Catalan Beef Stew With Rioja, Cinnamon, and Chocolate

Name: Catalan Beef Stew Recipe - Estofado de Ternera a la Catalana
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Spanish olive oil; 2 lbs. stew beef, cut into cubes; 1 tbsp. flour; 8 oz. glass red wine; 4 cloves garlic, cut into halves; 2 onions , chopped; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 1 carrot, sliced; 1 stick celery, chopped; 1 leek, chopped; 1 oz. baking chocolate (unsweetened); Pinch of cinnamon - about 1/4 tsp.; Salt and pepper to taste; 1 1/2 cups beef stock

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 90 mins

Total: 100 mins

Servings: 4 servings

35 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

This recipe for Catalan Beef Stew or "Estofado de Ternera a la Catalana" is easy and has a unique flavor, due to a surprise ingredient—chocolate! While the stew simmers, prepare a pot of white rice to accompany it.

1/4 cup Spanish olive oil
2 pounds stew beef, cut into cubes
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
8 ounces red wine
4 cloves garlic, cut into halves
2 onions, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 carrot, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 leek, chopped
1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups beef stock

This recipe can be made in either a large stock pot or a pressure cooker. If using a pressure cooker, cooking time will be reduced to about 30 minutes.

Chop the garlic, onions, tomatoes, carrot, celery, and leek.
Pour the olive oil into a large pot with a heavy bottom, or the pressure cooker.
Heat the oil and add the cubed stew meat. Brown the meat for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the flour and stir. Add the wine and stir. Cook for 1 minute.
Add the garlic, onions, tomatoes, carrot, celery and leek to the pot and stir ingredients.
Cut the square of baking chocolate in half and add to the pot.
Add beef stock to the pot, stir and bring to a boil.
If you are using a standard pot, partially cover and lower to a simmer. Then allow to simmer for an hour to an hour and a half—or until the meat is tender.
If you are using a pressure cooker, put on lid and lock. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to drop naturally. This may take 10 minutes. Remove lid and simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes to thicken the stock.

Serve with French-style bread on a bed of white rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
749	Calories
33g	Fat
25g	Carbs
79g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	749
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g	43%
Saturated Fat 11g	53%
Cholesterol 225mg	75%
Sodium 518mg	23%
Total Carbohydrate 25g	9%
Dietary Fiber 5g	19%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 79g
Vitamin C 28mg	142%
Calcium 119mg	9%
Iron 10mg	56%
Potassium 1618mg	34%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.