Stifado (Greek beef stew with pearl onions)

Name: Stifado (Greek beef stew with pearl onions)
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 kg beef shin or neck, cut into 4 cm cubes; 500 g pearl onions (or small shallots), peeled; 3 tbsp olive oil; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 200 ml dry red wine; 2 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1 can (400 g) peeled tomatoes; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 cloves; 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp dried oregano; ½ tsp allspice; salt, pepper; fresh parsley

Time: 2 hours 30 minutes6 servingsapprox. 480 kcal / serving (estimated)approx. 38 g protein / serving

Stifado is the Greek winter stew: beef (or rabbit) cooked with pearl onions, red wine, vinegar, cinnamon and cloves. The sweet onions, the spiced, slightly tangy sauce and the tender meat together make it one of the peaks of Greek home cooking.

Stifado (Greek beef stew with pearl onions) (illustration)

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Method

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Dry the meat, season with salt and pepper and brown it in batches in the hot oil in a heavy-based pot, about 8 minutes per batch; remove.
In the same fat brown the pearl onions for 5–6 minutes and remove them too.
Fry the garlic for 30 seconds, add the tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
Pour in the wine and vinegar, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot and simmer for 2 minutes.
Return the meat, add the tomatoes, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, oregano, allspice and 100 ml water and bring to the boil.
Cook covered over low heat or in a 160 °C oven for 1½ hours, then add the onions and cook for another 40–50 minutes, until the meat falls apart with a fork and the sauce is thick; sprinkle with parsley and serve with bread or rice.

A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

Brown the meat in batches so it doesn't stew in its own juices.
Add the pearl onions towards the end so they stay whole.
Cinnamon and cloves give the typical Greek flavour; don't leave them out.
Even better the next day; keeps in the fridge for 4 days and can be frozen.

Frequently asked questions

Is it also made with rabbit?

Yes, the traditional stifado is made with rabbit (kouneli stifado).

What wine goes well with it?

A dry, full-bodied red wine that you would also drink.

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