Description
Hearty beef pumpkin stew brings rustic comfort straight from French countryside kitchens, blending tender meat with creamy seasonal vegetables. Rich autumn flavors meld together, promising a warm embrace that satisfies deep hunger and culinary curiosity.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Ingredients:
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast
Vegetable Ingredients:
- 2 cups pumpkin
- 2 large carrots
- 3 medium potatoes
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
Seasoning and Liquid Ingredients:
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 cups red wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons flour
Instructions
- Create a rich, caramelized base by searing beef chunks in olive oil over medium-high heat until golden brown and crusty on all sides, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Transfer browned beef to a plate, then sauté diced onions and minced garlic in the same pot until translucent and fragrant, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Intensify flavor profile by stirring in tomato paste and ground spices – cumin, cinnamon, and paprika – allowing them to bloom and develop a deep, complex taste for about 45-60 seconds.
- Reintroduce beef to the pot, combining with cubed pumpkin, sliced carrots, and a bay leaf to create a hearty, rustic stew foundation.
- Pour beef broth over the ingredients, ensuring everything is submerged, then bring the mixture to a vigorous boil before reducing heat to a gentle simmer.
- Cover and let the stew slowly cook for 90-100 minutes at low temperature, allowing meat to become incredibly tender and flavors to meld together harmoniously.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring a balanced and robust flavor profile.
- Ladle the steaming stew into warm bowls, serving immediately to capture maximum warmth and aromatic intensity.
Notes
- Tenderize beef by choosing cuts like chuck or short ribs for maximum flavor and softness.
- Enhance depth by using homemade beef broth instead of store-bought for richer taste profile.
- Consider adding a splash of red wine during sautéing to elevate the stew’s complexity and create more robust flavors.
- Make it gluten-free by ensuring your broth and spices are certified gluten-free and avoiding any wheat-based thickeners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 325 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg