This slow-braised beef with onions is comfort food at its most effortless. Beef cubes simmer low and slow under a blanket of sweet onions and butter until they are meltingly tender and the pan juices turn rich and glossy. It needs just one pot and a little patience — like our Hearty Beef Goulash, it is the kind of dinner that makes the whole house smell wonderful.
Ingredients
- 1 kg beef, cut into medium cubes
- 2-4 onions, sliced into rings
- 180 g butter, cut into pieces
- 150 ml warm water
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Your favorite spices
Instructions
- Cut the beef into medium cubes.
- In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, layer the onion rings on the bottom and the meat on top.
- Pour in the water and scatter the butter pieces over.
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer covered for 1 hour.
- Add the salt, sugar, and spices. Simmer 1 more hour covered on low heat until meltingly tender.
Tips
- Layer the onions on the bottom so they melt into the sauce and keep the beef from sticking.
- Keep the heat low and the lid on — a gentle simmer is what makes the beef meltingly tender. For guidance on braising times, see Serious Eats.
- Taste and adjust the salt and spices at the end, once the sauce has reduced.
Nutrition (per 100 g): 132.3 kcal, protein 6.2 g, fat 7.7 g, carbs 9.5 g.
For another cozy beef dinner, try our Creamy Soup with Beef Meatballs next.