Description
Hearty Beef Stew delivers classic comfort with tender meat simmered in rich, velvety gravy. Rustic ingredients meld together, creating a soul-warming meal that connects you to generations of home cooking traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 2 pounds beef chuck (cubed)
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 3 large carrots (sliced)
- 2 ribs celery (sliced)
- 4 medium potatoes (cut into chunks)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Liberally coat beef chunks with salt and pepper, then sear in hot olive oil until golden brown and caramelized on all surfaces.
- Carefully transfer browned meat to a slow cooker or heavy-bottomed pot, preserving the flavorful cooking juices.
- Layer chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and minced garlic over the beef, creating a colorful vegetable foundation.
- Whisk together beef broth, tangy tomato paste, rich Worcestershire sauce, and aromatic bay leaves in a separate mixing bowl.
- Gently pour the liquid mixture over the meat and vegetables, ensuring complete coverage and thorough integration of flavors.
- Slow cook at low temperature (195°F) for 7-8 hours or high temperature (225°F) for 4-5 hours, alternatively simmer on stovetop for 2-3 hours until meat becomes fork-tender and vegetables are soft.
- To enhance stew’s consistency, create a quick slurry by blending flour with cool water, then fold into the stew approximately 30 minutes before serving to achieve desired thickness.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top for a vibrant finish and serve piping hot.
Notes
- Choose chuck roast or stew meat with good marbling for maximum tenderness and rich flavor.
- Brown meat in batches to ensure deep caramelization and prevent steaming, which develops more complex taste.
- Allow extra cooking time if using tougher meat cuts to help break down connective tissues and create melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when thickening the stew.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 355 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg