Beef Bourguignon.
We are currently snowed in and going crazy. We might have power back by Friday. Needless to say, I should probably be concerned with important things like our pipes freezing, but I am really just worried about all the yogurt, bacon, and tasty leftovers that will probably go to waste.
Leftovers that include this beef bourguignon.
Ever since I watched Julie and Julia, I wanted to make beef bourguignon so badly that I could already taste it.
It was time consuming. Much more time consuming that I initially thought.
It also called for these itsy bitsy onions, which I had never worked with. Until recently, I disliked onions. Then my husband begged for them every single day for 3 months, and they started to grow on me.
The root ends are supposed to be trimmed off. I, carelessly not paying attention to the root ends, chopped off the top instead. Whoops. My beautiful, pearl shaped onions soon became sharply-edged ovals.
The recipe calls for the carmelization of these onions and mushrooms. I didn’t complain.
Usually, I am not overly excited to feed my husband dinner. I love cooking, most of it comes naturally to me, and I get enjoyment from watching him enjoy it, but it is also occurs daily.
This dish was different. I could smell the beef browning, the aroma of the carmelized onions, and when I added the wine and brandy? Pure heaven. I knew this was going to be good.
So imagine my discontent when my husband send me a text message saying that he was skipping the gym and coming straight home. Aaagh! The dish still wouldn’t be finished for 2 hours.
And not only that, but this certain text message meant, ‘I’ve had a terribly long day at work, have a headache, am exhausted, and am going to come home, skip dinner, act cranky as hell, and fall asleep by 6 pm. Oh, and by the way, did I mention I will be skipping dinner, too?’
Knowing my husband, who eats each and every meal as though he has never seen food before, he doesn’t intentionally skip dinner on nights like these. He falls asleep, and trying to wake him is similar to waking up a toddler from a car-ride sleep. It is that fun.
So, he did fall asleep. Prior to closing his eyes, I threatened his life if he did not wake up in time to eat. I also told him that I would let everyone know his 36 year-old-self was giggling to Bolt right before he fell asleep. Oops.
My first attempt at waking him up failed.
I decided to get myself a bowl and eat because I could no longer contain my excitement over the dish.
I was 2 bites in when a figure resembling Amy Winehouse after a long night out appeared at my side.
He was awake, alive, and hungry.
Granted, he ate the first 6 bites with his eyes closed. I think he enjoyed it.
We added some garlic roasted potatoes, which were delicious. My husband kept commenting how ‘good’ this ‘soup’ was. I hit him over the head with a frying pan and enjoyed the rest of the pot on my own.
Beef Bourguignon
from Williams Sonoma
3 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-2 inch chunks
6 slices bacon, fried, drained, and cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, diced
2 carrots, chopped
3 tablespoons flour (I used whole wheat)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups sliced white button mushrooms
2 cups assorted pearl onions, peeled
1/4 cup Cognac or brandy
3 cups full-bodied, burgundy wine (I used cabernet)
2 cups beef stock
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 bay leaf
fresh parsley to garnish
salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 325.
Pat meat dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven on medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches, setting it all off to the side once it is finished.
Turn heat down to medium, and saute chopped yellow onions and carrots until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle flour and stir until incorporated. Add in beef and bacon.
Add in brandy, red wine, 1 1/2 cups beef stock, garlic, and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and cover. Braise in the oven for 2 hours.
In a skillet on medium heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Carmelize the mushrooms, removing when finished. In the same skillet, add the pearl onions and let brown. Add in 1/2 cup beef stock and cover, letting the onions soften. Set aside with the mushrooms.
When the beef bourguignon is finished, taste and season if needed. Stir in the pearl onions and mushrooms. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve with potatoes or noodles.
This dish is an absolute favorite. Even though it took me hours to make, it was worth the work. It is a perfect, comforting dish for a snowy day.
Sort of like today. I’d say 24 inches qualifies as a snowy day.
Too bad my beef bourguignon is stranded in Antarctica.
57 Comments on “Beef Bourguignon.”
This dish sounds so wonderful!! Just hearing the name said during the movie was enough to make me salivate!! Andrew would love this – I’m sure I could sub rice flour for the regular to make it GF.
YUM! My husband’s been pestering me to make this! It looks delicious!
Bummer about the power… how miserable :(
Hope it comes back on soon!
I love this dish! My mom makes this every once-in-a-Sunday and it’s one of those meals where I will cancel/put on hold plans with friends because “I NEED to be home for dinner.” YUM.
Oh you made it!!! :-D the dish definitely looks better!! You should go and audit for that food bloggers movie too!! I am thinking of making it too, need to collect all the onions first – especially the cute ones :-D
You guys should throw everything out into the snow! Thats what we used to do when the power went off due to snow in Boston :) The dish looks beautiful- worth the work. I loveeeeeeee onions. Yum! I could eat that whole plate ;)
I’ve been wanting to make this for a while now, but just haven’t gotten around to doing it. Your pictures make it look absolutely delicious. I hope it tasted as good as it looks. Was it hard to make? YUM!!!
Lauren – it wasn’t exactly hard to make, but it was tedious. I used one pot for everything to keep the flavor in, so I had to make the bacon, remove it, make the beef, remove it, make the veggies, remove them, add everything back in, etc….but it was totally worth it! :)
This looks awesome!! Beef Bourguignon is one of those dishes that just gets everyone’s attention. It’s so classic and hearty, but elegant at the same time. I bet your hubby loved it!!!
Mae
Wow wow wow! Julie and Julia has had that on my list of things to make too and this recipe looks like an absolute winner!
LOL – the day after I saw Julie and Julia for the first time I went out, bought all the ingredients, and made the Beauf Bourguignon. That movie makes you CRAVE it! This post did the same to me … I think I am going to have to make it again soon.
I have yet to try this but I will soon. Yours looks divine!
haha that describes my husband to a T…he makes it through dinner now, but I remember times when it would be 4/5 nights a week when he would be passed out within 10 minutes of walking in the door. That looks wonderful, by the way!
Beef Bourguignon reminds me of the movie Julie & Julia. Everyone raves over this recipe, and yours looks even better :)
*Droooooool.
Your husband shouldn’t be too embarrassed about Bolt. My big brother is 26, married, and expectant father, and he asked for it for Christmas…and legos, and play-doh, all dsiney movies and video games… I don’t think he will ever grow up.
I wanted to make that beef bourguignon after I saw the movie too! And use butter in EVERYTHING. Of course, now I’ve started eating in a vegan way, so hmm… However, my huz would die over that dish, so I just may have to roll up the sleeves and get into it. Looks perfectly delicious! Your food porn is most pleasing :)
I hope your power comes back soon! I completely understand your worry for spoiled food!
Wow…what a big dish to tackle! You’ve got guts girl! I’m not sure if I’d have the patience to do this, but it does look really, really good:)
haha how funny – I made a pot of this over the weekend too….I am waiting to eat it tonight though!
mmm such a good snow day meal!
i still think you 2 should crash here, dan and eddie can roll their eyes at us while we pretend we’re living next door each other again, and we can roll our eyes at them while they demand to watch hunting shows all day long :)
Beautiful dish! That pic of the onions is frame-able. When is a better time to cook an all day dish then when you are snowed in! Hope the power comes back soon :(
Hang in there with all that snow…. my mom keeps sending me pics over the phone.. looks absolutely insane!!!
It looks so yummy Jessica :) The photos are great. Thanks for the recipe :)
Jessica…these pictures are FANTASTIC!! Great close ups.. really, really great shots!!
And the recipe looks pretty good too. :)
Blessings-
Amanda
This looks like it was definitely worth the 2 hours it took. I hope your house gets out of the deep freeze soon. At least you can be spoiled by your parents right?
Beef who? I can pronounce it, but I wish it was live and in front of me right now. Can I just stare at the pics a little while longer??
I don’t even eat red meat and your pictures/descriptions had me salivating! Also, that first photo of the onions is seriously gorgeous, I would hang that print in my house!!
YUM! I just saw an episode of Tyler’s Ultimate that featured a recipe for Beef Bourguignon; it had me drooing! I am totally making this next weekend for dinner!
I love caramelized onions and mushrooms…the perfect pair!
What a perfect way to stay warm and occupy yourself while snowed in. That is truly a meal worth waking up for…
this looks like a delicious, savory, & filling meal!
clearly not “my food” here but it would be enjoyed by my other half. he’d go ga-ga for it!
glad u enjoyed the vegan fudge. It’s so simple and you could really rock it out b/c youre an amazing cook :)
OK so seeing “Julie & Julia” definitely made me want to try this, too.
Looking at your ingredient list does not.
How about I prepare the onions and you do the rest? You seriously knock my socks off with your kitchen abilities.
Glad you’re back, but sad about the food’s final destination.
RIP Beef B.
The recipe looks delicious – but the story behind was even better – sooo funny ;-)
HAHAHAHAHA! Awesome looking dinner! What can yo use if you don’t own a dutch oven?
I was going to say, if he hadn’t woke up, I was going to drive over there and eat his servings!! My oh my this looks wonderful. And I agree, even if you’re not a veggie lover, carmelized onions and mushrooms are just pure heaven. thanks for sharing this wonderful experience, and wonderful food! Glad you got the electricity back. Ugh, that must have been so crappy, especially when it’s freezing outside! Yikes.
Dang girl! You have mad skills!
this reminds me of Julie/Julia when she makes the beef bourgenion!!! mmm so good i wish i could smell it through the screen!
thanks for the conrats on teaching classes! i already do teach where I work so I know how fun and amazing it can be! this is just EXTRA classes ontop of what I teach already :) YAY!! i just cant get enough!!
now, back to the food looks so amazing! I am glad you had something to keep you warm !!
This is definitely on my list of things to make as well. Ever since seeing julie and julia of course :) so sorry the leftovers didn’t make it :(
I never thought I’d ever think of onions as cute, but those are adorable! lol
Yum!!! I’ve been wanting to make this since seeing the movie too. Yours looks delicious and I’m sure your husband enjoyed it too.
Stay warm!!
this looks and sounds amazing!!
The very few times we’ve had ice and snow (or even if it’s just really cold and no room in the fridge during the holidays) we put things like milk and eggs out on the porch like it’s an outdoor fridge! I imagine your groceries would be fine there too considering you have snow! Your recipes are great!
Gorgeous pictures! It really looks amazing.
I have been wanting to make this ever since seeing that movie too! Your description of it sounds heavenly, and congrats on having the patience to make it so scrumptuous and share it with us. hahah Your husband calling it “soup”, men.
OH. My Gosh. This looks so delicious. Just the carmelised onions and mushrooms is enough to make my mouth water.
Just off to check out your recipe index! Yay!
Great pics and a delicious looking dish. Thanks for sharing!
Julie and Julia made me CRAVE eggs every day for a week.
This looks spectacular.
Ohmygosh I definitely lol’ed at the hitting him in the head with the frying pan part. It’s so crazy how much snow Pittsburgh is getting. I haven’t lost power, but Pitt has cancelled classes the past two days… which absolutely never happens. I’m not complaining about that, but I certainly am getting tired of eating grilled cheese. Haha. Which is probably why I should avoid looking at your blog and the delicous looking things you make. :-p
Beautiful dish! I still need to make some Beef Bourguignon for myself because it does sound wonderful… Reading your post makes me want to make it right away!
Why did you choose the Williams Sonoma recipe? I am just curious if there is a big difference between this recipe and Julia Child’s recipe? This looks delicious!
I don’t have Julia Child’s cookbook, so I am not even sure what her recipe is or if they are similar. Also, the Williams Sonoma cookbook is my most favorite one!
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