Kokinisto – Beef stew in tomato sauce

This deliciously simple beef stew with tomatoes and red wine is easy to make in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or stove. The perfect comfort food for chilly winter nights.

Published November 2013, updated November 2018

I first posted this recipe for Greek Kokinisto stew five years ago and the time has come to give it a little spruce!

Kokinisto means ‘made red’ – literally beef stew with tomatoes and red wine. It is a classic Greek recipe and a childhood favourite.

The slow cooking tenderises the meat until it is meltingly soft and the rich sauce is fragrant with cinnamon and cloves.

This beef stew is very simple and doesn’t include lots of extra vegetables. Or any vegetables apart from the tomatoes and onions! This is how my mother used to make it and who am I to argue?

As with most stews this tastes even better the day after it’s made so do yourselves a favour and make extra! 

This stew is so easy to make in your pressure cooker, crockpot or stovetop. These days I always choose the Instant Pot as it is the quickest and most convenient option. Take a look at the video to see how its done!

I have included instructions for your stovetop and slow cooker however so choose whichever method suits you best. Please note that you will need more stock for the stovetop version as long cooking allows for evaporation – see recipe notes.

Ingredients in Greek beef stew

• Cubed beef: you can use any cheap cut of stew meat here, such as casserole or braising steak, but don’t go for anything too lean.
• Red wine: don’t bother using expensive red wine unless you have some leftover. Cheap medium-dry wine will do the job just as well.
• Beef broth (stock) – I use Knorr stockpots but a stock cube is fine too
• Shallots or onion
• Garlic
• Chopped (tinned) tomatoes and tomato purée or paste. Fresh tomatoes can also be used if you prefer.
• Bay leaves, cinnamon stick and cloves bring on the distinctive aroma that will make your house smell amazing!
• A little sugar to cut the acidity – you can also use sweetener of your choice or leave this out.
• If you wanted to add some extra veggies, chuck in some diced carrots and celery.

What to serve with Greek beef stew

In Greece this rich stew is served over pasta – usually orzo or penne. But it can also be served with rice, mashed potatoes or even fries. I think fries – patates tiganites – was definitely my favourite side when I was a child!

These days I usually serve with mashed potatoes and some type of greens – wilted spinach, green beans or tenderstem broccoli.

How to make Greek beef stew in the Instant Pot

Step 1. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron casserole or skillet and brown the beef, in batches, until nicely coloured on all sides. You can also brown the beef directly in your pressure cooker but don’t crowd the meat as it will stew rather than brown.

Step 2. Heat the olive oil in your Instant Pot using the Sauté function. Add the shallots or onion and sugar and cook over medium heat for about five minutes, until softened.  

Step 3. Add the garlic, bay leaf, cloves, salt, pepper and cinnamon stick and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant.

Step 4. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth and wine. Add the beef, stir together and cover.

Step 5. Set vent to sealing and cook for 45 minutes at high pressure. Leave for 10 minutes natural release and then manually release the rest of the steam.

Step 6. Taste and season if necessary. Stir in some chopped parsley and serve with mashed potatoes, rice or orzo pasta.

How to make Greek beef stew on the stove

Step 1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven and cook the meat, in batches, so it browns evenly.

Step 2. Take the beef out and deglaze the pan with a splash of the wine.

Step 3. Lower the heat, and add the chopped onion and sugar. Cook for about five minutes, stirring, until softened.

Step 4. Add the garlic, bay leaf, cloves, salt, pepper and cinnamon stick and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant.

Step 5. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth and wine. Add the beef, stir together and bring to the boil then reduce heat to a simmer.

Step 6. Cook for about 1 1/2- 2 hours until the beef is tender. Give the occasional stir and add more hot water if the pan gets a bit dry.

How to make Greek beef stew in the slow cooker

Brown the meat and sauté the onion and garlic then add all the ingredients to the slow cooker pot and cook for 5 hours on high or up to 7-8 hours on low.

HAVE YOU MADE MY BEEF STEW WITH TOMATOES AND RED WINE?

Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #supergoldenbakes. I can’t wait to see your take on it!

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• Slow cooker Brazilian feijoada stew
• One-Pot Greek Beef Stifado Stew
• Chicken, chorizo, olive and chickpea stew

Kokinisto - beef stew with tomatoes and red wine

Lucy Parissi | Supergolden Bakes

This deliciously simple beef stew with tomatoes and red wine is easy to make in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or stove. The perfect comfort food for chilly winter nights.

4.54 from 15 votes

Print Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Greek

Keyword: Beef stew, beef stew with tomatoes and red wine, Greek beef stew

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Calories: 448kcal

Ingredients

• 1.3 kg  | 3 lb cubed stewing beef
• 5 shallots or 1 large onion , diced
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar , or sweetener
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground pepper
• 400 g | 14oz can chopped tomatoes in tomato juice
• 3-4 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp olive oil , or as needed
• 125 ml | 1/2 cup beef stock (broth)
• 125 ml  | 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley , chopped

Instructions

Instant Pot method

• Heat olive oil in a large cast iron casserole or skillet and brown the beef, in batches, until nicely coloured on all sides. You can also brown the beef directly in your pressure cooker but don’t crowd the meat as it will stew rather than brown.
• Heat the olive oil in your Instant Pot using the Sauté function. Add the shallots or onion and sugar and cook over medium heat for about five minutes, until softened.
• Add the garlic, bay leaf, cloves, salt, pepper and cinnamon stick and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
• Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth and wine. Add the beef, stir together and cover.
• Set vent to sealing and cook for 45 minutes at high pressure. Leave for 10 minutes natural release and then manually release the rest of the steam.
• Stir in the chopped parsley and check the seasoning.
• Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or orzo pasta.

Stovetop method

• Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven and cook the meat, in batches, so it browns evenly.
• Take the beef out and deglaze the pan with a splash of the wine.
• Lower the heat, and add the chopped onion and sugar. Cook for about five minutes, stirring, until softened.
• Add the garlic, bay leaf, cloves, salt, pepper and cinnamon stick and stir for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
• Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth and wine. Please note you will need 2 cups (500ml) stock plus 1 cup (250ml) red wine for this method. Add the beef, stir together and bring to the boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
• Cook for about 1 1/2- 2 hours until the beef is tender. Give the occasional stir and add more hot water if the pan gets a bit dry.
• Stir in the chopped parsley and check the seasoning.
• Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or orzo pasta.

Slow cooker method

• Brown the meat and sauté the onion and garlic then add all the ingredients to the slow cooker pot and cook for 5 hours on high or up to 7-8 hours on low. 

Video

Notes

Please note you will need 2 cups (500ml) stock plus 1 cup (250ml) red wine for the stovetop method. Periodically check your pot and stir, adding more hot water if it is getting too dry.

Nutritional Info

Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 755mg | Potassium: 1155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6.1% | Vitamin C: 14.3% | Calcium: 8.3% | Iron: 33.4%

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