What is Stifado made of?

Stifado is a classic Greek dish consisting of beef or lamb, slowly cooked in a sauce made from onions and tomatoes.

Stifado is a hearty Greek stew Typically made with beef, onions, tomatoes and aromatic spices, slowly simmered in red wine vinegar until tender and flavorful.

Traditional Beef Stifado Recipe; Try a Tasty Greek Beef Dish

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Stifado Stew is a traditional Greek stew packed with flavor and perfect for a cold winter evening. This delicious dish is made with beef or lamb, tomatoes, onions, and a unique combination of herbs and spices. The slow-cooking process unlocks the flavors of the ingredients, resulting in a hearty meal that the entire family can enjoy. This Traditional Beef Stifado Recipe is an easy way to bring this classic Greek dish into your home kitchen.

Table of Contents

Stifado Health Benefits

The first health benefit of Greek dish Stifado is that it’s high in protein. Protein is essential for muscle building and repair and helps you stay full longer. This dish also contains healthy fats from the olive oil used to cook it, plus fiber from the vegetables in the stew. This helps promote digestion and proper nutrient absorption throughout your body.

In addition to being packed with nutrients, Stifado offers anti-inflammatory benefits thanks to its ginger and garlic content. These ingredients can help reduce inflammation in your joints, which relieves joint pain caused by arthritis or other conditions.

How to Make Beef Stifado?

Ingredients

1 kg of beef
2 large onions (6 small onions)
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup red wine
3 tablespoons red vinegar
1/3 cup cognac
1 large ripe tomato, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 bay leaf
3–4 allspice grains
a pinch of nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground pepper as needed

Directions

Step One

To prepare this traditional beef Stifado recipe, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the meat in batches and sear it until all sides of the meat are golden brown.

Note: Do not put the meat all at once – better to do it in batches so that the temperature is kept high and the meat is shielded and retains its juices.

Step Two

When done, remove with a slotted spoon, spread on a plate, cover and set aside. Score the onions crosswise, and fry them on medium heat. Fry them in the same oil as you fried the meat until they are soft and not browned (about 10 minutes)

Step Three

Add the brandy, wine and vinegar, cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Pour the meat with its juices into the pot, and add the coarsely chopped tomato, tomato paste, bay leaf, allspice and nutmeg.

Step Four

Wait for it to start boiling, lower the heat and simmer the beef stew for 1.5 hours or until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened. While the stew is simmering, add water as needed, as it should not be allowed to dry out.

Step Five

Add half a cup of boiling water and mix when you see that water is needed. Toward the end, add the salt and pepper.

What to serve with beef stifado?

Your Stifado is ready. Serve the stew with grated cheese or boiled small potatoes, and enjoy!

Do not forget to make this recipe and share it with us. If you also have any related questions about the Greek and Cypriot Stifado recipe, please do not hesitate to ask.

If you like this recipe, we recommend trying Hungarian Pörkölt, and Persian Khoresh Gheymeh.

FAQs about Traditional Beef Stifado Recipe

What is Stifado?

Stifado is a hearty stew in greek cuisine Typically made with beef, slowly simmered in red wine vinegar until tender and flavorful.

How does stifado taste?

This traditional stew has a unique flavor that can be described as both savory and sweet. The tomato-based sauce gives it an acidic kick with subtle hints of cinnamon and nutmeg coming through, while the onions provide a mellow sweetness to balance out the tartness of the tomatoes.

What are the Stifado ingredients?

The main ingredients are beef or lamb, onions, tomatoes, red wine, and red vinegar.