If you love a warm, comforting dinner, this Hearty Beef Stew is one to save! Tender beef, flavorful vegetables, and a rich savory broth come together for the kind of meal that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing. โค๏ธ
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Comment โYESโ โค๏ธ if youโd happily eat a big bowl of homemade beef stew!
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๐ฒ BEST-EVER BEEF STEW
๐ Ingredients
For the beef:
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
- ยฝ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the stew:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 potatoes, cut into chunks
- 2โ3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup frozen peas, optional
๐ฉโ๐ณ Instructions
1๏ธโฃ Prepare the beef
Place the beef stew meat in a large bowl.
Add the flour, seasoning salt, and black pepper.
Toss well until the pieces are lightly coated.
2๏ธโฃ Brown the beef
Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
Add the beef in batches rather than overcrowding the pot.
Brown the pieces on several sides.
This step adds wonderful flavor to the finished stew.
Remove the browned beef and set it aside.
3๏ธโฃ Cook the vegetables
Add the chopped onion to the same pot.
Cook for several minutes until softened.
Add the garlic and cook briefly, stirring constantly.
4๏ธโฃ Build the stew
Add the tomato paste and stir for about a minute.
Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes.
Use your spoon to gently scrape the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Return the beef to the pot.
Add the carrots, potatoes, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves.
5๏ธโฃ Simmer slowly
Bring everything to a gentle simmer.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for approximately 1ยฝโ2ยฝ hours, or until the beef becomes tender.
Stir occasionally and check that the stew isnโt cooking too aggressively.
6๏ธโฃ Add the peas
If using frozen peas, add them during the final 5โ10 minutes of cooking.
Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Remove the bay leaves before serving.
๐ฅ SLOW-COOKER METHOD
Brown the beef first for extra flavor.
Transfer the beef to a slow cooker and add the vegetables, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs, and bay leaves.
Cook on LOW for about 7โ8 hours or until the beef is tender.
Add the peas near the end.
๐ฅ OVEN METHOD
After browning the beef and preparing the stew in an oven-safe pot, cover it and place it in a preheated 160ยฐC / 325ยฐF oven.
Cook for approximately 2ยฝโ3 hours, checking occasionally until the beef is tender.
๐ A LITTLE HISTORY
Beef stew belongs to a huge family of slow-cooked dishes found across many culinary traditions.
The basic idea is beautifully simple: tougher cuts of meat are cooked slowly with vegetables and flavorful liquid until they become tender.
Over generations, families have adapted stew recipes according to whatever ingredients were availableโfrom potatoes and carrots to herbs, tomatoes, onions, and regional spices.
Thatโs part of what makes stew such a beloved comfort food: there isnโt just one right way to make it.
๐ฑ WHY YOUโLL LOVE IT
โค๏ธ Tender, slow-cooked beef
๐ฅ Plenty of hearty vegetables
๐ฒ Rich and comforting broth
๐ฟ Full of savory herbs and aromatics
๐ก Perfect for a family dinner
๐ฅ Delicious with crusty bread
๐ก COOKING TIPS
โ๏ธ Brown the beef in batches for better browning.
โ๏ธ Donโt rush the simmering processโthe beef needs time to become tender.
โ๏ธ Cut the vegetables into reasonably similar sizes so they cook more evenly.
โ๏ธ Taste the broth near the end and adjust the seasoning.
โ๏ธ Let the stew rest for a few minutes before serving.
โค๏ธ SERVING IDEAS
Serve a generous bowl of stew with:
๐ฅ Crusty bread
๐ Steamed rice
๐ฅ A simple green salad
๐ฅ Mashed potatoes
๐ฟ Fresh parsley
๐ฒ LEFTOVERS
Beef stew often tastes even better after the flavors have had time to mingle.
Store leftovers promptly in the refrigerator and reheat thoroughly before serving.
You can also freeze portions for another day.
๐ FINAL THOUGHTS
Thereโs nothing quite like a steaming bowl of homemade beef stew on the table.
Tender beef, soft vegetables, rich broth, and comforting herbs make this a classic meal thatโs perfect for sharing with family.
So tell meโฆ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐โค๏ธ
Comment โYESโ if youโd love a bowl!
๐ Thank you for supporting my recipes and being part of this food-loving community!