Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (2024)

By Author Marie-Noël Ouimet

Posted on - Last updated:

Discover our beef and vegetable stew recipe, a traditional Quebec recipe also known as “bouilli de légumes” or “pot-au-feu”.

It’s a comforting dish that celebrates the abundance of the vegetable harvest. Here’s how to prepare this classic recipe from Quebec cuisine, with the know-how passed down by our grandmothers and mothers.

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (1)

Traditional beef and vegetable stew (pot-au-feu)

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

The traditional beef and vegetable stew recipe also known as pot-au-feu or French stew

Ingredients

  • 4 or 5 pound pieces of beef (bone-in blade roast, chuck or shank) *
  • A little olive oil to sear the meat
  • 1 pound streaky salted lard
  • 1 cabbage, cut in pieces
  • The white of a leek, cut in pieces lengthwise
  • 1 turnip, cut into large pieces
  • 5 potatoes
  • Green beans (tied into small bundles with butcher's twine)
  • 2 large onions
  • A bay leaf
  • A sprig of thyme
  • 2 - 3 Tbsp beef broth concentrate (ex Bovril)
  • Salt pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large casserole, heat a little olive oil.
  2. Season the beef cuts with salt and pepper.
  3. When the oil is hot, sear the pieces of meat (except the lard) on both sides.
  4. When the meat is nicely colored, set aside.
  5. Turn down the heat. Pour a little water in the casserole and scrape with a wooden utensil to remove the juices.
  6. Put back the pieces of meat, the salted lard and cover with water.
  7. Add 2 Tbsp of beef stock concentrate to the pot.
  8. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 2 hours (see this section for a lighter broth). During this time, skim the broth a few times.
  9. Add the vegetables, thyme and bay leaf. Add salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for another 2 hours. After one hour, adjust the seasoning and add the remaining tablespoon of beef stock concentrate if needed.

Notes

Meat: Choose a variety of beef cuts, some fatty and some gelatinous. A piece with a marrow bone will also add a lot of taste to the broth.

Serve with marinated beets and a loaf of bread to dip in the broth.

Tips for making this beef and vegetable pot-au-feu recipe a success

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (2)
  • Tips for making this beef and vegetable pot-au-feu recipe a success
    • Choosing the Right Cuts of Meat
    • Variety of Vegetables for a Colorful and Nutritious Vegetable Stew
    • To obtain a lighter broth
    • Suggested Accompaniments
  • Recommended Equipment to Make This Recipe

Choosing the Right Cuts of Meat

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (3)

For your beef stew to have that characteristic rich and deep flavor, opt for various gelatinous beef cuts such as:

  • A beef chuck roast, even better with a bone;
  • The chuck shoulder, ideal for its tenderness;
  • A beef shank to enrich the broth with deep flavors.

Here are a few examples of the cuts of beef I like to use to make boiled beef:

  • a bone-in chuck roast;
  • beef chuck;
  • a beef shank.

And to complete, salted pork is essential for achieving that authentic taste that makes our beef stew recipe famous.

Variety of Vegetables for a Colorful and Nutritious Vegetable Stew

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (4)

A wide variety of vegetables can be added to pot-au-feu; here are the ones most often found in the classic recipe:

  • Leeks and turnips for their subtle flavors.
  • Carrots and potatoes for texture and creaminess.
  • Green or yellow beans, green cabbage, celery, and onions for a touch of crunch and freshness.

These vegetables are carefully selected to create a perfect balance between flavors and nutritional benefits, making this vegetable stew a healthy choice for the whole family.

Recommended for you

  • Braised beef recipe with red wine and onions
  • Beer and maple braised ham recipe
  • Braised and Pulled Turkey Pasta

To obtain a lighter broth

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (5)

For those who would like a less fatty broth, it is possible to prepare it in advance. This way, you can degrease it before continuing with the cooking of the stew.

To do this, follow the first steps of the recipe: brown the meat, add water and salted pork, then let it simmer.

At the end of cooking, refrigerate the meat and broth separately.

The next day, or after several hours, the fat will have solidified on the surface of the broth. You can then remove it, reheat the broth, and continue by adding the vegetables and meat.

Suggested Accompaniments

Serve your stew with marinated beets and a good fresh bread.

The vinegary and salty pickles will complement the robust flavors of the beef and vegetable stew.

Recommended Equipment to Make This Recipe

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Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew) (2024)

FAQs

Classic pot-au-feu recipe (Quebec's boiled beef & vegetable stew)? ›

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, combine beef chuck, shank, short ribs, oxtail, thyme, onion, garlic, celery, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Top with enough cold water to just cover and season with a very generous pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to maintain a very gentle simmer.

What is the national dish of pot-au-feu? ›

Pot-au-feu is the national dish of France. This essential version combines beef shank and rump roast with eight vegetables and a blend of herbs for an extra-comforting bowl.

Why is pot-au-feu important in France? ›

The Oxford Companion to Food calls pot-au-feu "a dish symbolic of French cuisine and a meal in itself"; the chef Raymond Blanc has called it "the quintessence of French family cuisine ... the most celebrated dish in France, [which] honours the tables of the rich and poor alike"; and the American National Geographic ...

What is France's national dish? ›

The national dish of France is Pot-au-Feu and is a classic comfort dish prepared using stewed meats and vegetables.

What is a French stew called? ›

Pot-au-feu is a slowly simmered meat and vegetable dish that appears on most home tables in France. Pot au Feu, which literally translates to 'pot in the fire', started its life in working-class homes as a way to make less expensive cuts of beef more tender and palatable.

What is the difference between pot-au-feu and pho? ›

Vegetables like carrots and turnips are used to top pot au feu. In pho, these vegetables are replaced by bean sprouts and herbs, with a little lime juice added in for taste.

What is the oldest perpetual stew? ›

In Japan, the restaurant Otaf*cku in the Asakusa district of Tokyo serves a stew called oden, which has been replenished constantly since 1945. The only reason it doesn't date back until 1916, when the restaurant opened, is said to be because that soup was lost in a World War II air raid.

What is Canada's national dish? ›

What is Poutine? Poutine is Canada's national dish, which usually consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy.

What do you drink with pot-au-feu? ›

This generous and extremely fragrant dish goes wonderfully with Rhône Valley tannic and expressive red wines so long as they are young but also with lighter red wines such as Beaujolais or Loire Valley wines that add a certain amount of freshness to the meat.

What is Brazil's national dish? ›

Feijoada, Brazil's national dish, is a stew loaded with black beans and meats of every description: smoked pork loin, bacon and sausage such as chorizo.

What is France's most eaten food? ›

Bread and cheese are staples in a French diet and after you've tasted authentic, French bread and French cheese you'll wonder why they don't just eat it all the time. Unlike baguettes that you might find at home, a real French baguette is crispy and firm with a wispy, fluffy inside.

What are the 3 most famous foods in France? ›

Most Popular Food In France: 15 Must Try Dishes
  • Bouillabaisse. ...
  • Boeuf Bourguignon – Most Famous Food in France. ...
  • French Onion Soup (Soupe à l'Oignon) ...
  • Quiche Lorraine. ...
  • Crêpes and Galettes. ...
  • Cassoulet – bean and sausage casserole. ...
  • Steak Tartare. ...
  • Macarons. No list of food in France would be complete without including macarons.
May 10, 2023

Is beef bourguignon the same as beef stew? ›

The big difference between our beef stew, and French boeuf bourguignon, Provençal daube and Tuscan peposo, is the loud presence of red wine. Traditional American beef stews are lubricated with water and onions; later versions, with beef broth or tomato sauce.

What is the best cut of beef for bourguignon? ›

Which cut of beef is best? Braising steak is the classic cut of meat for bourguignon. Often sold as braising or stewing steak, it can come from many parts of the animal, but all the hard working muscles like shin, chuck, and blade that need a low and slow approach to break down the tough muscle fibres.

What is the liquid in stew called? ›

Broth is a thin soup made of the water in which flavor-enhancing ingredients like meat, vegetables, and herbs and spices have been simmered. The liquid is strained after cooking to remove the flavoring ingredients. The broth can be served on its own or used as the base for a heartier soup or stew.

What is the national food of Hungary? ›

Hungary's national dish

Gulyás, known to English speakers as goulash, is a spicy meat stew containing lots of paprika pepper. Originally, it was eaten by the country's cattle herders and stockmen.

What is Portugal's national dish? ›

Bacalhau

The national dish of Portugal, bacalhau is dried and salted codfish, which is usually soaked in milk or water before cooking. The Portuguese have been eating bacalhau since the 16th century when their fishing boats brought it back from Newfoundland.

What is South Africa's national dish? ›

Another dish thought to have been brought to South Africa by Asian settlers, bobotie is now the national dish of the country and cooked in many homes and restaurants. Minced meat is simmered with spices, usually curry powder, herbs and dried fruit, then topped with a mixture of egg and milk and baked until set.

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