Classic French beef daube

Name: Classic French beef daube
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: Serves 6-8
Cuisine: French recipes
Ingredients: 1.5kg chuck steak, trimmed of excess fat and diced; 250g pancetta, diced; 3 tbsp plain flour; 50ml olive oil; 120g unsalted butter; 2 small leeks (white part only), chopped; 2 onions, chopped; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery sticks, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 2 bay leaves; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra to serve; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 100ml brandy; 750ml bottle red wine; 300ml good quality beef stock; 16 baby onions, peeled; 16 button mushrooms; 2 tsp cornflour; Cheesy garlic bread to serve; You’ll also need…; Large, lidded ovenproof casserole

By: Valli Little

Published: 12 Mar 18
Updated: 26 May 25

Discover the rich, comforting flavours of our Classic French Beef Daube – a traditional slow-cooked beef stew that captures the essence of French country cooking, bringing a taste of Provence straight to your table. Perfect for chilly evenings or special gatherings, tender chunks of beef are marinated in robust red wine and simmered with aromatic herbs, garlic and a medley of vegetables to create a dish bursting with deep, savoury notes.

Authentic French flavours: A true French culinary classic with a rich red wine base and fragrant herbs.
Slow-cooked : Enjoy melt-in-your-mouth beef and a deeply layered sauce, achieved through hours of gentle simmering.
Hearty & comforting: Ideal for family dinners or special occasions, this daube is the ultimate comfort food.

”This dish never disappoints. It’s the ultimate comfort food for a cold winter’s night” – the late food writer Valli Little
Recipe from My Kind of Food by Valli Little (ABC Books), published in Australia.

Serves 6-8
Hands-on time 45 min, oven time 2-2½hours

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Ingredients

1.5kg chuck steak, trimmed of excess fat and diced
250g pancetta, diced
3 tbsp plain flour
50ml olive oil
120g unsalted butter
2 small leeks (white part only), chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp tomato purée
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra to serve
1 tbsp soy sauce
100ml brandy
750ml bottle red wine
300ml good quality beef stock
16 baby onions, peeled
16 button mushrooms
2 tsp cornflour
Cheesy garlic bread to serve

You’ll also need…

Large, lidded ovenproof casserole

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Toss the beef and pancetta in flour, then shake off any excess. Heat half the oil and 40g butter in the casserole over a medium-high heat, then fry the beef and pancetta in batches, turning often, for 3-4 minutes per batch until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the remaining oil and another 40g of the butter and cook the leeks, onions, carrots and celery for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften. Add the garlic, bay leaves and tomato purée, cook for 1 minute, then add the parsley, soy sauce, brandy, wine and stock. Return the meat to the casserole, bring to a simmer, season and cover. Transfer to the oven and cook for 2-2½ hours until the meat is tender.
Meanwhile, put the baby onions in a pan of cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 8-10 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside. Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and fry until cooked through, then remove and set aside.
Mix the cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water. Stir the mushrooms, baby onions and cornflour paste into the casserole and cook on the hob, stirring, for 10 minutes. Serve with cheesy garlic bread and more chopped parsley sprinkled on top.

Recipe from February 2018 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

For 8

Calories: 706kcals
Fat: 37.6g (16.6g saturated)
Protein: 50.8g
Carbohydrates: 14.5g (7.1g sugars)
Fibre: 4.2g
Salt: 1.9g

delicious. tips

Prepare up to 48 hours in advance. Keep in a sealed container in the fridge. Alternatively, freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge, then reheat on the hob.

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Classic French beef daube

Ingredients

Method

Nutrition

delicious. tips

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