A Beef Casserole from Nice les Alouettes sans Tête

There is little debate that most things sound better in French than in English, and this dish, les Alouettes sans tête (English: “larks without heads”), is one clear example. In this old Niçoise recipe, thin slices of beef are stuffed with a mixture and slow-cooked in a tomato-based sauce. Like most stews, this casserole is even better the next day. We translated the recipe from French and reproduced it below with the permission of the Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d’Azur.

The ‘Niçoise’ cuisine reflects the respect for the regional products and lifestyle, always accompanied by the famous olive oil –with an AOP, Registered Designation of Origin- and aromatic plants. ~ Office de Tourisme Métropolitian Nice Côte d’Azur

Les Alouettes sans tête is part of those traditional Niçoise recipes that local families have been cooking for centuries. When visiting Nice, you may find this dish on menus at one of the 32 restaurants* that have received the Cuisine Nissarde label for quality food that follows traditional methods. In addition, les Alouettes sans tête and many others recipes appear in a cookbook called Carnets de cuisine du Comté de Nice, which is available at the Tourism Office or online on Amazon.

Les Alouettes sans Tête

Carnets de cuisine du Comté de Nice

This traditional Niçoise recipe, like all stews, is best reheated the next day or cooked in the morning for that evening. It is a perfect make-ahead casserole for cold weather and for anyone who likes stuffing and long-simmered meats.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Simmer 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 53 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine French, Provencal

Servings 6 people

Equipment

• 1 Dutch oven (9-quart)

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 12 slices Beef Cutlets relatively thin and wide, roughly 60 g (2 oz) each
• 2 onions
• 1 garlic clove
• fresh parsley chopped
• 1 1/2 oz salted pork (petit salé) chopped, or lardons or bacon
• 3 1/2 oz ham heel this is the tail end of the ham, a bit like prosciutto, chopped
• 1 1/2 oz breadcrumbs soaked in milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 bowl tomatoes Peeled and Crushed or a large can of puréed plum tomatoes
• 1 handful Dried Cepes or other dried mushrooms
• 1 glass red wine
• 1 glass Marc a Pomace brandy
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 3 cloves
• 1-2 cups Beef Bouillion or stock
• 2 large spoonful Pissalat*
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp nutmeg ground
• olive oil

Instructions

 

• Start by finely chopping the onions. Fry the onions in a pan with the garlic, chopped parsley and pissalat in olive oil for about 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle with thyme, crumble the chopped parsley and the finely chopped ham and cook for 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, cook your eggs in very salty water. Then, peel them and reserve the yolks.
• Soften the breadcrumbs in milk, and then squeeze any excess liquid out so you are left with just the rehydrated bread,
• Mix the contents of the frying pan with the breadcrumbs and the crushed egg yolks. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Spread two small spoonfuls of this stuffing on each beef slice, roll them up, fold over the edges and tie them up like a small roll so that the filling is tucked inside.
• In a heavy casserole pan, sauté chopped onion in olive oil over high heat and add the meat bundles to brown. Add salt and pepper, and pour a glass of branda liquor (eau de vie de marc) and a glass of red wine. Let the alcohol evaporate.
• Then add 3 cloves, the tomato purée and the dried mushrooms (rehydrated in hot water). Top up with stock to cover the paupiettes. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, covered. Check during cooking to add a little more stock if necessary. You can also finish cooking in an ovenproof casserole dish to ensure even heat, preventing the meat from sticking.
• Serve with pasta, potatoes, or even polenta.

Notes

Pissalat (or pissala) is a condiment originating from the Nice. The name comes from peis salat in Niçard and means "salted fish". Pissalat is a popular Niçoise flavouring for savoury recipes. It is made with anchovy puree, flavoured with cloves, thyme, bay leaf and black pepper and mixed with olive oil.

Keyword Beef

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Additional Beef Recipes:

Beef Wellington with Sauce Béarnaise

A fulfilling meal best served thickly sliced with the Béarnaise sauce on the side.

Check out this recipe

Provençal Beef or Bull Stew (Gardiane de Taureau)

A traditional French stew from Provence served with beef or bull meat. Make sure to allow enough time for marinading.

Check out this recipe

Slow Roasted Rib of Beef

Spend the day enjoying the wonderful aromas of what's to come at dinner with this delicious slow roasted beef rib with a tangy mustard sauce. Sunday dinner at it's finest.

Check out this recipe

Provençal Fried Beef with Courgette on Little Gem Salad

Easy and quick, this appetizer takes a bit of Provencal liberty with Asian-style lettuce cups. Little Gem Lettuce is a perfect "holder" for the beef and courgette mixture, but if you cannot find these baby Romaine will work too.

Check out this recipe

Daube Provençal (Beef Stew)

This is the Provençal version of beef bourguignon. The biggest difference is the spices (herbes de Provence), olives, and, of course, wine from Provence instead of Burgundy. It is delicious with crusty French bread.

Check out this recipe

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).