If you are a fan of French cuisine, we are pretty sure that you would love beef bourguignon. This dish originates from the Burgundy region in France. It is made in burgundy wine which gives a distinctive flavor.
However, if you are cooking beef bourguignon but cannot find burgundy wine, there are various substitutes that you can try.
Substitute for Burgundy Wine in Beef Bourguignon
- Red Wine
Red wine is one of the most famous substitutes for burgundy wine which is usually made from pinot noir grapes, which promises a delicious flavor. In particular, you can opt for Cabernet since it has a similar smell and taste to burgundy wine.
Also, red wine is readily available in nearby stores, so you won’t have to give up on the dinner. Lastly, while shopping for red wine, choose a high-quality bottle because cheaper ones have a bitter flavor that doesn’t go well with beef bourguignon recipes.
- White Wine Vinegar & Grape Juice
Burgundy wine is only needed for marinating the meat. This is why it’s quite easy to replace it with white wine vinegar and grape juice mixture. The grape juice cuts out the sour taste of vinegar and tenderizes the meat as well.
As far as the replacement ratio is concerned, you can create the 50-50 mixture of grape juice and white wine vinegar. Once this mixture is ready, you can use the 1:1 ratio of this mixture to replace burgundy wine.
- Rice Wine Vinegar & Chicken Stock
The mixture of rice wine vinegar and chicken stock is another great option for replacing burgundy wine. In case you don’t have chicken stock, you can use chicken broth.
You must remain careful about the amount of rice wine vinegar because excessive vinegar can lead to a sharp and sour flavor, which won’t taste good in beef bourguignon. In addition, the addition of chicken stock or broth will help soften the sour and sharp flavor of vinegar.
- Broth
Another great alternative for burgundy wine is broth. The broth can be made by cooking offcuts and bones in water. On the other hand, if you don’t know how to make the broth at home, you can get canned broth from the stores.
It’s best to opt for the concentrated liquid broth because it will deliver a very authentic flavor. As far as the replacement ratio is concerned, just use a similar amount of broth as you would do with burgundy wine.
You need to remember broth doesn’t have a similar acid profile as burgundy wine, so you will need to add lemon juice or vinegar. Last but not least, you can use both meat and vegetable broths, depending on your personal preferences.
- Red Grape Juice
Cooking beef bourguignon sounds like a good idea if you have the right burgundy wine. However, if you cannot get your hands on it, red grape juice is a good choice, given its distinct flavor. The red grape juice will deliver a similar taste and color to a burgundy wine.
The red grape juice and burgundy wine can be substituted in equal parts. On the other hand, if beef bourguignon seems too sweet with red grape juice, just add a spoon of white wine vinegar, and you will be good to go.
Moreover, you can add regular white vinegar as it helps develop flavors. This is actually a great option for people who want to add the fruitiness and acidity of grapes but don’t like alcohol.
- Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is one of the best substitutes for burgundy wine, particularly if you are looking for a non-alcoholic version. You can always add some vinegar to add the acidic profile.
As far as cranberry juice is concerned, it’s best to use the unsweetened form because the sweeter version will be too sweet for the recipe. If you cannot find pure cranberry juice, you can go for cranberry and grape juice as it has a mixture of two juices.
In fact, it will be much less sweet but will still have the grape-like flavor of burgundy wine.
- Merlot
One of the most common fine wines is Merlot, and it works as an alternative to burgundy wine. It can be used in every recipe that calls for burgundy wine, including beef bourguignon as it doesn’t overpower the flavor of other ingredients.
The flavor of Merlot depends on the fruits it’s made from but we suggest that you choose grape flavor as it adds a similar flavor and aroma.
- California Pinot Noir
This is another famous wine that can replace burgundy wine. However, you must purchase the original Pinot Noir to replicate the same aroma and texture. Pinot Noir has a light-to-medium dry body and adds bright acidity to the recipe.
The flavor profile is quite complex as you will taste multiple flavors, including raspberry, cherry, mushrooms, vanilla, baking spice, and forest floor.
- Riesling
Riesling is a white wine but it has a refreshing taste and aroma that tastes amazing in beef bourguignon. It adds the natural flavors of pear, peach, apricot, and apple to the recipe with a floral aroma.
However, keep in mind that it has a white color, so your beef bourguignon won’t turn out red if you use this as a substitute.
- Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice is one of the best non-alcoholic alternatives for burgundy wine, which is easier to find as well. It offers a mixture of fruity, sour, and sweet aromas mixed in one bottle. Adding it to the beef recipe will enrich the food with a unique smell and taste.
- Viognier
Viognier originates from France and it has the fruity aromas of tangerine and peach. It has a low acidity level and is softer as compared to burgundy wine.
On top of everything, this is one of the most affordable alternatives to burgundy wine without compromising on the flavor and texture of the recipe. In addition to beef bourguignon, it can also be used with pork chops, chicken, and turkey.
Moreover, it pairs well with baked rice, fondue, and farmer’s cheese. When using it as an alternative, you should use 1.5 cups of Viognier in place of one cup of burgundy wine because it has a softer taste and a low acidity level.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a hybrid between white grape and red grape and is a popular red wine. It has a deep and dark red color which adds a rich color to your beef recipe. In addition, it’s an extremely flavorful, aromatic, and full-body wine which is why it pairs well with other ingredients of beef bourguignon.
The wine coming from Australia, California, and Chile will have an alcohol content higher than 13.5%, which is the prime reason it pairs well with food. In addition, it has the flavor notes of dark fruits like cherry, a higher dose of tannin, and some hints of green pepper.
- Ginger Ale
If you don’t mind the white color of ginger ale, it actually makes a great addition to beef recipes. Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink with ginger flavor notes. However, it also has cane sugar, lime, and lemon which add sour flavor and mild sweetness.
Ginger ale has enough acidity to tenderize the meat, which makes beef easy to chew. It has a sweet and dry taste with ginger notes, so only use it if you are fine with ginger flavor in your beef bourguignon.
- Canned Mushroom Liquid
The liquid from canned mushrooms is one of the most flavorful alternatives to burgundy wine in cooking. This is because this liquid has a mushroom flavor, which goes well with the beef recipe.
However, we suggest that you mix it with pomegranate juice or cranberry juice to add the sweet flavor. So, to substitute two cups of burgundy wine, you should mix one cup of canned mushroom liquid and one cup of pomegranate or cranberry juice.
Lastly, this liquid might have a high sodium count, so reduce the amount of salt in your recipe to make sure it comes out fine.
Conclusion
Beef bourguignon is one of the most delicious beef recipes, and most of its flavor comes from burgundy wine. However, if you cannot find the burgundy wine, using any of these substitutes will ensure that your dinner comes out delicious with a similar flavor, texture, and aroma.