Stifado Spiced Braised Beef Onions Recipes

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!

BRAISED BEEF & ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F Melt butter in 6-quart ovenproof covered saucepan or Dutch oven until sizzling; add beef. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned (5 to 8 minutes). Add onions, wine and hoisin sauce. Cover; bake 45 minutes.
• Stir flour into tomato sauce in small bowl. Add carrots and tomato sauce mixture to beef mixture. Continue baking, covered, for 45 minutes or until meat and vegetables are tender. Serve over hot cooked spaetzle or noodles of choice.
• Recipe Tip
• Hoisin sauce is a thick, reddish-brown sauce made from soybeans, garlic, chile peppers and spices. It lends a sweet, spicy and salty flavor to food. Look for it bottled in the Oriental food section of the supermarket.

STIFADO (SPICED BRAISED BEEF & ONIONS)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy frying pan over moderate heat until smoking.
• Pat beef cubes completely dry with paper towels before browning quickly in hot oil; brown 3 or 4 batches, turning frequently with slotted spoon and regulating heat so meat browns a deep color without burning.
• Transfer beef to a heavy 6-quart casserole.
• Add water, tomato paste, vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper to pan drippings in beefs original skillet; bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, scrape brown particles clinging to the bottom and sides of pan; pour scrapings over meat in casserole.
• Bring meat and liquid to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover casserole tightly and simmer 1 1/4 hours.
• Meanwhile, peel onions and add to casserole at the end of 1 1/4 hours; cover and cook 30 minutes longer, or until beef and onions are tender.
• Stir in cheese; simmer, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese softens and is heated through.
• Taste to correct seasonings. Serve directly from casserole.