Daube

Daube is a hearty Provençal stew consisting of meat (mostly beef, but other meats like lamb can be used) that is simmered low and slow in wine with various vegetables and seasonings such as cinnamon, cloves, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns.

Preparing daube is a time-consuming process in which the ingredients are added in layers, with the meat on the bottom and the spices and vegetables on top. Traditionally, the stew is prepared in a special earthenware vessel called a daubiére, which is specially shaped to stop the evaporation of the flavorful cooking liquids.

Some cooks even seal the lid with a paste made of flour and water. The popularity of daube has led to the creation of numerous regional varieties of the stew, and it is often served with la macaronade, flat macaroni cooked in a sauce made from the braising juices mixed with a bit of white wine and some mushrooms.

Some claim that the dish tastes even better when reheated – in which case it is called nougat de boeuf in Provençal.