French Daube de Boeuf Provencal

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/9/22
Daube of Beef

Viel, Pierre Louis / Getty Images
Prep: 24 hrs
Cook: 3 hrs
Total: 27 hrs
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
777 Calories
43g Fat
22g Carbs
54g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 777
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 15g 76%
Cholesterol 169mg 56%
Sodium 814mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 11mg 54%
Calcium 77mg 6%
Iron 6mg 32%
Potassium 1009mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This stew is a wonderful dish to make early in the day—or even a day ahead of time—to allow the complex flavors to mellow and develop. Keep in mind that the beef and vegetables in this recipe must be marinated for 12 to 24 hours before you even start the cooking process.

Cook’s note: Recipes from Provence are commonly served with rice. Use basmati rice, for its wonderful aroma and smooth flavor. Use your favorite rice as a substitute.

Ingredients

  • 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

  • 2 strips orange zest, each about 2 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inches wide

  • 1 dried bay leaf

  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

  • 4 sprigs fresh parsley

  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

  • 3 whole cloves

  • 1 stalk celery, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices, top leaves reserved

  • 3 medium onions, thinly sliced

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices

  • 3 pounds chuck roast, or other stewing beef

  • 8 ounces lean bacon slices, chopped into 1-inch lengths

  • 1 bottle full-bodied red wine

  • 1/4 cup cognac

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 3/4 cup beef stock

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 3/4 cup nicoise olives

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 1/2 cups basmati rice

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the cinnamon stick, orange zest, bay leaf, thyme, parsley, peppercorns, cloves, and celery leaves onto a single layer of cheesecloth.

  2. Tie the cheesecloth up to make a bouquet garni, and set it aside.

  3. Gently toss together the celery, onions, garlic, carrots, beef, bacon, and bouquet garni in a large, nonreactive dish.

  4. Pour the wine and cognac over the mixture and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

  5. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

  6. Remove the beef from the vegetables—reserving the vegetable mixture—and allow it to drain onto clean kitchen towels.

  7. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

  8. Toss the beef with the flour and brown it in the hot oil.

  9. Remove the beef from the skillet and deglaze the pan with the beef stock and tomato paste, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

  10. Combine the beef, pan sauce, olives, salt, and the vegetable-wine mixture in a large ovenproof dish and cover.

  11. Braise the beef for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the beef is tender.

  12. Check to see if there is too much liquid in the pan about 2 hours into the cooking time.

  13. If you want a thicker stew, remove the lid for the remainder of the cooking time.

  14. Cook the rice according to package directions. Remove the bouquet garni and serve the stew, garnished with the chopped parsley over hot, cooked rice.

Recipe Tags: