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Beef with Onions — traditional dish from Frankfurt, Germany
Main course Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥500kcal
💪40gProtein
🌾15gCarbs
🥑30gFat
🌿3gFibre
⚖️350 gServing

* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.

Beef with Onions

How to order / say it
Say it Zwiebelfleisch — [TSVEE-bel-fly-sh]
Order I'd like the beef with onions, please.
Locally Ich hätte gerne das Zwiebelfleisch, bitte.
Say locally

A flavorful, slow-cooked beef dish with an onion sauce.

Why try it?

Zwiebelfleisch is a beloved dish in Frankfurt, echoing traditional home-style cooking. It represents the city’s affinity for hearty, comforting meals that are deeply rooted in the region's food heritage.

How it tastes

This dish boasts tender beef, slow-cooked to absorb the rich flavors of onions and spices, creating a savory, umami-rich delight. The sauce is aromatic, with a slight sweetness from caramelized onions.

Origin & History — first documented: 1880

Although the exact origin date is unclear, Zwiebelfleisch has been a staple in German homes for several centuries, widely adopted in the late 19th century thanks to its simple yet robust flavor profile and ease of preparation.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 500 g beef
  • 🧄 300 g onion
  • 🥣 500 ml braising liquid
  • 🫒 3 tbsp oil
  • 🧂 to taste salt
  • 🧂 1 tsp black pepper

Method

  1. 1 Season beef with salt and pepper, then sear in hot oil.
  2. 2 Remove beef and sauté sliced onions until golden.
  3. 3 Return beef to the pot, add braising liquid and cover.
  4. 4 Simmer for 2 hours until beef is tender. Adjust seasoning.

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All Europe recipes — Germany — Frankfurt — Beef with Onions
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