Beef stifado

This Greek dish serves 4.

• 800g small onions or shallots, peeled, but left whole
• 50ml olive oil
• 1kg beef, cut in 1" cubes
• 125ml red wine
• 375ml water
• 2 tablespoons concentrated tomato paste
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled, but left whole
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cloves
• 1 piece cinnamon bark
• pepper
• salt

Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the whole onions for about 5 minutes until brown, then remove with a slotted spoon and put aside.

Add the beef cubes and fry for about 10 minutes until brown on all sides.

Add the wine, water, tomato paste, garlic, vinegar, bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to boil. Then reduce heat, cover and let simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.

Add the onions and let simmer with the lid on for another 20-30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon bark, then serve with bread.