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French Onion Beef Stew

Savory French Onion Beef Stew That Warms Your Soul

This French Onion Beef Stew is a comforting dish filled with tender beef, caramelized onions, and a cheesy crust, perfect for cozy family dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: French
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Stew Base
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Can be swapped for canola oil
  • 2 pounds Chuck Steak Cubed
  • to taste Sea Salt
  • to taste Black Pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter Use salted if unsalted is unavailable
  • 4 Onions Sliced; yellow or sweet onions are ideal
  • 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar Can be left out if preferred
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
For the Flavor Boost
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce Soy sauce can be a substitute
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard Yellow mustard can be used as a substitute
  • 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste Can be omitted for a lighter flavor
  • 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour Consider cornstarch mixed with water for gluten-free
  • 4 cups Beef Broth Homemade is preferred
  • 1 cup Marsala Wine Red wine can be used or omitted
  • 2 leaves Bay Leaves Remove before serving
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Thyme Dried thyme can be used if fresh is unavailable
For the Cheesy Topping
  • 1 baguette Baguette For topping; any crusty bread will do
  • 1 cup Gruyere Cheese Shredded
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese Grated

Equipment

  • Dutch oven

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Slice onions into thin rings, cube chuck steak, and mince garlic.
  2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven, season and brown the beef for about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Melt butter in the same pot, add onions, salt, and brown sugar; cook for 30 minutes.
  4. Stir in garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute.
  5. Return beef to pot, add flour, and stir in beef broth and Marsala wine gradually.
  6. Add bay leaves and thyme, bring to a simmer, cover partly, and cook for 90 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), slice baguette, brush with olive oil, and mustard; top with cheeses.
  8. Broil prepared bread for about 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  9. Serve stew with cheesy baguette slices and garnish with thyme.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 35gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 900mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 3mg

Notes

This dish can be made a day in advance for deeper flavors and can be customized with different vegetables or cheeses.

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