Braised Beef Cubes with Garlic

This is an authentic Czech recipe for slow-braised beef cubes with garlic gravy. The dish is very popular in the Czech Republic, often served with potato dumplings and creamed spinach.

➜ About the Recipe

These are tender and juicy beef cubes in garlic gravy, slowly braised in an onion base with a small amount of liquid. Garlic gives the beef a unique flavor.

Expect this recipe to take about three hours before it's done. For the vast majority of that time, the beef will slowly simmer without you having to care for it.

➤ In the Czech language, beef cubes with garlic are called “Hovězí na česneku”. You can get it mainly in classic Czech pubs on the lunch menu.

MY TIP: Try also this roasted rabbit recipe (it taste delicious!)

➜ Ingredients

To make beef cubes with garlic gravy we need:

• Beef chuck or round; whole or steaks
• Garlic; pressed
• All-purpose flour; for thickening the gravy
• Pork lard; for frying onions and meat, or table oil - sunflower or Canola
• Onion; peeled, finely chopped
• Water; in which the meat will stew
• Salt

✅ You’ll find the exact amount of ingredients below in the recipe card, which you can also print out.

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Quick Instructions:

1. Cut the beef into cubes.
2. Chop the onion finely, press the peeled garlic.
3. Season the meat with salt and mix with the garlic.
4. Brown the meat in a pan, set aside.
5. Fry the onions in the same fat as the beef earlier.
6. Put the meat back into the pan, pour water over it, and simmer until tender.
7. Dust with flour towards the end and simmer for a further 15 minutes.
8. Serve the finished beef cubes with spinach and potato dumplings.

➜ Detailed Instructions with Photos

STEP 1: Cut the beef into cubes about 1 inch (3 cm) in size. Peel the onion and chop it finely. Peel and press the garlic.

STEP 2: Salt the meat cubes and mix with garlic.

STEP 3: Heat the lard or oil in a frying pan to a higher temperature and brown the meat in it. The meat will probably release its juices. Cook until the juices evaporate and the meat cubes are golden brown. Stir.

STEP 4: Remove the fried meat and fry the onion in the same fat. If it sticks to the bottom of the pan, add a tablespoon of water. Using a flat spatula, scrape the drippings from the bottom of the pan and stir them into the onions.

STEP 5: Return the beef cubes to the onions, and cover with water so that the meat is half submerged. Cover with a lid, turn the heat down to a minimum, and simmer until the beef is tender. Stewing time for beef cubes: 2-3 hours.

STEP 6: At the end of the stewing (the meat is already soft and tender), remove the lid, add a little water if necessary and dust the surface of the stew with flour through a sieve. Put the lid back on and let the flour steam for 15 minutes at low heat - do not stir!   

STEP 7: Finally, season with salt to taste, stir and serve.

➜ Serving

Beef cubes with garlic gravy are best served with potato dumplings and creamed spinach. Garnish the dumplings with fried onion rings for effect and flavor.

➜ Useful Tips

• Prepare the beef half an hour in advance. Cut into cubes, mix with salt and garlic and leave to marinate at room temperature. The meat will smell more of garlic.
• The trick of dusting the beef with flour will ensure that the gravy thickens gently, yet no lumps form. There is no need for a roux either.
• You can also prepare this recipe in a slow cooker. I recommend that the initial stage (frying the meat and onions) be done in a skillet and then put to a simmer in the slow cooker.

More Czech recipes

• Beef goulash – hovězí guláš
• Braised red cabbage – červené zelí
• Roasted pork shoulder – vepřová pečeně
• Roast duck – pečená kachna
• Beef roll ups – Spanelske ptacky
• Green spinach sauce – špenátová omáčka