Nov.
04 2012

Carbonnade Flamande #SundaySupper

Posted in #SundaySupper, General, Main Dishes, Recipes • Comments: 58

I would first like to start today’s post by saying that my thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Sandy. I realize that many of you can’t even read this today, but I hope the people that can will take some of the recipes listed below and make a big batch to share with friends/family/people in need.

Today’s #SundaySupper theme couldn’t come at a better time. When Isabel, our fearless Sunday Supper leader, asked me to host this week I was honored. I picked a season appropriate theme – dishes to keep you warm; a soul warming #SundaySupper. Little did I know three weeks ago how important this theme would be now.

We have over 50 contributors bring their best dishes, we have soups, stews, chilis, main entrees, and even something sweet to eat and drink!

I’m bringing you one of my favorite stews, Carbonnade Flamande – a Flemish Beef Stew. We first had this in Belgium, I believe it was in Brugges on our honeymoon. Tender chunks of meat, slow cooked with a dark Belgian ale and finished with brown sugar and cider vinegar for a little tang. Perfect to sop up all the Belgian frites that were served on the side!

My husband is not a big stew fan, but this is one dish he always enjoys when I whip it up. Okay whip might not be the right word, it does take about 4 hours of your time but that 4 hours is worth every minute.

Carbonnade Flamande #SundaySupper

5.0 from 3 reviews

Recipe type: Main Dish

Cuisine: Belgian

Author: Susan Palmer

Traditionally this is made with stew meat, I’ve updated the recipe a bit by swapping it out for tender short ribs. When you get your short ribs, be sure to ask your butcher to cut them into 1 rib sections, it makes browning them easier, as does serving.

Ingredients

3lbs bone-in short ribs, cut into 1 rib sections
3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
12oz dark Belgian ale (see note about type of beer)
2 cups low-sodium beef stock
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard or cider vinegar

Instructions

Pat your short ribs dry with paper towels and generously season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Using a dutch oven, over medium heat melt 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil.
Working in batches, dredge the short ribs in the flour, shaking off excess and brown on all sides in the dutch oven. Remove and continue with remaining ribs. Add another tablespoon of butter in between batches and adjust heat if necessary.
Once all the short ribs have been browned, melt the remaining tablespoons of butter and add the sliced onions.
Cook the onions for about 15 minutes, making sure not to brown them, but soften them to the point that they just begin to caramelize. Pour in the beer and scrape the bottom of the pot.
Nestle in the short ribs amongst the onions and beer and pour the beef stock so that the meat is almost completely covered. Add the fresh thyme and bay leaves, cover and let simmer for 2½ to 3 hours or until the short ribs are fork tender.
Five minutes prior to serving, mix together the mustard or vinegar and brown sugar in a small bowl and mix it into the stew. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.
Serve with a bowl of frites, mashed potatoes or Belgian’s version of mashed potatoes stoemp.
This dish tastes even better a day later, so feel free to make this ahead of time to serve for later.

Notes

The best beer to use for this dish is a Belgian abbey ale such as Chimay Bleue or Rouge or an American-style Belgian beer such as Ommegang Abbey ale, which is what I used. Abbey ales are malty with a nice sweetness to them but are higher in alcohol than most beers found in the U.S.

Now here’s that long list of soul warming dishes I told you about! I also hope you’ll join us for our weekly twitter chat tonight at 7pm EST!

Main Entrees:

Carrot, Parsnip and Lentil Casserole - Happy Baking Days
Chicken with Herbed Dumplings – Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
Chicken pot pie – Gotta Get Baked
Cholula Chicken Enchiladas – Kwistin’s Favorites
Eggplant Parmesan – The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
Roasted Roots and Fruits with Sausage – Shockingly Delicious

Chili/Stews:

Beer-Braised Beef – Sustainable Dad
Bigos {Authentic Polish Hunter’s Stew} – From Fast Food to Fresh Food
Brunswick Stew and Rice – Big Bear’s Wife
Calico Beans – Home Cooking Memories
Carbonnade Flamande – The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Chicken Cacciatore {Hunter Style Stew} with Easy Creamy Polenta –Webicurean
Chicken & Mushroom Stew On Egg Noodles – Galactosemia in PDX
Cowboy Beef Stew - Comfy Cuisine
Ham and String Beans – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Hearty Moose Meatball Stew – Mrs. Mama Hen
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili - Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Lentil and Chorizo Stew – Vintage Kitchen Notes
Seafood Gumbo and Soul Warming #SundaySupper Wine Pairings - ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
Soul Warming Hearty Beef Stew - In The Kitchen With KP

Soups:

30 Minute Black Bean Soup – Supper for a Steal
Black Bean Soup – Basic and Delicious
Black Bean Soup with Hot Roast Pepper Cream - The Lovely Pantry
Canadian Beer Cheese Soup – Juanita’s Cocina
Chicken Soup with Dumplings – The Messy Baker
Chicken Tortilla Soup – Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
Coconut Curry Chicken Soup – Damn Delicious
Easy Chicken and Dumplings – My Catholic Kitchen
Easy Italian Wedding Soup – Family Foodie
Easy Wonton Soup – Soni’s Food
French Onion Soup – Momma’s Meals
Homestyle Chicken and Dumplings – I Run For Wine
Lasagna Soup – Cravings of a Lunatic
Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup – Mangiamo
Lentil and Bacon Soup – Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Lentil Soup with Spinach – Mama’s Blissful Bites
Peppery Mulligatawny Soup with Cherry Tomatoes & Cilantro – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Pozolillo Verde {Green Chicken & Corn Pozole} – La Cocina de Leslie
Red Lentil Soup with Crispy Aromatic Coriander – Chattering Kitchen
Roasted Jalapeno Soup – Chocolate Moosey
Rule of Thirds Soup - What Smells So Good?
Seafood Chowder – Noshing with the Nolands
Spanish Garlic Soup – Pippi’s In The Kitchen Again
Spicy Gumbo Z’herbes – Pescetarian Journal
Spicy Korean Brisket Soup {Yukgaejang} - Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup {Jjamppong} – Kimchi Mom
Spicy Udon Noodle Soup – My Trials In The Kitchen
Turkey Noodle Soup – Magnolia Days
Tuscan Bean Soup - The Wimpy Vegetarian
Twisted Chicken Noodle Soup – The Meltaways
Warm You Up Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Soup - Daily Dish Recipes