FOOD NEWS
Beef Bourguignon Vs Beef Stew: What's The Difference?
BY NIKITA EPHANOV
Beef stew and beef bourguignon are two hearty, comforting meals. Although beef bourguignon is a type of beef stew, it has unique characteristics that set it apart from the rest.
Beef bourguignon is a French stew featuring tender beef and veggies like sweet pearl onions, mushrooms, and carrots, flavored with wine, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, and parsley.
The dish dates back to the French stews of the Middle Ages, but it wasn’t until 1903 with August Escoffier’s recipe that the stew became a classic of French cuisine.
Unlike other beef stews, beef bourguignon relies on wine, typically a French Burgundy, to build the rich foundational flavor of the broth and tenderize the beef.
Like beef bourguignon, beef stew revolves around tender, slow-cooked beef, but additions can vary from soy, Worcestershire, and regional spices to various veggies.
The dish is also centuries old, with the first recipe dating back to the 14th century, and it has appeared in various cultures from the Vikings to the Romans.
Beef stew is a wide category including everything from Kentucky’s burgoo and Texas’ red chili to worldwide cuisines like Mexican birria, Pakistani Nihari, or Chinese braised beef.