RECIPE: Braised Steak in Onion Gravy

Braising steak is usually one of the cheaper cuts of beef, so it is a fantastic choice for those on a budget. It is also a good choice if you are a fan of slow-cooking techniques and like to prepare a meal in the morning before leaving for work. This means that serving dinner takes very little effort when returning home. One of the simplest things to make is braised steak with onion gravy.

I made this delicious braised steak with onion gravy for tea yesterday and served it with potato gratin (recipe here), fine green beans, and julienne potatoes. Below is a picture of how much the boys in my house were enjoying eating their braised steak, which was falling apart because it was so tender.

Don’t let the long cooking time put you off. It is not labour-intensive, and most of the cooking time is while the dish is cooking in the oven. Therefore, you can go off and do other jobs while it is cooking.

Here is an easy recipe for braised steak with onion gravy to serve 4 people. 

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 hours
Servings: 4
Vegetarian/ Vegan: NO
Dairy-free: YES
Gluten-free: Check if the gravy granules are gluten-free

Ingredients for Braised Steak with Onion Gravy

• 4 braising steaks
• 2 onions, sliced
• 4 heaped tbsp gravy granules
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper

How to Make Braised Steak with Onion Gravy

• Preheat the oven to a low setting.
• Put the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat on the hob. 
• Season the braising steaks on both sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Put two of the steaks in the pan and cook for a few minutes on each side to brown.
• Transfer the steaks to an ovenproof dish.
• Repeat with the two remaining steaks.
• Add the onions to the pan and fry for approximately 3 minutes or until turning brown
• Transfer the onions to the ovenproof dish with the braising steaks. 
• Boil a kettle of water and pour enough over the steaks and onions to cover plus an extra inch.
• Add a lid to the dish or cover with kitchen foil. 
• Put in the oven and cook on a low heat for 4-5 hours. (If you are out of the house for longer, it is fine)
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the gravy granules. Stir into the water and juices.
• Turn the oven up to 180C/ gas mark 4.
• Re-cover the dish and return to the oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and serve with your choice of potatoes and vegetables. 

Additional Tips

Add some herbs to your braised steak in onion gravy for extra flavour. Bay leaves and parsley both work well with braised steak.