Recipe for Beef Stew

We list homemade beef stew as one of our comfort foods, and this simple beef stew with plenty of flavor and body doesn’t disappoint.

Use a dry red wine for beef stew, something you would also enjoy drinking with your dinner, either your favorite Greek wine, or a tried-and-true French Burgundy.

Serve rich, fruity Kalamata olives or pickled pepperoncini peppers, on the side, or as a topping. Each complements the salty ripeness of feta cheese crumbled on top of this delicious Greek stew.

Mop up the robust sauce of this hearty beef stew with plenty of warm pita bread.

For this beef stew recipe you will need:

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

3 pounds lean stewing beef

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon cumin seed

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice

5 1/2 ounce can tomato paste

1 cup dry red wine

1 cup beef stock or broth

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

2 bay leaves

10 ounces pearl onions, about 2 cups

8 ounces small button mushrooms

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ounces Greek feta cheese, crumbled

6 to 8 pita


Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.

Brown beef in batches. Remove each browned batch from pot, adding more oil as needed for the next batch.

Add garlic, cumin seeds and cloves. Cook 1 minute, then return beef plus juices.

Stir in tomato paste, wine, stock, oregano, vinegar, sugar, bay leaves and onions.

Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1 hour.

Stir stew and continue simmering for 1 more hour or until beef is tender.

Stew can be made 2 or 3 days ahead and refrigerated.

Cut mushrooms in half. Stir into hot stew along with parsley and salt. Heat until hot.

Sprinkle each serving of Greek beef stew with feta cheese and serve with warmed pita.

This stew recipe serves 6 to 8

Enjoy this recipe for beef stew! Find more beef recipes ...