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Three French-style beef cheek recipes.

Beer-Braised Beef Cheeks (Carbonnade)

Carbonnade is all about beer, slow braising and a dark, savory-sweet sauce. Beef cheeks are ideal: they become spoon-tender and naturally enrich the gravy.

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 2 h 45
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For 4 servings.

  • 1 kg beef cheeks (large pieces)
  • 150 g smoked bacon lardons
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 30 g butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 750 ml dark (or amber) beer
  • 250 ml water
  • Bouquet garni
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • Salt, pepper

Method

Detailed steps.

  1. Prep: slice onions; pat meat dry. Heat oven to 180°C.

  2. In a Dutch oven, melt butter. Brown lardons, then brown beef cheeks on all sides.

  3. Add onions and cook until soft and lightly caramelized.

  4. Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes.

  5. Add beer and water. Add bouquet garni and brown sugar. Bring to a gentle simmer.

  6. Cover and bake 2 h 30–3 h, stirring once halfway.

  7. Reduce uncovered 10–15 minutes if needed. Season and serve with potatoes or fries.

Tips

Small details that matter.

• Pick a flavorful beer, not overly sweet.

• Even better the next day.

• If your beer is very bitter, dilute slightly with stock or water.

FAQ

Common questions.

What beer should I use?
Dark or amber beer with gentle bitterness and moderate sweetness.

Why bake it?
Even heat creates a silky sauce and steady braise.