Description
A comforting and hearty beef stew filled with tender beef and earthy vegetables, reminiscent of cozy family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup red wine (optional)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon oil for browning
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil and brown the beef chuck on all sides.
- Remove the beef and set aside. Lower the heat and add onions, garlic, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5-7 minutes.
- Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up flavorful bits for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and allow it to caramelize slightly before adding the beef back into the pot.
- Pour in the beef broth and enough water to cover everything. Add thyme, bay leaf, potatoes, and season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- If desired, mix cornstarch with cold water and stir it into the stew towards the end for a thicker broth.
- Serve warm, ideally with crusty bread.
Notes
Allowing the stew to simmer slowly is crucial for developing flavors. Don’t overcrowd the pot when browning the meat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: beef stew, comfort food, hearty meal, family recipe, slow cooker