How to Make Boeuf Bourguignon Recipe

I learned how to make a boeuf bourguignon recipe long before I knew anything about its history. This traditional French recipe originated as a peasant dish. Much like our stew recipes, it started out as a way of using cheap cuts of meat. The cheaper cuts are usually much tougher requiring longer cooking time to tenderize the meat. 


There is one distinctive difference between the boeuf bourguignon recipe and our stew. Boeuf bourguignon originated in the Burgundy part of France therefore the recipes contain Burgundy wine in them. (I am not against adding Burgundy to any of my stews. What great flavor it makes!) Originally bacon or bacon fat was added for extra flavor. Sometimes I do add bacon also to my American recipes.

HOW TO MAKE BOEUF BOURGUIGNON RECIPE

The French learn how to make boeuf bourguignon recipe which has remained in the French cuisine over the years. It is now considered much more than a peasant dish. With the addition of many gourmet ingredients like various mushrooms, it has become a favorite to many connoisseurs.

  • 1 Medium chopped onion
  • 1 Cup cooking oil (use as needed)
  • 6 Pounds cubed beef stew meat
  • 6 Tablespoons flour
  • 3 Cups Burgundy wine
  • 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 Cup beef bouillon
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ Teaspoon thyme
  • ½ Teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ Teaspoon marjoram
  • ½ Teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ Cup butter
  • 1 Pound fresh mushrooms
  • 2 Cans (1 pound each) small onions (well drained)

Preheat oven to 325F degrees

In a heavy cast iron skillet, sauté chopped onion in a little oil until golden; remove from pan.

Brown meat a little at a time in skillet (add oil as needed).

When all meat is browned, return onions and meat to pan.

Sprinkle meat mixture with flour and slowly cook for 5 minutes stirring to prevent sticking.

Add wine, tomato paste, bouillon, bay leaves, garlic powder and all seasonings; stir to mix.

Pour mixture into a large casserole dish or roaster pan; cover and bake 3 hours.

After 2 ½ hours of cooking, sauté mushrooms in butter and add to meat; add small onions.

Stir mixture to blend and finish baking.

Remove bay leaves; serve with cooked rice or cooked noodles.

HEARTY BEEF STEW RECIPE

How to Make Boeuf Bourguignon RecipeHow to Make Boeuf Bourguignon Recipe or Hearty Beef Stew

This delicious hearty beef stew recipe is a version how I learned to make the boeuf bourguignon recipe and is probably from my German ancestors; the cabbage and potato dumplings recipe gives it away.

  • 1 Pound beef stew meat in cubes
  • Bacon grease (or other fat) for frying
  • 1 Large finely chopped onion
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 3 to 4 Cup beef broth
  • 2 Stalks sliced celery
  • 3 Large sliced carrots
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Cup frozen peas
  • 1 Cup frozen corn
  • 2 Cups chopped cabbage

Brown meat in a small amount of fat in Dutch oven; add onion and garlic and cook until tender.

Sprinkle meat mixture with flour and cook a few more minutes while stirring.

Add beef broth, celery, carrots, salt and pepper; add corn, peas, cabbage.

Cover and cook on top of stove on low heat until meat is very tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour stirring occasionally. (Add more broth if needed)

After meat is cooked drop dumplings into boiling stew. (Must keep enough broth in to boil.)

Potato dumplings recipe (for this version of a boeuf bourguignon recipe)

  • 1 Egg
  • ¾ Cup bread crumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon diced onion
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • Dash hot pepper
  • 2 Cups shredded potatoes
  • Additional flour

Combine egg and bread crumbs; mix well to soften bread crumbs.

Add onion, 1 tablespoon flour, salt and pepper; mix well.

Stir in potatoes and form into small golf ball size balls; roll in additional flour.

Cook in stew until done.

BEEF STEW RECIPE

A version of the boeuf bourguignon recipe here in the United States incorporates many vegetables into the recipe.

  • 2 Pounds boneless chuck steak
  • 1/3 Cup flour
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 Teaspoon paprika
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • ¼ Cup cooking oil
  • 6 Potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 8 Carrots peeled and cubed
  • 6 Celery sticks cut into large chunks
  • 2 Large onions peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 1 Can beef broth
  • 1 Can whole tomatoes
  • ½ Cub red wine

Mix flour and spices together in a small bowl.

Cut beef into cubes; dredge meat in flour mixture and brown in hot oil in a large skillet.

Add beef broth, wine, bay leaf and 1 can of water; simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender.

Add vegetables and tomatoes and cook another 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Remove bay leaf before serving.

RICH BURGUNDY MUSHROOM STEW RECIPE for slow cooker

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ Pounds stew meat
  • Cracked black pepper
  • ½ Cup Burgundy wine
  • 1 Carton (18.3 ounces) Campbell’s cream of mushroom cooking sauce
  • 2 Cups diced onion
  • 2 Cups whole baby carrots
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
  • 6 Cups hot cooked noodles

Heat oil in large skillet; add beef cooking until browned stirring often.

Transfer to slow cooker; sprinkle with black pepper.

Add wine to skillet and heat to a boil; cook and stir 1 minute scrapping the bits from bottom and sides of skillet.

Stir in the mushroom sauce, onions and carrots; pour sauce and vegetable mixture over the beef.

Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or on high for 5 hours or until tender.

Sprinkle stew with parsley and lemon zest; serve over the noodles. Serves 6

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON RECIPE with rice

  • 5 Medium sliced onions
  • 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • 2 Pounds beef chuck (Cut in ½ inch cubes)
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 2 Tablespoons thyme
  • 2 Tablespoons marjoram
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 1 Cup Burgundy wine
  • ½ Pound fresh sliced mushrooms
  • 4 Cups hot cooked rice

Heat oil in a heavy skillet; cook onions until golden brown and remove from pan.

Add beef cubes to the skillet; cook until well browned.

Sprinkle beef with flour and seasonings; stir in broth and wine.

NOTE: Keep beef partially covered with liquid while cooking; if needed 1 part water to 2 parts wine.

Return onions to skillet; add mushrooms and cook 30 minutes.

Serve beef bourguignon recipe over cooked rice or noodles; serves 6-8.