Description
Hearty beef stew delivers comfort straight from traditional Irish kitchens, blending rich meat with tender vegetables in a soul-warming broth. Slow-simmered ingredients create a rustic feast that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup peas (optional)
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine (optional, can substitute with extra beef broth)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons flour (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Prepare the protein by searing beef chunks in a heated, oil-coated Dutch oven, working in batches to achieve a rich, caramelized exterior. Transfer browned meat to a temporary plate.
- In the same pot, transform aromatics by gently sweating onions and garlic until translucent, releasing their fragrant essence.
- Introduce root vegetables – carrots, potatoes, and celery – allowing them to soften and develop a golden undertone, stirring periodically to prevent scorching.
- Deglaze the cooking vessel with red wine, carefully lifting the concentrated flavor-packed remnants from the pot’s bottom, creating a complex flavor foundation.
- Incorporate beef broth, tomato paste, and herb bouquet of bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary. Reintroduce the seared meat, creating a harmonious melding of ingredients.
- Allow the stew to gently simmer, covered, for approximately two hours. The low, steady heat will transform tough meat fibers into tender, succulent morsels while infusing deep, rich flavors.
- For those desiring a more substantial consistency, create a flour-based thickening agent by whisking cold water and flour into a smooth slurry, then integrating it into the bubbling stew.
- Introduce sweet green peas during the final moments of cooking, providing a burst of color and fresh flavor contrast.
- Finish by removing herb remnants, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper, and presenting the aromatic stew garnished with fresh parsley, accompanied by rustic bread or creamy mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by selecting chuck roast or short ribs with good marbling for richer flavor.
- Patience matters when browning beef; avoid overcrowding the pot to achieve deep caramelization and develop complex taste layers.
- Create gluten-free version by replacing wheat flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder for thickening the stew.
- Customize vegetable selection based on seasonal availability or personal preferences while maintaining similar cooking times and textures.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg