Description
Hearty beef stew and dumplings bring warmth to home kitchens with rich, comforting flavors from classic British culinary traditions. Tender meat melts alongside fluffy dumplings, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) beef stew meat (chuck roast, cut into cubes)
- 3 medium potatoes, cubed
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup (177 milliliters) milk
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) flour (for dredging)
- 2 tablespoons butter (to enrich the stew)
Instructions
- Coat the beef cubes thoroughly with seasoned flour, ensuring an even, light dusting that will help create a rich, velvety sauce during slow cooking.
- Sizzle the floured beef in a hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a deep, caramelized crust that locks in robust flavors and creates a golden-brown exterior.
- Layer root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and onions across the browned beef in the slow cooker, creating a hearty foundation for the stew.
- Pour beef broth and red wine over the meat and vegetables, infusing the mixture with depth and complexity while providing essential cooking liquid.
- Sprinkle dried thyme, bay leaves, and minced garlic to enhance the aromatic profile and introduce layers of herbal and savory notes throughout the dish.
- Cover and set the slow cooker to low, allowing the ingredients to gently simmer and tenderize over 6-8 hours, transforming tough meat into melt-in-your-mouth morsels.
- During the final hour of cooking, prepare dumpling dough by mixing flour, baking powder, salt, and herbs until a soft, pillowy mixture forms.
- Carefully drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the surface of the bubbling stew, covering with a lid to steam and create light, fluffy dumplings.
- Once dumplings are puffy and cooked through, remove bay leaves and serve the hearty stew in deep bowls, allowing each serving to showcase tender meat, vegetables, and cloud-like dumplings.
Notes
- Searing the beef creates a delicious golden crust that locks in rich, deep flavors and prevents the meat from becoming bland during slow cooking.
- Coat beef evenly with flour to help thicken the stew naturally and create a silky, luxurious sauce without additional thickeners.
- Use chuck roast or stew meat for maximum tenderness, as these cuts become incredibly soft and melt-in-your-mouth after slow cooking.
- Gluten-free option: Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to maintain the same texture and binding properties for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 423
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg