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
18 people
8 IngredientsLast modified on: November 13th 2011
3 kgs beef
6 
6 
15 tablespoons 
6 tablespoons 
3 litres 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 3 kgs beef into large cubes.
Stage 4 - 10 min.
Pour 15 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 3 litres 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 | 570 RDI=220 % | 590 RDI=60 % | 830 RDI=130 % | 12,070 RDI=600 % | 50,530 RDI: 600 % |
| 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 18 people : 36.05 €
- 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)
Beef
Like these other recipes: Beef braised in reduced red wine, Taos hotpot, Two-stage beef chuck , How to slow cook meat, Boeuf (beef) bourguignon, ... See them all 10
Beer
Like these other recipes: Ch'ti mussel tarts, Endive and beer soup, Welsh (French Welsh Rarebit), Gratin du Nord, ... See them all 4
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Endive and cheese salad with croutons, Pan bagnat, Spicy seafood plancha, Fougasse with bacon and Comté, Leek and tuna loaf, ... See them all 527
Flour
Like these other recipes: Lumberjack turnovers, Caramelized apple and walnut cake, Fresh pasta dough, Cheese tart, Gâteau Breton (Brittany butter cake), ... See them all 201
Other recipes you may also like
Two-olive ciabatta
Enjoy the real flavour and scent of the Mediterranean in this ciabatta made with two olives (green and black).October 24th 2017124 K4.3 4 hours 15 min.
Crème brulée
Crème brûlée (burned cream) is quite easy to prepare: it's a simple egg-cream dessert. The only difficulty is in making the delicious crunchy caramel layer on top. The perfect crème brulée (for me) is a cold and soft cream, with on top a nice hot caramel crust. This is a completely new version...December 31th 20111.67 M 74.3 4 hours 40 min.
Fresh mint ice-cream
This well-flavoured ice-cream is excellent on its own, or in profiteroles with a chocolate sauce for example.February 21th 2011536 K4.6 1 hour 35 min.
Chocolate madeleines
Simple and delicious, goes very well with tea or coffee.March 10th 2019309 K3.8 1 hour 15 min.
Real custard sauce (crème anglaise)
Real custard or vanilla sauce consists of egg yolks beaten with sugar and cooked slowly in vanilla milk. It is the base or the accompaniment for many desserts.January 17th 2018425 K 24.3 45 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-13)
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