Stifado: A Traditional Greek Beef Stew Recipe

Stifado (or stithado) is the name of the traditional Greek stew. This satisfying dish is a favorite winter dish especially if you are an onion lover. Warm and gratifying it will delight you on any cold winter day.

To make beef stifado you need the following ingredients: olive oil, beef, onions, garlic cloves, tomato paste, water, vinegar, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and bay leaf.  

This traditional stifado recipe takes you 40 minutes to prepare and around 2 hours to cook. It serves four to six persons.  


Beef Stifado Recipe- Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp. of olive oil 
  • 2 lb. of beef chuck or top round, cut into 2-inch cubes 
  • 8-10 big onions, medium-sized 
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
  • 170 g of tomato paste 
  • 250 ml of water 
  • 75 ml of red-wine vinegar 
  • ½ tsp. of salt 
  • ⅛ tsp. of pepper 
  • ¼ tsp. of cinnamon 
  • 1 bay leaf 

Beef Stifado Recipe- How to Make

  1. Start this traditional Greek beef stew recipe by taking a Dutch oven. Add the olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat until it begins to sizzle. 
  2. Add the beef and brown on all sides. When the beef is browned, carefully remove the meat cubes with a spatula or a slotted spoon and set them aside. 
  3. Put the onions and garlic in the Dutch oven and cook until lightly. 
  4. Return the beef cubes to the Dutch oven. 
  5. Add the tomato paste, water, vinegar, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and bay leaf. Mix well. 
  6. Cover the Dutch oven and turn the heat to low. 
  7. You should stir the stifado every 15 minutes and add some warm water if needed to prevent the meat from sticking to the Dutch oven.
  8. Taste to see if additional salt is needed. Add to taste. 
  9. Simmer the stew for about 2 hours, or until the meat is very tender. 
  10. When the stifado is ready remove the bay leaf and serve.
You can serve beef stifado with patates tiganites or rice. Enjoy!