Time upfront
Prep 25 min. Cook 3 h 5 min. Total 3 h 30. Block out a quiet afternoon, pour something to drink, and let the oven do the slow work.
Serves
6
Difficulty
Moderate, mostly patience
Origin
Burgundy, France
Best for
A long Sunday lunch
"Certainly one of the most delicious beef dishes concocted by man, it is certainly also one of the most famous.
"Julia Child
Use a properly tough cut. Beef shin or chuck, well marbled, cubed large. Lean cuts dry out over three hours and ruin the texture.
The wine matters less than you think. A solid mid range Pinot Noir or any Burgundy style red works. Never use a wine you would not drink.
Do not skip the browning. Sear the beef in dry batches, hot pan, room temperature meat. Crowded pans steam the cubes grey and the stew loses its backbone before it starts.
