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Three French-style beef cheek recipes.

Red Wine–Braised Beef Cheeks “Surprise”

Slow-braised beef cheeks in red wine, then baked under a crisp puff pastry lid. Clove and cinnamon add subtle warmth.

Prep: 25 min
Cook: 3 h
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For 4 servings.

  • All-butter puff pastry
  • 1 kg beef cheeks
  • 150 g bacon lardons
  • 4 carrots
  • 1 onion + 2 garlic cloves
  • 750 ml red wine
  • Bouquet garni + 2 cloves
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • Egg yolk + water
  • Salt, pepper

Method

Detailed steps.

  1. Prep veg; pat meat dry.

  2. Brown lardons then sear beef; add onion/garlic/carrots.

  3. Add wine + herbs + cloves; simmer 2 h 30–3 h.

  4. Cool completely; remove herbs/cloves; add cinnamon sparingly.

  5. Heat oven; portion into bowls; top with pastry; egg-wash.

  6. Bake ~20 min until puffed and golden; serve immediately.

Tips

Small details that matter.

• Cooling keeps pastry crisp.

• Reduce sauce before assembly for gloss.

• Braise day before; bake pastry last minute.

FAQ

Common questions.

Why cool before pastry?
To avoid sogginess.

No bowls?
Small ovenproof cocottes work.