Description
Hearty old fashioned beef stew blends tender meat with robust vegetables in a rich, savory broth. Slow-cooked comfort brings warmth to your table with classic midwestern flavors you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) beef stew meat, cubed
Vegetables:
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over medium-high heat and thoroughly sear beef chunks until golden brown on all surfaces, creating a rich caramelized exterior.
- Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the pot, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour and tomato paste into the mixture, stirring continuously to create a thick, smooth base and prevent scorching, cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Gradually pour beef broth into the pot, increasing heat to bring liquid to a rolling boil while introducing thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper for depth of flavor.
- Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and allow stew to simmer gently for 90 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Introduce cubed potatoes and sliced carrots into the stew, continuing to simmer uncovered for an additional 30-40 minutes until vegetables become tender and meat reaches ultimate tenderness.
- Discard bay leaf, taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then ladle the hearty stew into serving bowls, ensuring each portion contains a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
Notes
- Enhance browning by patting beef dry before searing to develop deep, rich caramelized flavors.
- Customize stew thickness by adjusting flour quantity or using cornstarch for gluten-free alternative.
- Replace beef with mushrooms or plant-based protein for vegetarian version while maintaining hearty texture.
- combine all ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours for tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg