Vegetarian Bourguignon, a spin on our classic French recipe.
I am blessed behind believe that my wonderful friend, Michelin Star accredited Chef, my mentor, cooking instructor, author, and restaurant owner, Eliane Muskus from Born to Taste, accepted to come and visit me and my family for a few days before heading back to the Netherland.
inching moment. And then fear set it. I will have to cook!!! Talk about intimidation.
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However, in the chef’s fashion, she wanted to work in the kitchen with me and prepare some new dishes.
The recipe selected for our day was set to be a perfect day cooking, taping, and of course, rewarded with a great meal at the end of it all.
In her new cookbook, “Let’s Eat” she has a lot of vegetarian recipes. Old French classics, rewritten and reintroduced into a vegetarian dish. To order the book, click HERE.
This Vegetarian Bourguignon recipe is exceptional. Once you bite into the mushrooms and taste the sauce, you will be transported into a different culinary dimension.
In this Article
What is a Bourguignon?
Bourguignon, also called beef Burgundy, is a French classic beef stew that is braised in red wine, often from the Burgundy region, with beef stock, garlic and garnished with bouquet garni, pearl onions, mushrooms, and bacon.
What is the difference between beef stew and beef Bourguignon?
The difference is the red wine. The French use red wine, and our American counterparts use water, beef broth, or tomato sauce. However, the stews with wine must be simmered.
This is a pretty simple recipe with lots of steps. Read it twice just to familiarize yourself with all of them; therefore mise en place, or chop, cut, and prepare all your ingredients before starting cooking.
However, I have a few pointers for preparing this recipe.
Cooking tips and step-by-step instructions to prepare this wonderful Vegetarian Bourguignon
Read this recipe twice and have all your ingredients ready before starting. You will thank me later.
The most important ingredient that we are always tempted to use is salt and as you can see very little is used with this recipe.
The reason is that not only are we using anchovy paste, which is already giving a rich flavor to this dish, but while cooking, the rich flavor intensifies.
- A large enamel cast iron Dutch oven pan is the best to make the sauce and also it cooks perfectly even.
- Dried porcini mushrooms are a must. Let them soak in warm water, not hot.
- Once soaked, do SAVE the liquid. That liquid has so much flavor that it will enhance any dish. If you do not want to use it here, save it and use it when making risotto.
- Pickled onions are a quick alternative to fresh. Make sure you rinse them before cooking. Would not recommend frozen as they will turn soggy.
- We used baby Bella mushrooms. Have fun and add some wild mushrooms to them.
- When purchasing the mushrooms, make sure they are all the same size. Much easier to cook evenly. Please do not wash them underwater as they absorb the water and will be hard to roast.
- Cook the mushrooms and pearl onions in batches. Overcrowding the Dutch oven will be a detriment as they will not cook evenly. The mushrooms need to be browned on all sides.
- Add the wine to the center of your pan to eliminate any spilling to go over the heat source.
- Deglazing is so essential as you do not want to leave behind any pieces of vegetables that are full of flavor.
- Rule of thumb if you need to thicken the sauce: equal part cornstarch and water.
- Season at the last minute with salt.
And one more thing…
One of Eliane’s advice was that anytime we add flour to a pan and add either butter oil like in this instance, we always have to cook the flour to remove its flavor of and bring out its nuttier taste it.
Potatoes are an excellent side dish, pureed. Creamy polenta or pasta. However, a great baguette will transport you to France.
White wine is a great substitute; of course, you can make this non-vegetarian recipe.
Do not forget a great glass of wine, too.
Are you looking for more delicious recipes?
Why not try:
Broiled Beef Tenderloin with Asparagus and Roasted Red Onion Vinaigrette
Equipment and Ingredients used to make this recipe
Vegetarian Bourguignon
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 pounds baby Bella mushrooms, dirt removed, halved and stem removed
- ¾ cup pickled pearl onions,
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups mushroom stock, vegetable stock
- 3¼ teaspoons corn starch, or agar-agar
- 1½ cup red wine, Pinot Noir or white wine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 garlic cloves, cleaned and minced
- 1 tablespoon anchovy paste,
- 2 tablespoons dried porcini mushrooms,
- 4 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 onions, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled and end core removed
- 8 thyme, sprigs
- 2 bay leaves, dried
- 12 black peppercorn
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small dish place the dried porcini mushrooms, soak them in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from water, squeeze the water out and roughly chop. Save the soaking water and add the liquid to the mushroom stock. Set the porcini aside.
- Over medium-high heat, pour 3 tablespoons olive oil into a heavy-bottomed large Dutch oven pan
- Cook the mushrooms in batches by adding half of the mushrooms with half of the pearl onions, with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to the pan. Cook covered for about 6 minutes until all the liquid has rendered, and the mushrooms are tender and caramelized. Remove from the heat and set aside. Repeat the same process with the remaining half of mushrooms and pearl onions.
- Once the second batch is done, uncover and add the first batch of mushrooms back to the pan, reducing the heat to low. Add the minced garlic and continue to cook until mushrooms are tender about 8 minutes.
- When done, transfer the mushrooms mixture to a bowl and set aside.
- Return the pot to the stove over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and flour by carefully whisking the flour and oil until well combined and the combination starts to get a light caramel color.
- Add the carrots, onions, garlic cloves, anchovy paste, tomato paste, and soaked and chopped porcini mushrooms. Stir well and cook until the onions are translucent about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl dissolve the agar-agar or corn starch with ½ cup of the vegetable broth. Set aside.
- When the carrots and the onions are done add the corn starch-broth combination and stir well.
- Add the wine to the center of the pan to deglaze by stirring and dislodging any brown bits that may be stuck to the bottom or the side of the pan.
- Carefully pour in the mushrooms stock to which you added the porcini mushrooms water, fresh thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil and cook while stirring occasionally and the liquid has thickened somewhat. About 10 to 12 minutes.
- When the liquid is thickened, it should be slowly coming off the spoon almost like a light syrup consistency, remove from heat.
- Over a large bowl, place a large sieve and place the pan vegetables with the liquid through the sieve to separate the liquid from the solids. With a rubber spatula, press the solids to get as much juice as you possibly can.
- Return the liquid to the pan and discard the solids. If at this point if your sauce is too thin add equal parts liquid and corn starch and mix them into the liquids and let it thicken by stirring well.
- Season with salt and pepper. Be careful when adding the salt as there is already 1 tablespoon anchovy paste which should not be omitted as it gives the dish great depth of flavor.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and add the mushrooms/pearl onions mixture and cook until heated thru about 5 minutes.
- Serve over creamy polenta, pasta, or silky-smooth potato puree. Sprinkle some finely chopped parsley over your dish, optional.
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Dinners, Sunday Night Dinner, Vegetables
- Cuisine: French
- Type: Videos
Did you make this?
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Minda
I don’t think Anchovy paste is vegetarian. What could be used as a substitution?
Giangi Townsend
Hi Minda, lots of my cookbooks consider fish vegetarian, however with that said, you can add a touch more salt to your recipe. The anchovies add a layer of natural saltiness to your dish.
You can also omit it.
I hope this is of help to you.
Enjoy!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/
I took your advice and read it twice. I need to remember to save the soaking water for porcini (and many other things!). I better print it to follow for dinner tonight; I’m craving a Bourguignon, meaty or not!
Giangi Townsend
You will enjoy this version Mihaela.
Bon Appetit!
Daniel Ng
My family would love this recipe as much as I do. We seldom have this kind of vegetarian version. It sure did help us to explore on this cooking. Thank you Giangi.
Giangi Townsend
I am so happy you and your family enjoyed it. Thank you for making it.
Joanna
Personally, I simply adore beef bourguignon, especially in wintertime. It’s so cozy and satisfying and it practically cooks itself. But, admittedly, I am trying to stay away from too much red meat so this vegetarian version will be a perfect replacement. Thank you!
Giangi Townsend
The pleasure is all mine. I am sure you will enjoy this version.
Bon Appetit!
Cindy L
I am a huge fan of mushrooms, so am over the moon that this meatless version of bourguignon is jam packed with them. It looks heavenly!
Giangi Townsend
And it is heavenly, I cannot wait for you to try it.
Enjoy!
Christina
Giangi! Another great recipe, the flavors are amazing.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you so much.
Jeanine
This is a wonderful recipe for Bourguignon. I love your detail and tips especially.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you! I try to be as explanatory as I possibly can.
connie
Thank you for this beautiful & delicious meatless spin on a classic dish. I look forward to trying it!
Giangi Townsend
You are most welcome, Connie. I am sure you will enjoy it very much.
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
This sounds like such a lovely and comforting meal, perfect for a cold winter day here in Canada. I also love that it is meatless, since meat prices are rising and we are trying to eat more sustainably.
Giangi Townsend
Comfort food at its best. Absolutely! This recipe is easy on your wallet, that’s for sure.
LG
This looks so tasty. I think I might try it.
Giangi Townsend
You will enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!
Dawn Conklin
This vegetarian bouguignon is so delicious, so full of flavor! I used homemade vegetable stock but I bet it is amazing with mushroom stock too. Definitely making it again, we all loved it.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you, Dawn, for making my dish. So happy everyone loves it.