FrenchMedium · Hot
Provencal Daube of Beef and Tomato
Beef, carrot, onion, garlic, and tomato braised for hours with thyme until the meat yields without protest and the cooking liquor thickens into something dark and aromatic. A daube does not rush — it is Sunday food, Monday food, the kind of thing that improves with sitting. Every spoonful carries the warmth of the low flame that made it.
Prep
20 min
Cook
2h 30m
Rest
10 min
Total
3h
Method
Season and Brown the Beef
1
Working in batches to avoid crowding, sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned, about 2-3 minutes per side for 1-inch cubes. Transfer the browned beef to a plate and set aside.
Sweat the Aromatics
2
Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Build the Daube
Braise Low and Slow
4
Check the pot every 30 minutes, giving it a gentle stir and adding a splash of water if the sauce has reduced too much.
Finish and Serve
5
Tear the fresh basil leaves over the top and serve in warmed bowls with crusty bread to soak up the rich tomato juices.
A
Nutri-Score
Excellent balance
A–E · lower is better · score -4
Calories
491
per serving
High in protein · 36gLow sugar · 9gLow saturated fat · 5g
Protein
36g
Carbs
16g
Fat
33g
Sat. fat
5g
Fiber
4g
Sugar
9g
Sodium
607mg
Gluten FreeDairy FreeMediterraneanWhole30Heart HealthyLow Sodium OptionAnti InflammatoryDiabetes FriendlyMetabolic HealthHigh ProteinLow CarbBalanced MacrosWhole Foods
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
E
Environmental impact
Very high impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
14
per serving
ECarbonBEU all-round· carbon sets the grade
Water
0.8m³
Land
261Pt
Runoff
0.2g P
Beef steak, cubed drives 97% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
7
Umami
4
Sweet
5
Salty
3
Sour
2
Bitter
1
Spicy
Textures
TenderMeltingSaucyMoist
Aromas
HerbalSavoryGarlickyEarthyTomato
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Dutch OvenCounter FootprintMedium
Safety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Braise at a gentle simmer (180-200°F) ensuring beef reaches 145°F internal temperature for medium-rare doneness. Use a thermometer to verify.
Handling
Searing beef at high heat (400°F+) produces splattering. Use long tongs, protect forearms, and ensure pan is stable to prevent burns or spills.
Cross Contamination
Raw beef surfaces and juices contact cutting boards and utensils. Use separate boards for raw meat and prep vegetables. Sanitize all contact surfaces after handling raw beef.
Storage
Cool daube to 70°F within 2 hours, then to 40°F within 4 hours total. Store in airtight containers. Reheat leftovers to 165°F before serving.
Shelf Life
Refrigerated daube keeps 3-4 days. Frozen daube keeps 2-3 months in freezer-safe containers. Quality degrades after these periods.
High Risk Population
For pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals: ensure beef is cooked to minimum 145°F. Avoid serving to those with celery allergies.
Pro Tips
Technique
Give the beef room to breathe when you sear it — crowding the pan means steaming instead of browning, and that deep caramelization is where all the flavor lives.
Substitution
When summer tomatoes aren't at their peak, San Marzano canned tomatoes are a fine substitute — they have that sweet, concentrated flavor that fresh ones lose out of season.
From the chef
A daube does not rush. The beef is seared hard first so the crust has something to give back over the long braise, then it settles into tomato, carrot, onion, and garlic with thyme and rosemary, the pot covered and left on a low flame for hours. The cooking liquor thickens slowly into something dark and aromatic, and the meat yields without protest when a spoon touches it. This is Sunday food, Monday food — it improves with sitting and reheating, and every spoonful carries the warmth of the slow fire that built it. Tear basil over the top and serve with bread to catch every drop of the sauce.
TagsSlow CookedBraisedTomato BasedBeef StewProvençAlMediterraneanGarlic RichHerb Infused
AllergensCelery
Source: generated · May 30, 2026