Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew will not disappoint! It’s a sophisticated beef stew with an exceptionally savory sauce thanks to the combination of grainy and Dijon mustards. And it’s also a perfect make-ahead and reheat-before-serving kinda recipe.

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Prepping the Stew Base

olive oil, butter, shallots and onions

Prepare base ingredients for the stew – olive oil, butter, chopped onions, and chopped shallots,

Place 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over low heat, and cook until butter is melted and bubbly. Then raise heat to medium and add onions and shallots. Cook until softened but not browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a large bowl.

Coating & Cooking the Beef Cubes

Toss beef cubes with flour and season with salt and pepper. Shake off excess flour, and place half the cubes in the pot. If necessary, add more oil to the pan. Cook over medium-high heat until well browned, almost crusty, on all sides, approx. 10 minutes per batch. Transfer beef cubes to the bowl with onions. Repeat with remaining beef.

Flavor Booster Ingredients for the Stew

stew ingredients; cognac, beef broth, dijon, grainy mustard, carrots, mushrooms, and red wine

Organize all remaining ingredients for the stew – Cognac, broth, mustards, carrots, mushrooms, butter, and red wine.

Cognac, Broth, and Mustards

Add Cognac to the empty pot and cook, stirring, until the bottom is deglazed and the crust comes loose, approx 1-2 minutes. Add stock, Dijon, and grainy mustards. Whisk to blend, then return meat and onion mixture to pot. Lower heat, partly cover, and simmer gently until beef is very tender, about 45 minutes.

Carrots and Mushrooms

add carrots and mushrooms to the stew

Add carrots and mushrooms to the pot and continue simmering for an additional one hour and 15 minutes, or until carrot slices are soft and fork-tender.

Final Touches

once carrot slices have softened (about 1 hour, 45 mins) add red wine

Lastly, add red wine and 1 tablespoon butter (if desired). Simmer 5 minutes, then taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. 

Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

Serve stew right from the pot or ladle into individual bowls. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 40 minutes
Total Time3 hours
Course: dinner
Cuisine: French
Keyword: beef chuck, beef stew, carrots, cognac, dijon mustard, gluten free, King Arthur Measure for Measure, mushrooms, red wine, stew, whole grain mustard
Servings: 6 people
Author: GFchow @ gfchow.com

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil more if necessary
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 3 shallots chopped
  • 2 pounds beef chuck in 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose gluten flour I use King Arthur Measure for Measure
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Cognac
  • 2 cups beef broth or stock
  • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
  • 4 tablespoons Pommery mustard or other whole-grain mustard
  • 4 large carrots (any color) peeled and cut in half vertically, and then slice into half-moon slices
  • 1/2 pound mushrooms (white button or portobellos) stems removed, cleaned, and quartered or sliced
  • 1/4 cup red wine See NOTES section below
  • garnish with parsley if desired

Instructions

  • Place 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in Dutch oven or large pot over low heat, and cook until butter is melted and bubbly. Then raise heat to medium and add onions and shallots. Cook until softened but not browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a large bowl.
  • If necessary, add more olive oil to the pan. Toss beef cubes with flour and season with salt and pepper. Shake off excess flour, and place half the cubes in the pot. Cook over medium-high heat until well browned, almost crusty, on all sides, approx. 10 minutes per batch. Transfer beef cubes to the bowl with onions. Repeat with remaining beef.
  • Add Cognac to the empty pot and cook, stirring, until the bottom is deglazed and the crust comes loose, approx 1-2 minutes. Add stock, Dijon, and grainy mustards. Whisk to blend, then return meat and onion mixture to pot. Lower heat, partly cover, and simmer gently until beef is very tender, about 45 minutes.
  • Add carrots and mushrooms to the pot and continue simmering for an additional one hour and 15 minutes, or until carrot slices are soft and fork-tender.
  • Lastly, add red wine and 1 tablespoon butter (if desired). Simmer 5 minutes, then taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  • Serve stew right from the pot or ladle into individual bowls. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

For the red wine, don’t use “cooking wine.” Use whatever you already have open.  If you don’t have any open, use a wine that you like to drink and then have a glass (or two!) with your stew.
Serve over rice, quinoa, roasted potatoes, or gluten free macaroni noodles.
If your carrots aren’t fork-tender after cooking for one hour and 15 minutes, cook the stew longer, checking the softness in 10-minute increments.  No one wants crunchy carrots in their stew!
 

Recipe from NYTimes Cooking and modified by me for gluten free eating.

If you like this recipe, you may also like these other GFchow recipes. Veal Chops with Asian Honey Mustard Sauce, Mom’s Saucy Brisket, and Sauteed Baby Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushrooms.

GLUTEN FREE DISCLAIMER

The recipes you find here are considered by me to be gluten free.   However, it is up to you to make sure the ingredients you use are gluten free.  Whenever possible,  I will list specific brands of ingredients that I use, but always be sure to check the labels yourself to verify the item is gluten free. 



6 thoughts on “Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew”

  • I’d been thinking abut making this recipe for a long time… and finally bit the bullet. I’ve always liked beef stew but could never make a good one. This version was delicious! Easy to make and great flavor… better than traditional stew in my opinion … a little more sophisticated. I didn’t have cognac so off I went to the liquor store. I was told that brandy is a good (and cheaper) substitute for cognac (I looked it up for verification too) for those of us that don’t want to invest in the more expensive alcohol that’ll will never be consumed. Will definitely make this again.

  • I made this last night, and it is a total winner. Very straight forward and delicious! Comfort food, yet elegant enough for a dinner party.

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! And I agree with you…it’s comfort food yet elegant enough to serve at a dinner party!

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