Pastitsada — Corfu-Style Braised Beef

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Meteora monasteries

📍 Where this dish comes from: Meteora, Thessaly · Meteora monasteries
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Pastitsada — Corfu-Style Braised Beef, plated and ready to serve

Pastitsada is the iconic dish of the island of Corfu — beef braised in a complex spiced tomato sauce with a flavor profile influenced by Venetian rule, uniquely layered with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of vinegar that gives it a bright finish. Traditionally served over pasta, this keto version uses hearts of palm pasta or zucchini noodles, and the sauce is so extraordinary you will barely notice the swap.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Pastitsada — Corfu-Style Braised Beef

Pastitsada — Corfu-Style Braised Beef

Pastitsada is the iconic dish of the island of Corfu — beef braised in a complex spiced tomato sauce with a flavor profile influenced by Venetian rule, uniquely layered with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of vinegar that gives it a bright finish.
Print Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 450kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs beef chuck cut into large chunks
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp each ground cinnamon ground allspice, and paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 packages hearts of palm pasta (or zucchini noodles to serve)
  • Grated graviera cheese to finish
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Season beef. Brown in batches in olive oil over high heat in a heavy Dutch oven, 4 minutes per side. Remove.
  • Saute onion until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add all spices and stir 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Deglaze with wine and vinegar. Add crushed tomatoes and bay leaves.
  • Return beef to pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and braise on very low heat 2.5-3 hours until completely tender.
  • Prepare hearts of palm pasta per package directions. Serve beef and sauce over pasta with generous grated cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 450kcal | Protein: 42g | Fat: 25g | Fiber: 3g
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Cooking Pastitsada — Corfu-Style Braised Beef in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Long-braised beef chuck releases maximum collagen from connective tissue, creating a sauce naturally rich in glycine and proline that support the gut lining and skin health.
  • Vinegar in the braise stimulates gastric acid production, improving protein digestion significantly.
  • The complex spice blend — cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves — collectively delivers some of the highest antioxidant concentrations of any spice family.

Pairs Well With

  • Classic Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
  • Kolokithakia Tiganita — Fried Zucchini with Skordalia
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