Transport your taste buds to the Middle East with this flavorful Turkish-style braised beef recipe, featuring tender chunks of chuck roast cooked in a fragrant blend of spices and vegetables. Perfect served over rice or with crusty bread!
Turkish Style Braised Beef
Ingredients
- 2 lb chuck roast cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 3 anaheim peppers sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 8 garlic cloves sliced
- 6 sprigs thyme
- 4 cups water
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon Aleppo pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place cut beef in bottom of Dutch oven and season with salt and pepper. Spread sliced onion, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and thyme on top.
- Whisk together water with tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, cumin, Aleppo pepper, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour liquid into Dutch oven. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Transfer to the oven and continue to braise for 2 hours.
- Remove lid and increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Braise for another 30 minutes, reducing the braising liquid. Remove from oven and season with salt and pepper. Serve Turkish style braised beef with rice or crusty bread.
Notes
Watch how to make this:
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The Inspiration
I can honestly say that I know very little about Turkish food. The only thing I do know is that the dishes I've tried so far, I've absolutely loved. It wasn't until I had the chance to visit Germany last year that I realized just how amazing Turkish food is. One of my favorite restaurants (other than doner kebab!) was a small Turkish restaurant serving food cafeteria-style. I wasn't sure what I was ordering but when it appeared on my plate, I was immediately excited. And so here I am back at home, trying to replicate the beef dish I had. Although not exactly the same, my Turkish style braised beef brings me back to that restaurant. It's pure comfort in a bowl!
The Ingredients
- Chuck roast: Although I used chuck roast for this recipe, you can use any cut of meat suitable for braising including brisket, short ribs, lamb shank, or even pork shoulder.
- Anaheim peppers: A mild hot chili with a peppery flavor and a hint of sweetness. If you can’t find Anaheim peppers use poblano peppers instead.
- Cherry tomatoes: If tomatoes aren’t in season, you can replace the cherry tomatoes with 7 ounces of canned whole tomatoes.
- Red wine vinegar: Provides acidity to the dish and smoky notes. You can also use white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar if desired.
- Aleppo pepper: A type of chili flake with a medium level of heat that tastes sweet, fruity, and complex. If you can’t find Aleppo pepper, use sweet Spanish paprika or crushed red chili flakes.
How to Make Turkish Style Braised Beef
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Cut the beef into large 2-inch cubes and place them in the bottom of a Dutch oven or braising dish. You can use any type of braising meat for this recipe. I love using chuck roast because the meat always comes out incredibly tender. Remember to season the meat with plenty of salt and pepper. Then, pile on the vegetables including sliced bell pepper, Anaheim peppers, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and thyme.
Step 2: Braise
Whisk together water with tomato paste, red wine vinegar, sugar, cumin, Aleppo pepper, salt, and pepper until well combined. If you can't find Aleppo pepper, use red chili flakes instead.
Pour that delicious braising liquid into the pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. I like to use a Dutch oven for this dish because it can easily go from the stove to the oven. If you are using a braising dish, it'll be helpful to use one that can be heated on the stove as well.
Transfer the pot to the oven and continue to braise at a low temperature of 325 degrees F for about 2 hours.
Step 3: Reduce the Sauce
After 2 hours, the beef should be fall-apart tender. But instead of removing it from the oven, we're going to take off the lid, crank up the heat, and reduce the braising liquid. The sauce gives all the flavor so we're going to reduce it a bit and concentrate all of those wonderful deep seasonings.
Remove the Turkish style braised beef from the oven and give it a final seasoning adjustment. I enjoyed my dish with a bowl of rice but you can also enjoy it with crusty bread.
This tender braised beef swimming in rich tomato sauce is what I consider true comfort food. It's almost like a beef stew but with a bit more tang from the tomatoes and vinegar. Now if I miss that Turkish restaurant, I can make this dish at home!
FAQs
Can I make this in the instant pot or slow cooker?
Yes! For the instant pot, pressure cook for 45 minutes on high. For the slow cooker, cook on low for 8 hours-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
Can you prepare this dish ahead of time?
Yes, in fact, the beef tastes better the next day. You can hold the braised beef for up to 3 days in the fridge.
What can I serve with Turkish style braised beef?
The dish goes well with rice, crusty bread, mashed potatoes, and a side of roasted vegetables.
For more braised meat inspiration check out this carne asada short ribs Mexican bowls recipe!
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