Top blade steaks (also called blade or flatiron steaks) are our first choice, but any boneless roast from the chuck will work. If you end up using a chuck roast, look for the chuck eye roast, an especially flavorful cut that can easily be trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces. Buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes make excellent accompaniments to carbonnade. The traditional copper-colored Belgian ale works best in this stew. If you can't find one, choose another dark or amber-colored ale of your liking.
Serves 6
| 3 1/2 | pounds blade steaks , 1 inch thick, trimmed of gristle and fat and cut into 1-inch pieces (see illustrations below) |
| Table salt and ground black pepper | |
| 3 | tablespoons vegetable oil |
| 2 | pounds yellow onions (about 3 medium), halved and sliced about 1/4 inch thick (about 8 cups) |
| 1 | tablespoon tomato paste |
| 2 | medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons) |
| 3 | tablespoons all-purpose flour |
| 3/4 | cup low-sodium chicken broth |
| 3/4 | cup low-sodium beef broth |
| 1 1/2 | cups beer (12-ounce bottle or can) |
| 4 | sprigs fresh thyme , tied with kitchen twine |
| 2 | bay leaves |
| 1 | tablespoon cider vinegar |
- Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 300 degrees. Dry beef thoroughly with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat until beginning to smoke; add about one-third of beef to pot. Cook without moving pieces until well browned, 2 to 3 minutes; using tongs, turn each piece and continue cooking until second side is well browned, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer browned beef to medium bowl. Repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and half of remaining beef. (If drippings in bottom of pot are very dark, add about 1/2 cup of above-listed chicken or beef broth and scrape pan bottom with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits; pour liquid into bowl with browned beef, then proceed.) Repeat once more with 2 teaspoons oil and remaining beef.
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty Dutch oven; reduce heat to medium-low. Add onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and tomato paste; cook, scraping bottom of pot with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits, until onions have released some moisture, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add flour and stir until onions are evenly coated and flour is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in broths, scraping pan bottom to loosen browned bits; stir in beer, thyme, bay, vinegar, browned beef with any accumulated juices, and salt and pepper to taste. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to full simmer, stirring occasionally; cover partially, then place pot in oven. Cook until fork inserted into beef meets little resistance, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
- Discard thyme and bay. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste and serve. (Can be cooled and refrigerated in airtight container for up to 4 days; reheat over medium-low heat.)
Chimay Pères Trappistes Ale-Première, $9.49 for 25.4-ounce bottle
The Belgians have had this right the whole time. This traditional Trappist ale was "rich and robust" and brought out a "very deep flavor" with a "dark chocolate finish."
Newcastle Brown Ale, $7.49 for six-pack
This English ale was noted for its low sweetness and bitterness, which allowed for "lots of malt" flavor.
O’Doul’s Amber (Nonalcoholic), $4.99 for six-pack
This nonalcoholic beer was the dark horse favorite. A fruity sweetness brought out "rich beefiness."
Anchor Steam, $8.69 for six-pack
"Grassy, barley" notes made a very "hearty" stew, but this beer pushed the bitter limits.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager, $7.29 for six-pack
"Black pepper" and "sweet spices" dominate this premium lager, alternately described as "burnt" or "molasses-sweet."
Guinness Extra Stout, $7.29 for six-pack
The archetypal stout bordered on "bitter and burnt," but a high degree of sweetness countered for a vigorously flavored carbonnade.
Sierra Nevada Porter, $7.99 for six-pack
This beer lacked enough contrasting sweetness. Several tasters likened this stew to "espresso."
Bud Light, $5.29 for six-pack
"Boring," not bitter, not sweet, and not very flavorful. Stew was "flat."
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, $7.99 for six-pack
This beer is good straight from the bottle but made a stew that was "bitter" and "sour."
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