Ever since I saw the movie “Julie & Julia” I’ve been trying to make and try Beef Bourguignonne. I needed to get myself a dutch oven and a few more ounces of cooking confidence before I were to attempt this feat. Also, I was not able to purchase a dutch oven until I learned how to pronounce Beef Bourguignonne properly according to my husband.

 

I can say it! And I can cook it. It was not as hard as I had anticipated. Everyone really enjoyed the meal. It was super flavorful and I loved that salt was not part of the recipe. It didn’t need it. I wasn’t sure if I would like it as I’m not typically fond of French food but this was fantastic. I will definitely make it again.

 

Below please find the recipe I used from my “Bride & Groom First and Forever” cookbook. Below the recipe I have added a few notes from my experience on substitutes, etc. Enjoy!

 

4 bacon slices, roughly chopped

1 ½ pounds boneless beef stew meat, such as beef chick or bottom round, cut into 1-inch cubes

8 ounces cremini or shitake mushrooms, cleaned and quartered (if using shitakes, discard stems)

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups good-quality red wine, such as burgundy

3 cups beef broth (not double strength)

3 tablespoons tomato paste

Fresh rosemary sprig (4 inches long)

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar

About 20 packaged peeled baby carrots

1 cup fresh pearl onions, peeled, or frozen petite whole onions, thawed

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley for garnishing

 

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Fry the bacon in an ovenproof Dutch Oven over medium heat until lightly browned and slightly crisp about 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pot.

 

Set the pot over high heat. Add the meat and cook until browned on all sides. Reduce the heat to medium high and add the mushrooms, onion and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Add the wine, broth, tomato paste, rosemary, bay leaf, brown sugar and bacon. Stir, scrapping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot, and bring to a simmer.

 

Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 1 ½ hours. Remove the pot from the oven and add the carrots and pearl onions. Bake uncovered, until the carrots and meat are tender, about 30 minutes more. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

 

I used canned shitake mushrooms. It’s definitely more budget friendly and easier to do. I did not use fresh rosemary but I sprinkled a few pieces of dried rosemary instead. I learned that I hate fresh pearl onions. They are super time consuming and just a pain. Moving forward I will definitely opt for the frozen pearl onions and just simply defrost them. I also did not garnish with fresh parsley at the end.

 

Traditionally this dish is served over boiled potatoes since its very stew like. I cut up potatoes and boiled them and placed them in a dish and ladled my stew on top.

 

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

 

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