Daube de Boeuf is a classic French beef stew from Provence, slow-cooked in red wine with herbs, garlic, bacon, and olives. It’s rich, hearty, and perfect with a crusty baguette.
Category
Dinner
Servings
8
Prep time
1 hour
Cook time
4 hours
Daube de Boeuf is a classic French beef stew from Provence, slow-cooked in red wine with herbs, garlic, bacon, and olives. It’s rich, hearty, and perfect with a crusty baguette.
Ingredients
- ½ bunch thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- peel of 1 orange
- 3 carrots
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves
- 1.5kg (3¼ lbs) beef chuck or brisket, diced into 3cm (1¼-inch) chunks (rump can be used, but it lacks connective tissue for the best texture)
- 1 bottle full-bodied red wine
- 2 tbsp beef tallow
- salt to taste
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 500ml (2 cups) beef stock
- 6 sprigs fresh oregano
- 200g (7 oz) diced bacon
- 8 shallots, peeled
- 24 Niçoise or Kalamata olives
- fresh parsley, to garnish
- fresh baguette, to serve
Directions
In a large container, combine three-quarters of the thyme, orange peel, one sliced carrot, crushed garlic, and half of the onion (cut into quarters).
- Push the cloves into the remaining half of the onion and add it to the container.
- Add the diced beef (chuck, brisket, beef cheeks, or short ribs).
- Pour over the red wine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F).
- Remove the beef from the fridge and drain off the wine, reserving it for later.
- Remove all the aromatics except for the studded onion. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel.
- Heat a large, heavy-based pan over high heat. Add the beef tallow and sear the beef in batches until browned on all sides.
- Transfer the beef to an oven-safe pot along with the studded onion.
- In the same pan, add the tomato purée and cook for a minute. Pour in the beef stock, stir well, and bring to a simmer.
- Pour the reserved red wine over the beef in the pot, then add the remaining thyme and fresh oregano.
- Add the hot beef stock and tomato purée mixture to the pot and bring to a light simmer.
- In a separate pan, cook the diced bacon until golden, then add it to the beef pot.
- Cover the pot and place it in the preheated oven for 2½ to 3 hours, checking after 1½ hours.
- After about 2 hours, remove the pot from the oven and discard the studded onion and herbs.
- Add the peeled shallots and the remaining two carrots (peeled and barrel-cut).
- Return to the oven and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve in bowls.
- Garnish with olives, fresh parsley, and serve with a fresh baguette. Enjoy!