Braised Meat With Onions (Greek Stifatho)

This famous Greek dish, also translated as stifatho, is a braised beef with onions. Every family makes it a little differently and it is so typical of rustic Greek mountain cooking. My recipe is adapted from my mother who makes the best styfatho I have tried thus far. This dish is not only very tasty it is very easy to make. While cooking the longer it simmers the more flavorful it becomes.

2 pounds boneless beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 pounds small pearl white onions, peeled and ends cut
4 garlic cloves
1/2 cup dry red wine
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 bayleaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Add all ingredients meat, white onions, garlic, wine, vinegar, olive oil, bayleaves, and tomato paste in a deep pot. Add enough water to cover all the ingrediants and stir. Bring to a boil then immediatley reduce to simmer for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally adding water as it evaporates when the stifatho is done cooking there should be little sauce left.