Soulful Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients

This recipe is adapted from the classic French dish, Beef Bourguignon, by incorporating soul food flavors and spices. The traditional recipe uses bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions, but this version uses smoked sausage, okra, and bell peppers. The red wine sauce is also infused with Southern spices like paprika and cayenne pepper. We alse have the original recipe for Beef bourguignon, so you can check it out.

• 2 lbs (900g) beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 lbs (900g) beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup (120ml) all-purpose flour 1/2 cup (120ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (5ml) salt 1 tsp (5ml) salt
• 1 tsp (5ml) black pepper 1 tsp (5ml) black pepper
• 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) paprika 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) paprika
• 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (240ml) red wine 1 cup (240ml) red wine
• 2 cups (470ml) beef broth 2 cups (470ml) beef broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup (240ml) sliced smoked sausage 1 cup (240ml) sliced smoked sausage
• 1 cup (240ml) sliced okra 1 cup (240ml) sliced okra
• 1 cup (240ml) sliced bell peppers 1 cup (240ml) sliced bell peppers
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf 1 bay leaf

Nutrition

• Calories: 450 kcal / 1884 KJ
• Fat: 22g (8g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 16g (4g sugars)
• Protein: 44g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1200mg

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
2. 2.
   In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
3. 3.
   Dredge beef cubes in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
4. 4.
   Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
5. 5.
   Brown beef cubes in batches, about 3-4 minutes per side.
6. 6.
   Remove beef from Dutch oven and set aside.
7. 7.
   Add red wine to Dutch oven and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
8. 8.
   Add beef broth, diced tomatoes, smoked sausage, okra, bell peppers, garlic, and bay leaf to the Dutch oven.
9. 9.
   Return beef to the Dutch oven and stir to combine.
10. 10.
    Cover Dutch oven and bake in preheated oven for 2-3 hours, or until beef is tender.
11. 11.
    Serve hot with rice or mashed potatoes.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Smoked sausage — Use a high-quality smoked sausage for the best flavor.
• Okra — If you don't like okra, you can substitute it with green beans or zucchini.
• Red wine — Use a dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tips & Tricks

• For a deeper flavor, marinate the beef in red wine overnight before cooking.
• Use a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot for even cooking.
• Don't skip the flour coating on the beef, as it helps thicken the sauce.
• If the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry (mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the sauce).
• Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Serving advice

Serve the Soulful Beef Bourguignon with rice or mashed potatoes, and a side of crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

Presentation advice

Garnish the dish with fresh parsley or thyme for a pop of color.