Description
Hearty Beef Stew brings comfort and warmth to winter dinners with rich, tender chunks of meat slow-cooked in a savory broth. Delicious layers of vegetables and herbs create a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) beef stew meat, cubed
Vegetables:
- 4 large carrots, sliced
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Warm a large pot over medium flame and drizzle olive oil. Sear meat portions until golden brown, creating a rich caramelized exterior. Transfer browned meat to a separate plate.
- Using the same pot, gently sweat onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant. Incorporate tomato paste, stirring continuously to develop deep, concentrated flavors for approximately 60 seconds.
- Pour beef broth into the pot, introducing aromatic thyme and bay leaves. Add chunky carrot and potato pieces. Carefully reintroduce the previously browned meat into the liquid.
- Elevate heat to achieve a robust boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow the stew to quietly bubble for 90-120 minutes at low temperature, ensuring meat becomes fork-tender and ingredients meld harmoniously.
- Taste and calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper. For enhanced thickness, create a quick slurry by whisking flour with cold water. Integrate this mixture into the stew during the final 10 minutes of cooking, which will naturally thicken the sauce and provide a luxurious texture.
Notes
- Prevent tough meat by choosing the right cut like chuck roast, which becomes incredibly tender during slow cooking.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium beef broth and adding salt gradually, tasting as you go for perfect seasoning.
- Enhance depth of flavor by deglazing the pot with red wine after browning beef, capturing those delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when thickening the stew, ensuring everyone can enjoy this comforting dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg