Slow-Cooked Beef with Aromatic Tomato Sauce
Tender, slow-cooked beef in a rich, fragrant, and well-bodied sauce that melts in your mouth. This dish is best served with rice.
- Prep15 min
- Cook1h 45m
- Total2h
- DifficultyMedium
- Servings6
This recipe offers a deeply satisfying and flavorful beef dish, perfect for a comforting meal. The slow cooking process ensures the meat becomes incredibly tender, infused with the complex aromas of spices and tomato.
It's a classic preparation that highlights the natural sweetness of tomatoes and the warmth of spices, creating a sauce that is both rich and beautifully balanced. The inclusion of red wine adds another layer of depth and complexity to the overall flavor profile.
Ingredients
Servings
Converted amounts are rounded.
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a wide, shallow pot over medium heat.
- Sauté the onions for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Season the beef pieces with salt and pepper.
- Add the beef to the pot and sear for 5-6 minutes until evenly browned.
- Stir in the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Deglaze with red wine, letting the alcohol evaporate for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste, grated tomatoes, allspice berries, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Stir well.
- Pour in the water, season with salt and pepper, and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, until the beef is very tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Serve hot, accompanied by parboiled yellow rice pilaf.
💡 Tips
- For an even richer flavor, you can sear the beef in batches to ensure proper browning.
- If the sauce becomes too thick during cooking, add a little more water or broth.
- This dish tastes even better the next day, making it a great make-ahead option.
Inspired by a recipe from Γαστρονόμος