Jacques’s beef bourguignon

As the days are getting colder, and the evenings darker, nothing is more heartwarming than a wholesome bowl of warm beef bourguignon. This is a cosy dish to share with family and friends after a long walk on crispy autumn leaves of gold and scarlet hues.

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3 from 2 votes

Jacques’s Beef Bourguignon

Try this soul-warming beef bourguignon to welcome the autumn season

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Cook Time3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French

Keyword: beef, bourguignon

Servings: 6 People

Ingredients

• 4-5 tbsp canola oil
• 1.5 kg stewing beef cut into 2-in. (5-cm) cubes
• 300 g smoked bacon cut into lardons
• 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 bottle red wine Chianti or Bordeaux
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 500 ml beef stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1½ tbsp unsalted butter divided
• 400 g pearl onions, peeled halved, if large
• 400 g assorted mushrooms button, girolle, chanterelle, etc.
• 3 carrots peeled and sliced thinly crosswise
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour optional
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

• Heat half the oil in a large Dutch oven and sear the beef cubes in batches over high heat, removing them as they brown and adding more oil as necessary. When all the meat has browned, place it all back in the pot. Add the bacon and onion, and cook for 3–4 minutes over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, wine, tomato paste, beef stock, bay leaves, and thyme and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pot to incorporate any meat juices sticking to it. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C/Gas Mark 2). Place the covered pot in the oven and cook for 2½ hours.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet, add the pearl onions, and sauté over medium heat until browned. In a separate skillet, melt the remaining butter, add the mushrooms, and sauté over medium heat until browned. Set aside.
• Remove the pot from the oven and add the sliced carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms. Let simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes, until the beef and vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
• If you wish to thicken the sauce, place the flour in a bowl and whisk in about 1 tablespoon cold water using a fork until smooth. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons of the sauce from the pot, then pour this mixture into the pot and stir until the sauce slowly thickens.

Notes

I like to serve this beef Bourguignon with boiled potatoes.

Extracted from My Art of Entertaining: Recipes and Tips from Miss Maggie’s Kitchen by Héloïse Brion(Flammarion, 2022).

Photography © Christophe Roué 2022.

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Lead photo credit : Jacques's Beef Bourguignon © Christophe Roué 2022.