flemish stew

My Carbonnade Flamande is a super hearty beef and beer stew from Belgium. This is one pot sure to keep you cozy!

Carbonnade Flamande (Flemish Beef and Beer Stew)

bacon

lbs chuck roast,

onions,

garlic cloves, finely chopped

Tbsp flour

Belgian

beef broth

rosemary

thyme

Tbsp brown sugar

ginger bread

Tbsp mustard

Salt

Pepper

Cook bacon in a dutch oven or heavy...

Cook bacon in a dutch oven or heavy pot over medium high heat. Cook until brown. Crumble and set it aside.

Remove excess bacon fat, leaving behind 2-3 tablespoons...

Remove excess bacon fat, leaving behind 2-3 tablespoons in the pot. Season beef with salt and pepper. Add beef to the pot and brown on all sides. Do not overcrowd the pot, work in batches if necessary. Set it aside.

In the same pot, sauté onions till caramelized...

In the same pot, sauté onions till caramelized to a nice golden brown color. Add in garlic and sauté for a minute.

Add in flour and sauté till it gets...

Add in flour and sauté till it gets a little brown.

Add in beef chunks along with beer, beef...

Add in beef chunks along with beer, beef broth, rosemary, thyme and sugar. Stir well.

Spread mustard on the ginger bread slices and...

Spread mustard on the ginger bread slices and place them over the stew.

Close the lid and cook for 15- 20...

Close the lid and cook for 15- 20 minutes. Stir the bread into the stew and again cover and cook for one and half to two hours, or until the beef is melt in your mouth tender. Make sure to stir it every now and then. During the last half hour, cook with the lid off to allow the stew to thicken.

Taste and adjust the seasoning like salt and...

Taste and adjust the seasoning like salt and pepper.

Serve it with French fries or mashed or...

Serve it with French fries or mashed or boiled potatoes.

Carbonnade Flamande

Chuck roast, 1200 g

Salt, 12 g

Black Pepper,

beef

Cooking oil,

Butter, a knob

Onions, 3

Garlic, 3

Bay Leaves, 1-2

Fresh thyme, a spoonful

Belgian ale, 1 part

Beef broth, 1-2 parts

Apple cider vinegar, a spoonful

Brown Sugar, a spoonful

French fries,

Mashed potatoes,

Bread,

Parsley,

Prep & sear the beef

Cut the chuck roast into rough cubes. Season with an even sprinkling of salt and black pepper, then lightly dust with flour. Mix and add just enough flour until each piece is lightly coated.

Preheat a braising pot, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the surface, and sear the floured beef chunks until browned on all sides (work in batches, if necessary). Remove the browned beef pieces and set aside.

Caramelize the aromatic base

In the same pot, add the butter, bacon, sliced onions, and garlic cloves. Stir frequently over medium heat to begin to sweat everything. The bacon will render and the onions will begin to break down, deglazing the bottom of the pan.

Continue to sauté & stir this mixture until the onions have caramelized and become sweet & jammy (~45 minutes minimum, although you can go longer and further darken the onions). Supervise and scrape the bottom of the pot frequently to prevent burning (if needed, you can deglaze any dark spots with a splash of water).

Add the beer & reduce

Add the beer to the pot, deglaze anything on the bottom of the pan, bring to a simmer, and reduce by about half to concentrate the flavors (~ 5 mins).

Return the browned beef chunks to the pot, followed by the bay leaf, a spoonful of sugar, a splash of vinegar, and the thyme. Top with just enough beef stock until the meat is mostly submerged.

Braise until tender

Partially cover the pot with a lid and braise for 4-6 hours until the meat is completely tender and the cooking liquid has reduced. You can do this on the stovetop or in a 300°F/150°C oven. If using the oven, optionally remove the lid completely during the last hour of cooking for extra browning.

When finished, taste and adjust with more salt, vinegar, or sugar, if needed.

Serve with starch of choice

Allow the braise to cool slightly, and serve with french fries, bread, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with minced parsley.

Top 2 flemish stew recipes from across the web

The most viewed flemish stew recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Carbonnade Flamande (Flemish Beef a...

Carbonnade Flamande

Top 2 flemish stew recipes from across the web

The most viewed flemish stew recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Carbonnade Flamande (Flemish Beef a...

Carbonnade Flamande

The most viewed flemish stew recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine