Beef and Beer Belgian Stew (Carbonnades a la Flamande)

Slowly simmered in dark ale until the beef chunks are tender gives this stew such a delicious and robust flavor.

 

 

Last year my family and I went to Brussels, Belgium to visit some friends and do some sightseeing. I have been to Belgium before so I was excited to go back and learn more about this beautiful country.

I know Belgium is well known for its chocolates, waffles, fries and beer but beyond that I didn’t know much about its culinary heritage.

With influences from other neighboring countries – the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the East and France to the South – its varied cuisine reflects that of its neighbors.

 

 

I have read that Belgian food is served in the quantity of German cuisine but with the quality of the French! Having tested quite a few dishes there, I completely agree. The quality of food and the taste is truly superb! I can’t wait to go back there again.

Hankering for something Belgian and yummy, I decided to make Belgian stew.

I have attempted the French Beef Bourguignonne before and totally love it but I thought this time I ought to make the Belgian version, after all the fall cooler temperature calls for a hot bowl of delicious stew!

The main difference with the French stew and the Belgian Stew is that the former uses red wine for flavoring while the latter uses beer instead, particularly dark ale which until today are still manufactured in medieval Trappist monasteries using the same traditional technique of brewing beer from hundreds of years ago! No wonder Belgium is so well-known for its beer.

 

 

So, you can imagine how the long slow-cooking of beef in beer can result in such a delicious, mouth-watering dish.

Indeed, the dish didn’t disappoint and I must say – I now rank this Belgian Beef Stew number one – a tie with the French Beef Bourguignonne! It is that good!

Make sure that you use a good quality dark ale preferably the Belgian variety (like the one I used) to ensure the most flavorful and truly delicious stew.

If you wish to eat like a Belgian, have the stew with some fries or bread and mustard sauce on the side. I like it with rice, too. Enjoy!

 

 


FOR FULL RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS and to PRINT, SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW.

WHAT INGREDIENTS TO USE FOR  BEEF & BEER BELGIAN STEW?

  • Stewing beef (pref. chuck steak or roast), cubed
  • Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Onion, chopped
  • Garlic cloves
  • Bottle of dark Belgian beer or ale
  • Bouquet Garni*
  • Vinegar (pref. wine vinegar)
  • Brown Sugar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

*Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs usually tied together with a string or placed inside a small sachet and is cooked with the other ingredients but is removed before the food is served. The herbs may vary but the usual ones are thyme, bay leaves, and parsley. You can use fresh like the photo below or buy the dried ones in a sachet.

 

 

HOW DO I MAKE BEEF & BEER BELGIAN STEW?

Liberally season the beef cubes with salt and pepper. You can also roll it in flour if you wish. I wanted a thinner stew with lots of sauce and also a gluten-free version so I didn’t bother with adding the flour.

Heat a deep pan like a Dutch oven. Melt the butter and oil using medium-high heat. Brown the cubed beef in batches to seal. Place the beef cubes in a large platter as you cook.

Saute the onions in the remaining fat in the pan until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or 2.

Return the meat to the pan and mix well with the onions and garlic. Pour in the beer. Add the bouquet garni, vinegar and brown sugar. Stir everything.

Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until the beef is fork-tender. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove the bouquet garni. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Serve with fries, bread or rice! Pour all that yummy sauce on top!

 

Beef and Beer Belgian Stew (Carbonnades a la Flamande)

Manila Spoon
Slowly simmered in dark ale until the beef chunks are tender gives this stew such a delicious and robust flavor.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Belgian, Belgium, European
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) stewing beef pref. chuck steak or roast, cubed
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 12 oz bottle of dark Belgian beer or ale
  • 1 bouquet garni, (see note)
  • 2 tbsp vinegar pref. wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Liberally season the beef cubes with salt and pepper. You can also roll it in flour if you wish. I wanted a thinner stew with lots of sauce and also a gluten-free version so I didn’t bother with adding the flour.
  • Heat a deep pan like a Dutch oven. Melt the butter and oil using medium-high heat. Brown the cubed beef in batches to seal. Place the beef cubes in a large platter as you cook.
  • Saute the onions in the remaining fat in the pan until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or 2.
  • Return the meat to the pan and mix well with the onions and garlic. Pour in the beer. Add the bouquet garni, vinegar and brown sugar. Stir everything.
  • Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until the beef is fork-tender. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove the bouquet garni. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
  • Serve with fries, bread or rice! Pour all that yummy sauce on top!

Notes

 
TIPS & TRICKS
*Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs usually tied together with a string or placed inside a small sachet and is cooked with the other ingredients but is removed before the food is served. The herbs may vary but the usual ones are thyme, bay leaves, and parsley. You can use fresh like the photo below or buy the dried ones in a sachet.
Keyword Beef and Beer Belgian Stew, beef flemish stew, belgian stew slow cooker, belgian stew stovetop or oven, bruges flemish stew, Carbonnades a la Flamande
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Last updated on August 16th, 2021 at 09:30 pm

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21 Comments

  1. April 23, 2015 / 4:22 am

    This looks delicious, I love beef stew and am always looking for different versions to try!

  2. April 23, 2015 / 10:36 am

    This looks amazing, and it looks like you cook the meat to perfect tenderness! We're also a big fan of Chimay over here too 🙂

  3. April 23, 2015 / 11:18 am

    This sounds wonderful. I did not now what a "garni" was until this post either. I've seen it, but never knew the name 🙂 Beef and beer pair well together when cooking, I will have to try this.

  4. April 24, 2015 / 1:06 am

    Oh wow, my family would go crazy for this. And you pictures make it looks so saucy and juicy 🙂 Yum!

  5. April 24, 2015 / 3:31 am

    What an amazing looking stew! That meat looks tender….yum!

    • February 5, 2016 / 5:36 pm

      Thanks Bernard. Please do not copy the recipe or photos as they are protected by copyright and doing so would be infringement. What you can do is direct a link back to us but copying is not allowed.

  6. Ruth
    March 17, 2018 / 10:27 pm

    This looks so yummy! Is there an instant pot version with instructions?

    • abigail
      Author
      March 17, 2018 / 10:57 pm

      No, I haven’t been able to make that yet. I do have a slow cooker version. Simply add the title of the recipe as keywords on the search box below my photo and you should be able to find it if that is a suitable alternative for now. Thanks!

  7. Karen Sundsten
    December 30, 2018 / 8:53 pm

    This was simply fantastic!! My family was fighting over the last bits! Will most definitely be sharing the recipe with my friends! Thank you for sharing!

    • abigail
      Author
      December 31, 2018 / 3:46 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed this! One of hubby’s big favorites for sure and mine, too. Thanks for stopping by!

  8. Beth
    March 10, 2021 / 12:44 am

    5 stars
    Yummy! So excited to give this Beef and Beer Belgian Stew recipe a try! Looks amazing and so tasty!

  9. Dannii
    March 10, 2021 / 1:56 am

    5 stars
    My family are from Belgium, so I am used to having beer in stew. This Beef and Beer Belgian Stew looks so rich and delicious.

  10. Jacqueline Debono
    March 10, 2021 / 3:05 am

    5 stars
    Coincidentally, I made beef bourguignon last week. It was delicious. Now I want to try this Belgian version. It sounds a bit easier than bourguignon, well less ingredients, but looks just as good! My favourite food in Brussels is the moules-frites (mussels with chips). Love all the different ways they cook the mussels!

  11. Jeannette
    March 10, 2021 / 3:06 am

    5 stars
    What a delicious comfort meal! Stewing is the perfect way to bring out the meat’s flavours and really take advantage of fall-apart protein 😀

  12. Michelle
    March 10, 2021 / 3:22 am

    5 stars
    Wow, that beef is just fall apart delicious! And that sauce looks so rich! Great recipe.

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