Description
If you love bold, comforting meals that simmer with deep flavor, Beef Stifado is your new favorite stew. This traditional Greek dish features tender beef cubes slowly cooked in a rich tomato and red wine sauce, infused with cinnamon, cloves, and sweet pearl onions. It’s the kind of hearty recipe that fits perfectly into your rotation of easy dinner ideas, cold weather comfort food, and meal prep-friendly dishes. Whether you’re looking for an easy recipe to wow guests or a satisfying dinner idea for your family, this one’s a keeper. Pair it with mashed potatoes or orzo and dig in!
Ingredients
900g beef chuck (cut into chunks)
2 tablespoons olive oil
300g pearl onions (peeled)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
150ml red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
400g crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven and brown the beef cubes on all sides. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pot, add more olive oil if needed and sauté the pearl onions until golden. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and let it caramelize slightly. Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up all the browned bits.
4. Add crushed tomatoes and red wine vinegar. Stir to combine.
5. Add the cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaves, and fresh thyme. Return the beef to the pot.
6. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook over low heat for 2 to 2.5 hours until the beef is fork-tender.
7. Remove bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve hot over mashed potatoes, orzo, or with crusty bread.
Notes
Let the stew rest for 10–15 minutes before serving to enhance the flavor.
For extra richness, add a small pat of butter at the end of cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stewing
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Beef stew, Greek recipes, Comfort food, Easy dinner, Slow-cooked recipes