The Beef bourguignon or Bœuf Bourgignon, as we name it in French, is a gradual cooked in pink wine beef stew, an important basic of French delicacies.
On this article I’m supplying you with the standard recipe with a little bit background to let you know the historical past of this dish.
I may also train you easy methods to acquire a really tender meat with a scrumptious sauce, information you to decide on the right meat cuts, let you know should you ought to marinate meat or not and clarify intimately all of the steps.
Origin and historical past of beef bourguignon
The date of creation of the meat bourguignon isn’t recognized, nonetheless we all know it appeared in France within the second half of the nineteenth century. Previous books of Burgundian cooking recipes don’t point out the usage of pink wine in cooking; its first appearances in Burgundy native recipes date again to 1860.
Boeuf bourguignon is a gradual cooked beef stew, that’s cooked for a very long time, it’s a cooking methodology developed by Pierre de Lune, kitchen squire of the late Duke of Rohan, in 1656 (in response to the guide in “the prepare dinner” the place they talk about the true methodology for making ready all types of meat, poultry, fish, each salt and freshwater, in response to the 4 Seasons of the 12 months).
With its origins as a typical and regional dish from Burgundian delicacies presiding over the peasants’ desk on festive days, beef bourguignon has develop into in France a really broadly cooked Sunday dish, from residence cooking to starred eating places, conventional dishes to revisited unstructured proposals, even including orange zest or a bar of chocolate… Succeeding in making low-cost cuts of meat an emblematic dish.
Right this moment it’s one among the French favourite dishes, it is usually essentially the most acknowledged and consultant dish of French delicacies to the remainder of the world. It should be mentioned that Julia Youngster largely contributed to this worldwide fame by cooking this dish in one of many first tv exhibits,
The French Chef defined that this dish is a chance to find and grasp some French cooking methods: milling the meat, sauté the mushrooms…
Beef Bourguignon brings collectively two emblematic merchandise of the Burgundian area: cattle breeding with Charolais meat, and pink wine from Burgundy, Pinot noir.
The phrase ‘à la bourguignonne’ is a generic time period for a dish made and cooked with pink wine, normally additionally garnished with mushrooms, onions and bacon, in addition to a bouquet garni (a bundle of herbs normally tied with string).
The definition of a dish ‘à la bourguignonne’ is subsequently a dish made with pink wine. Earlier than instantly considering of beef, completely different preparations have been made like this: with eggs for instance (œufs en meurette that are poached eggs in pink wine sauce).
The meat is marinated or not in pink wine. Ideally utilizing a wine from Burgundy, if that’s not the case ensure that to make use of a superb high quality wine, fruity however with physique. Initially, Marc de Bourgogne was additionally added to the dish.
The temperature of the sauce is lowered and sure by including a little bit little bit of flour (the culinary time period for that is singer), this thickens the sauce and lets it acquire a really creamy and dense brownish sauce.
As with many regional or conventional recipes, there are a lot of recipes made by completely different cooks or cooks with their very own contact to the recipe. Nonetheless, some most important ideas or recommendation could be seen to reach making beef bourguignon.
Which cuts of meat to decide on for beef bourguignon?
Shoulder, chuck, neck, cheek, topside cuts, if potential from Charolais beef.
Some items are thought of a little bit too fatty however it’s the collagen of the meat and its considerably agency texture which when cooked will remodel into gelatin and provides a easy texture, additionally amplifying the creaminess of the sauce.
The items of meat from the decrease ribs and collar, however, are too fatty for a superb beef bourguignon. Personally, I’ve a choice for shoulder cuts and topside cuts, generally I combine the 2 collectively.
The cooking is what shall be decisive and can make sure that your beef bourguignon shall be mushy and tender. It’s essential to prepare dinner for a very long time however over low warmth. No matter variation of the recipe you select, the low cooking temperature is admittedly the important thing to making sure that the meat isn’t powerful.
The cooking time is lengthy, however needed. This dish could be reheated so don’t hesitate to organize it prematurely.
Marinate or not?
Sure you possibly can marinate however not for too lengthy as a result of opposite to what has at all times been thought, marinating the meat tends to tighten the flesh and toughen the meat. We simply need to fragrance it. You may optionally flambé the wine that shall be used when marinating the meat to scale back the alcohol degree if you want.
You will need to dry the meat effectively with absorbent paper earlier than braising it over excessive warmth, guarantee that the items are not too tightly packed collectively.
The primary steps
Marinate the meat
This primary step is optionally available, the intention is to fragrance the meat and provides it some style with out making the meat powerful. In case you select to marinate your meat ensure that to make use of a good pink wine and to not go away it within the marinade for to lengthy. Right here I marinated my meat within the pink wine for two hours. In case you go away it for too lengthy opposite to perception it would have an effect on the meats cooking and your meat won’t be as tender as you prefer to it to be.
You can even select to flambé your pink wine earlier than marinating the meat in it, it would make the alcohol softer and fewer aggressive on the meat.

Begin cooking you meat
Take away the meat out of your marinade, make sure to not throw it away you may be utilizing the marinade once more later within the recipe!
In a casserole add a little bit of butter or oil, the add your meat within the casserole. Sear the meat on all sides for a complete of about 5 minutes then add 1-2 tablespoons of flour and blend (that is known as stinging), sear for a couple of minutes and take away the meat.
While the meat is being seared put together your components, lower up your carrots, mushrooms, onions and bacon. Utilizing the identical casserole for the meat sear the carrots and onions for about 5 minutes.
Now add your meat again into the casserole with you greens, pour the marinade you used earlier into the casserole, decrease the warmth and let it prepare dinner slowly for 2h30 hours.


End cooking
After about 2h30 of cooking, boil a liter of water in a pan. As soon as the water involves a boil add your bacon for not more than a minute, drain the water and let the bacon prepare dinner a little bit lengthy. Individually prepare dinner your bacon, mushrooms and onions.
As soon as the meat is cooked, take away it from the casserole briefly. Utilizing a blender, mix the juice and veggies already in casserole collectively. As soon as you’re pleased with the creamy texture of your sauce add the meat again in. Lastly, add in your beforehand cooked bacon, mushrooms and onions.

Don’t neglect that the meat bourgignon could be reheated and subsequently could be made prematurely because it does take some time to prepare dinner. Take pleasure in!



Beef Bourgignon
An ideal basic of French delicacies. I’ll train you easy methods to acquire a really tender meat with a scrumptious sauce.
Forestall sleep
Marinate the meat for two hours
Make sure that to learn article for extra ideas and directions. You’ll be taught the historical past of beef bourguignon, which meat to decide on and should you ought to marinate or not the meat.