This site uses only a few technical cookies necessary for its operation. By continuing to browse, you accept their use.
To find out more...
To find out more...
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
12.05 €
6 people
8 IngredientsLast modified on: November 13th 2011
1 kg beef
2 
2 
5 tablespoons 
2 tablespoons 
1 litre 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 1 kg 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 1 litre 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: Gratin du Nord, Ch'ti mussel tarts, Welsh (French Welsh Rarebit), Endive and beer soup, ... See them all 4
Beef
Like these other recipes: How to slow cook meat, Beef braised in reduced red wine, Taos hotpot, Roast beef "like they do it in Santa Fe", Upside-down Parmentier, ... See them all 10
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Rice à l'italienne, Bruschetta, Butterfly pasta with smoked trout, Creamy spinach à la Lombarde, Bistro-style red endive salad, ... See them all 558
Onion
Like these other recipes: Baker's tuna and mushroom tart, Pea risotto "Mantecare", Moussaka, Quick chicken curry, Roscoff salad, ... See them all 153
Other recipes you may also like
Ice-cream Vacherin
Ice-cream vacherin is a festive French dessert. It consists of two different flavours of ice cream (blackcurrant and vanilla here) sandwiched between two circles of meringue, topped with whorls of Chantilly (whipped cream) which is then frozen. It is not too complicated, but involves a bit of work and quite a few trips to the freezer and back. December 21th 2014196 K4.5 8 hours 45 min.
Warm Leek and Potato Salad
This simple salad combines leeks (boiled and thoroughly drained) with sliced potatoes in a good vinaigrette. February 21th 201679 K4.6 40 min.
Fish terrine with spinach and tomatoes
This terrine is made up of alternating layers of fish fillets with spinach and preserved tomatoes. It is cooked gently in the oven, then served in slices (yes, it really is a kind of terrine) with hollandaise sauce, for example. November 8th 202051 K5 1 hour 55 min.
Nanou's egg rice
For this quick and simple recipe, ideal for a Sunday evening, a creamy rice simply accompanied by fried eggs. August 17th 202512 K 15 min.
Gingerbread
Maybe this recipe will bring back memories. February 21th 2011301 K4.2 1 hour 4 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-03-29)
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