Description
Hearty Old Fashioned Beef Stew brings comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen, blending tender meat, robust vegetables, and rich seasonings. Slow-simmered perfection promises a warm embrace that satisfies deep hunger and warms your soul with each carefully crafted spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) beef chuck, cut into cubes
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 3 potatoes, diced
- 1 cup (150 grams) peas (optional)
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Liquids and Cooking Aids:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat a heavy-bottomed pot and create a deep golden crust on the beef cubes by searing them in olive oil until richly caramelized on all surfaces.
- Transfer the beef momentarily and use the same pot to gently sweat the onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce tomato paste and aromatic herbs like thyme and rosemary, allowing them to bloom and release their essential oils for maximum flavor penetration.
- Return the beef to the pot and layer in root vegetables including carrots and potatoes, along with aromatic bay leaves for depth.
- Deluge the mixture with robust beef broth, ensuring all ingredients are generously submerged.
- Bring the liquid to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle, barely perceptible simmer.
- Cover and allow the stew to leisurely cook, letting the beef tenderize and vegetables absorb the rich, complex flavors for approximately two to three hours.
- Periodically check liquid levels and tenderness, adjusting heat if necessary.
- Discard the bay leaves and season the stew with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Introduce sweet green peas during the final cooking moments to preserve their vibrant color and delicate texture.
- Ladle the steaming, hearty stew into warmed serving bowls and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Enhance beef tenderness by choosing chuck roast or short ribs with good marbling for rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Create deeper flavor by patting beef dry before browning and using high heat to develop a caramelized exterior that locks in moisture.
- Customize stew by adding root vegetables like parsnips or sweet potatoes for extra nutrition and unique taste variations.
- Adapt for gluten-sensitive diets by replacing traditional flour with cornstarch or arrowroot for thickening without compromising hearty consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg