Boeuf Bourguignon
Updated February 23, 2016 
Cookbook
Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking
Published by Bloomsbury USA
Traditionally, this dish is cooked entirely with red wine. And that’s fine, just fine. But if you listened to me earlier, and keep a stash of good, strong demi-glace kicking around In your freezer, a couple of spoonfuls give the sauce a nice flavor boost. This is one of the easiest dishes in this book, and also one of the best.
Serves8
Cooking Methodstewing
CostInexpensive
Total Timeunder 4 hours
Make Ahead RecipeYes
Kid FriendlyYes
One Pot MealYes
OccasionCasual Dinner Party, Family Get-together
Recipe Coursemain course
Dietary Considerationegg-free, lactose-free, peanut free, soy free, tree nut free
Mealdinner
Moodblue
Taste and Textureherby, juicy, meaty, rich, savory, winey
Ingredients
- 2 lb (900 g) paleron of beef or same amount of shoulder or neck, cut into 1½-inch (4-cm) pieces
- Salt and pepper
- ¼ cup (56 ml) olive oil
- 4 onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp (28 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 ml) red Burgundy
- 6 carrots, cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 bouquet garni
- A little chopped flat leaf parsley
- Dutch oven, or large, heavy-bottomed pot
- Wooden spoon
- Large spoon or ladle
Instructions
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STAGE ONE
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Season the meat with salt and pepper. In the Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat until it is almost smoking. Add the meat, in batches—NOT ALL AT ONCE!—and sear on all sides until it is well browned (not gray). You dump too much meat in the pot at the same time and you’ll overcrowd it; cool the thing down and you won’t get good color. Sear the meat a little at a time, removing it and setting it aside as it finishes. When all the meat is a nice, dark brown color and has been set aside, add the onions to the pot. Lower the heat to medium high until the onions are soft and golden brown (about 10 minutes). Sprinkle the flour over them. Continue to cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the red wine. Naturally, you want to scrape up all that really good fond from the bottom of the pot with your wooden spoon. Bring the wine to a boil.
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STAGE TWO
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Return the meat to the pot and add the carrots, garlic, and bouquet garni. Add just enough water (and two big spoons of demi-glace, if you have it) so that the liquid covers the meat by one third—meaning you want a ratio of 3 parts liquid to 2 parts meat. This is a stew, so you want plenty of liquid, even after it cooks down and reduces. Bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer, and let cook for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender (break-apart-with-a-fork tender).
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You should pay attention to the dish, meaning check it every 15 to 20 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to make sure the meat is not sticking or, God forbid, scorching. You should also skim off any foam or scum or oil collecting on the surface, using a large spoon or ladle. When done, remove and discard the bouquet garni, add the chopped parsley to the pot, and serve.
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This dish is much better the second day. Just cool the stew down in an ice bath, or on your countertop (the Health Department is unlikely to raid your kitchen). Refrigerate overnight. When time, heat and serve. Goes well with a few boiled potatoes. But goes really well with a bottle of Côte de Nuit Villages Pommard.
2004 Anthony Bourdain
