Carbonnade
Carbonnade is a dish that comes from Belgium and the north of France. Large pieces of beef are slowly simmered in beer with carrots and onions. Here's a personal version.
2 hours 45 min.
Easy
6 people
8 IngredientsLast modified on: November 13th 2011
2 lb + 3.2 oz beef
2 
2 
5 tablespoons 
2 tablespoons 
2 lb + 3.2 oz beer
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 35 min.
Cooking: 2 hours 15 min.
All in all: 2 hours 45 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 10 min.
Cut 2 lb + 3.2 oz beef into large cubes.
Stage 4 - 10 min.
Pour 5 tablespoons olive oil into a large heavy-based pan on high heat.
When hot, add the pieces of meat and fry until browned on each side (do not salt, as this will bring out the juices, which will stop them browning).
When browned, remove the meat from the pan and transfer to a plate to wait.
When hot, add the pieces of meat and fry until browned on each side (do not salt, as this will bring out the juices, which will stop them browning).
When browned, remove the meat from the pan and transfer to a plate to wait.
Stage 5 - 2 min.
Use the same pan, which should now contain just a little fat, and fry the chopped onions with salt and pepper for 1 or 2 minutes, stirring from time to time.
Stage 7 - 1 min.
Add the diced carrots.
Stage 8 - 3 min.
Add 2 lb + 3.2 oz beer, then salt and pepper.
Stage 9 - 2 hours
Turn the heat down to minimum and leave to simmer for about 2 hours...
Stage 10
...until the beer has reduced to make a thick and tasty sauce. At the same time the meat will have become very well cooked tender.
Remarks
For the beer, I advise you to use a dark beer which will give stronger flavour.
In the so-called "Flemish" carbonnade, a little brown sugar or a slice of gingerbread spread with mustard is added to the dish. But, I don't feel that either is necessary.
For more flavour, you can add a beef stock cube.
Carbonnade is one of those dishes, like boeuf bourguignon for example, which is even better when it is reheated.
In the so-called "Flemish" carbonnade, a little brown sugar or a slice of gingerbread spread with mustard is added to the dish. But, I don't feel that either is necessary.
For more flavour, you can add a beef stock cube.
Carbonnade is one of those dishes, like boeuf bourguignon for example, which is even better when it is reheated.
And to drink?
The same beer as you add to the dish - a Belgian beer, of course!
I prefer "Mort-Subite" Geuze ("sudden death"!), but you can use a dark beer like Chimay, or a British-style mild or strong ale.
I prefer "Mort-Subite" Geuze ("sudden death"!), but you can use a dark beer like Chimay, or a British-style mild or strong ale.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge in a sealed container.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 190 RDI=70 % | 200 RDI=20 % | 280 RDI=40 % | 4,020 RDI=200 % | 16,840 RDI: 200 % |
| Per 100 g | 6 RDI=3 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 150 RDI=7 % | 620 RDI: 7 % |
| Per person | 30 RDI=10 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 50 RDI=7 % | 670 RDI=30 % | 2,810 RDI: 30 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 6 people : 12.05 €
- Per person : 2.05 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Beer
Like these other recipes: Endive and beer soup, Gratin du Nord, Ch'ti mussel tarts, Welsh (French Welsh Rarebit), ... See them all 4
Beef
Like these other recipes: Boeuf (beef) bourguignon, Taos hotpot, Beef braised in reduced red wine, Two-stage beef chuck , How to cook red meat properly, ... See them all 10
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Curried tuna cubes, Potimarron and leek soup, Brussels sprouts salad with smoked trout and Comté cheese, Gratin of Endives with Mont d'Or, Rolls of fish in smoked ham, ... See them all 531
Onion
Like these other recipes: Winegrowers' sausage casserole, Cauliflower coconut curry, Mussels marinière, Kale and potato soup, Paté en croute (terrine in a pie crust), ... See them all 147
Other recipes you may also like
Ocean bread
The idea for this bread was inspired by an amusing coincidence: the proportion of salt needed for good bread is 35 g of salt per litre of water, which just happens to be the exact concentration of salt in the Atlantic Ocean. So it's possible to make bread using sea water to provide all the salt...October 24th 2017183 K 63.8 5 hours 7 min.
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020343 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples.September 11th 2018265 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Warm apple feuillantines
It's a rather long recipe but which never fails to impress, perfect for a special dinner party. It's made up of 3 circles: one almond "tuile", 2 of caramelized brik sheets, with a caramelized apple layer between each, whipped cream on top, and custard all around. Everything, except whipped cream,...May 28th 2012331 K5 3 hours 9 min.
Sweet pancake rolls from Brittany
Stewed apples, raisins soaked in whisky, toasted almonds, rolled in a lightly caramelized pancake.March 10th 2015253 K4.3 2 hours 20 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-08-24)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.
The 1 comment already posted on this recipe