25 Beef Dishes Around The World You Need To Try

From humble stews to showstopping steak dishes, beef has proved time and time again to be one of the most versatile meats out there. Just about any cut of beef can yield delicious and impressive results in a wide range of recipes, whether fried, grilled, or braised for hours until it's on the verge of falling apart. It pairs just as well with rich tomato sauces as it does with spicy citrus dressings which makes it a versatile ingredient, no matter what you're in the mood for. 

Although many Americans are familiar with iconic beef dishes like barbeque ribs or meatballs with bolognese, there is an array of beef recipes from across the globe that showcase the protein's utility. These meals allow the culinary identity of the recipe creator or cook to shine through and convey feelings of nostalgia, comfort, and decadence. Although the exact preparation may vary, all the dishes we selected showcase how versatile beef can be.

This rich, robust stew, which derives its name from the Burgundy region of France, is full of satisfying flavors from bay leaves, thyme, and, of course, red wine. Many different cuts of meat can be used, including chuck, but some cuts of meat will work better for braising than others. The beef is sometimes marinated in red wine overnight for extra flavor before being cooked slowly and gently to help the fat dissolve into the sauce and create a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Common additions to this French dish include bacon lardons, which add extra salty unctuousness to the meal. You'll also find an array of vegetables, including onions, carrots, and button mushrooms. Caramelized onions can provide a tantalizing sweetness that perfectly contrasts the stew's savory flavors, but fall-apart chunks of beef and red wine are the heart and soul of this dish. 

Rouladen, a famous and delicious German comfort dish, consists of long strips of beef steak brushed with mustard and filled with onions, pickles, and bacon. The strips are then seasoned and rolled up, sealing in the delicious filling, before they are browned and simmered in a broth until tender.

As the meat cooks, its juices help to flavor the broth further, which is then used to make a rich and meaty gravy for serving. Conventional accompaniments include red cabbage and traditional German sides like spätzle.

Beef and Guinness stew is a comfort food dish from Ireland. The Guinness beer's malty sweetness and notes of chocolate perfectly complement tender, chunky cuts of beef for a hearty and complex bowl of goodness. 

Slow-cooked carrots and onions are cooked alongside the beef in a thyme-infused sauce, which allows the components to soak up the stout's malty, hoppy finish. The end result is a truly tasty supper, often served with a generous hunk of crusty bread to mop up the sauce. 

This Peruvian classic combines the bold flavors of Asia and Latin America. Lomo saltado is made by stir-frying tender strips of steak with onions, tomatoes, and fries in a Chinese-inspired sauce. The fusion of flavors can be credited to the culinary influence of Chinese immigrants, who put their own take on local South American ingredients after relocating. 

Lomo saltado gets its kick and unmistakable Peruvian taste from aji amarillo peppers. It's a great recipe for using up leftovers, particularly if you're looking to give cold french fries a new lease on life.

Suya is grilled beef skewers that are often sold as street food across Nigeria and West Africa. The beef takes on a delicious, nutty, smoky, and slightly sweet taste thanks to the marinade made with ground peanuts and spices like paprika, cayenne, and ground ginger. The skewers are served with the seasoning, called yajin kuli, along with onions, tomatoes, and limes for drizzling. Its flavors are unique and complement the succulent meat quite well.

Cottage pie is a comforting English classic. It starts with juicy ground beef and vegetables cooked in a thick gravy and covered with creamy mashed potatoes. The entire dish is then baked until the potato layer is slightly crisp. The gravy features ingredients like red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato purée, which instill deeply savory notes undercut by fluffy potato topping. 

The humble pie is easy to make but can be elevated by incorporating extra ingredients. Adding cheese makes for an even more indulgent topping, or you can swap out the potatoes for a unique, low-carb cauliflower cottage pie. 

Chebureki, a type of fried turnover, is a classic Russian street food. Though, it may also be found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

These crispy, hand-held snacks are filled with juicy ground beef and onions seasoned with salt, pepper, and parsley. Its dough is rather basic and sometimes features a splash of vodka to help keep it crunchy. The crescent moon-shaped pies are best served hot and are often enjoyed with a side of sour cream.

This delicious, warming noodle soup is full of aromatic herbs and spices, including black cardamom, star anise, peppercorns, and fennel. These herbs and spices create a tantalizing broth that is easily absorbed by tender cuts of beef shank. Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, and soy sauce are also added to the broth, which is served with noodles and fresh greens like baby bok choi. 

Niu rou mian is an incredibly popular comfort food dish across Taiwan. The dish is so beloved in the country that its capital, Taipei City, hosts a yearly competition to find the best beef noodle soup.

Steak au poivre, or "pepper steak," is a classic French dish. The steaks are rubbed in freshly ground peppercorns to create a crust. After the steak has been cooked to perfection, it's served with a thick and creamy sauce made with shallots, heavy cream, and cognac.

Filet mignon is a popular cut for this dish because of its tenderness. However, any cut of beef will arguably work well because it's ultimately smothered in a rich, complex sauce that imparts creamy and garlicky flavors with every bite.

Bao buns are an incredibly popular street food dish and regular household meal in China, as well as in other Asian countries like Japan and Korea. They're pillowy, soft, and crammed full of succulent meat and shredded vegetables. While fillings can vary, one popular preparation in China is made with ground beef, peppers, and mushrooms and seasoned with ginger, black bean paste, and soy sauce. 

Bao buns are incredibly easy to find at street food vendors and in restaurants in China, but you can also make them at home — as long as you have a steamer basket handy.

Beef rendang is a classic Indonesian dish that showcases slow-cooked beef infused with a range of delicious spices and creamy coconut milk. The long cooking time means that the sauce is reduced almost completely, leaving a much drier dish than that which one might more commonly associate with other curries and stews found in the region. 

This lack of sauce, however, is more than compensated for by incredibly moist meat and the complexity of flavors, including lemongrass, garlic, ginger, and galangal. Beef rendang is best served with plain rice, which absorbs all the flavors of the beef and sauce.

Lok lak, or "shaken beef," is a traditional Cambodian dish that combines the sharp zestiness of citrus with the smoky and salty flavors of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and Kampot peppercorns. The beef is finely sliced before it's cooked in a pan with a flavorful sauce. This cooking technique gives the beef strips a slightly charred taste and texture, which works perfectly with contrasting sweet and fruity flavors of the sauce.

The cooked beef is commonly served with sliced tomatoes and lettuce, which can be used to scoop up the meat, and a serving of punchy, peppery lime sauce for dipping or drizzling.