount of both liquids should be just enough to cover the meat. So whether you're using a wider or more narrow cooking pot you should adjust the amount to 2 or 3 cups (each) accordingly.
• Add the allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves. Season with kosher salt and ground pepper.
• Reduce heat to low and cover the pot with its lid. Slow cook for approximately 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, cut off the tops and bottoms of the shallots and remove their skins. Place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let them soak for about 30 minutes and then drain in a strainer. This is done to remove some of their sharp acidity.
• After the meat has slowly cooked for 2 hours, prick with a knife to make sure it's tender enough. Otherwise, cook a bit more.
• Add a splash of olive oil in a skillet or frying pan, and heat over medium-high heat. Toss in the shallots and cook until deep golden all over. Stir in 2 loaded tablespoons of tomato paste, and cook for 2 minutes more, while stirring constantly using a wooden spoon. Pour a good splash of water in the pan to help scrape off the paste from the pan and then add everything in the pot with the meat.
• Shake the pot for the shallots to spread evenly, and once you make sure there is enough liquid in the pot to almost cover everything, slow cook (covered) for another 45-50 minutes.
• Serve with freshly ground pepper on top!

BEEF STIFADO RECIPE (GREEK BEEF STEW)

Steps:

• To prepare this delicious Greek beef stifado recipe, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the meat (in batches) and sauté, until browned on all sides. Do not add all the meat in the sauce pan, rather sauté in batches, so that the temperature of the oil remains high and the meat is sealed. When done, remove with a slotted spoon, place on a platter, cover and set aside.
• Peel and carve the baby shallot onions crosswise, add in the same oil used to browned the meat, turn down to medium heat and sauté until the onions have softened, but not browned (about 10 minutes).
• Pour in the cognac, the wine and red wine vinegar, cover and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
• Pour the meat along with its juices to the saucepan, add the tomato paste and sauté. Add the chopped tomatoes, bay leaf, allspice berries, nutmeg and a bit of water until the meat is covered. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer the beef stifado with a lid on for 1 1/2 hours or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened. While the beef stifado is simmering, check if it needs some water; you don't want it to dry out. If it does, pour in half a cup of boiled water and stir. Towards the end of cooking time season well with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve beef stifado with pasta and grated cheese, or boiled new potatoes. Enjoy!

BEEF STIFADO IN THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat and cook beef, onion, and garlic until meat is browned on all sides and onions are soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, rosemary, salt and a good pinch of black pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until ingredients blend, about 3 minutes. Add wine and vinegar and stir to combine.
• Turn slow cooker to Low setting. Pour beef mixture into slow cooker and stir in ketchup.
• Cook on Low until beef is tender, 6 to 8 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining olive oil in a skillet and cook shallots until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cooked shallots to stew for the last 1 to 2 hours of cooking.
• Remove and discard cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and rosemary sprig before serving.

STIFADO (TRADITIONAL GREEK STEW)

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, vinegar, stock, 50 mls olive oil, garlic, cinnamon stick, orange zest, honey, bay leaf and cumin in a large casserole pot with a lid.
• Stir through the beef until coated and refrigerate overnight to marinate.
• Heat olive oil in a frying pan, add onions and sugar and cook until browned.
• Pre heat the oven to 160°C.
• Add onions to marinated beef and cover.
• Cook for 2 ½- 3 hours until tender.

KITTENCAL'S BEEF STIFADO (GREEK STEW WITH FETA)

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Season the beef with salt and pepper.
• Add in the beef cubes (cooking in batches) cook until browned remove to a plate.
• Repeat with remaining beef.
• Return the first batch of beef back to the pot.
• Add in the oregano, onions and garlic; cook stirring with wooden spoon for 3-4 minutes.
• Add in wine with all remaining ingredients except the currants and feta cheese; bring to a boil, simmer covered over medium-low heat for about 1-1/2 hours, then discard the whole cloves and bay leaves.
• Add in the currants and continue to cook (uncovered) over very low heat for about 30 minutes more, or until the beef is tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle in the feta the last 5-6 minutes of cooking and push down slightly with a spoon.
• Season with more salt and freshly ground pepper if needed.
• Ladle into bowls and serve with crust bread or buns.
• Delicious!

STIFATHO: GREEK BEEF & ONION STEW

Steps:

• In a stew pot, lightly brown the meat in olive oil.
• Add remaining ingredients and enough water to cover plus 1 1/2 inches. Stir ingredients together.
• Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low until gently simmering. Cover and simmer for 3-4 hours without stirring, until only a sauce remains.