Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this soul-warming Hearty One-Pot Beef Stew, perfect for chilly evenings. Robust beef, tender vegetables, and rich seasonings meld together, promising a delicious embrace that will satisfy and comfort you completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) beef chuck roast, cut into bite-sized cubes
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) red wine (optional, can substitute with more beef broth)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons flour (optional, for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a robust pot, introducing beef cubes and caramelizing them thoroughly until rich golden surfaces develop, creating deep flavor foundations.
- Transfer seared meat to a separate plate, reserving those aromatic meat juices within the cooking vessel.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic into the identical pot, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant essence.
- Incorporate tomato paste, stirring vigorously to integrate and awaken its concentrated flavor profile.
- Layer root vegetables – carrots, potatoes, and celery – into the developing culinary landscape, ensuring even distribution.
- Deglaze the pot with beef broth and optional red wine, extracting every nuanced brown morsel clinging to the bottom.
- Infuse the liquid with aromatic herbs: thyme, rosemary, and a single bay leaf, complemented by measured salt and pepper.
- Reunite browned beef with the vegetable medley, submerging ingredients in the richly seasoned liquid.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covering and allowing ingredients to meld and tenderize over 90-120 minutes.
- Should the stew require additional body, craft a quick flour-water slurry, whisking into the bubbling mixture to achieve desired consistency.
- Eliminate the bay leaf, preventing any potential bitter undertones.
- Ladle into warm bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Sear beef in small batches to achieve a rich, caramelized exterior that locks in deep flavor and prevents steaming.
- Choose tough, marbled beef cuts like chuck roast or bottom round for maximum tenderness and rich taste after slow cooking.
- Create gluten-free version by replacing wheat flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when thickening the stew.
- Elevate vegetable nutrition by adding root vegetables like parsnips or turnips for extra complexity and robust winter warmth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg