beef stifado

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Vickie Parks
Renton, WA

Stifado is a flavorful Greek casserole, similar to a thick beef stew, that's cooked in a rich sauce that's full of robust flavors from the red wine, garlic and warm spices (like cinnamon--which is an important ingredient in this recipe). It can be cooked completely on the stove-top in a Dutch oven, or you can finish it off in the oven for a more full-flavored, rich stew. It's great served with a fresh loaf of crusty bread and a side dish of orzo, rice or boiled potatoes.

(1 rating)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 2 Hr
method Roast

Ingredients For beef stifado

  • 1 1/2 lb
    boned rump roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tsp
    olive oil
  • 2-3 lg
    shallots,
  • 1 lg
    white onion, sliced into thin rings
  • 2 lg
    tomatoes, sliced (or 14-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained)
  • 3-4 lg
    garlic cloves, minced
  • 3
    whole cloves
  • 2 c
    fat-free beef broth (or 14-ounce can beef broth)
  • 1/2 c
    red wine
  • 2 Tbsp
    red wine vinegar
  • 3/4 tsp
    ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp
    dried rosemary leaves (or dried oregano leaves)
  • 1/2 tsp
    ground nutmeg
  • 4 md
    bay leaves
  • 3/4 tsp
    salt
  • 3/4 tsp
    black pepper
  • 2 c
    water (or more, if needed for consistency)
  • 2-3 lg
    shallots, finely chopped

How To Make beef stifado

  • 1
    Sear the beef in a Dutch oven with the olive oil, onions and garlic for about 5 minutes or until onions are soft.
  • 2
    Add wine and vinegar to the pan, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes over medium-low heat.
  • 3
    Add cinnamon, stock, cloves, nutmeg, bay leaves, rosemary (or oregano), salt and pepper (adjust seasonings to suit your taste buds), and continue cooking another 5 minutes while stirring frequently (to ensure ingredients are thoroughly blended).
  • 4
    Add tomatoes, and continue cooking another 5 minutes. At this point, you can continue to cook on the stovetop or transfer to a casserole dish and finish by roasting in the oven which imparts a deeper, more robust flavor.
  • 5
    Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Transfer mixture to an oven-proof casserole dish.
  • 6
    Add the water and roast in preheated oven for one hour, stirring occasionally. When stirring, check consistency of the sauce, and if it seems too dry, add more water (about ½ cup at a time) as needed to create a thick sauce.
  • 7
    In the meantime, sauté shallots in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes or until soft. Stir sautéed shallots into the stew, and continue roasting another 20 to 30 minutes or until the beef is thoroughly cooked and tender.

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