Description
Rustic Beef Stew invites comfort and warmth with tender meat slow-simmered in rich, savory broth. Robust flavors blend perfectly, promising a satisfying meal that warms hearts and nourishes souls with each spoonful you savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 oz bacon, chopped
Vegetables:
- 3 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 large onions, diced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb potatoes, cubed
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pat beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper, ensuring even coating for better browning.
- Render bacon pieces in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy and fat is released, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- In the same pot, brown seasoned beef cubes in batches, creating a deep golden crust. This process takes about 3-4 minutes per batch, preventing overcrowding.
- Remove browned beef and sauté onions, carrots, and celery in remaining bacon fat until vegetables soften, around 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring continuously.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir to coat, cooking for 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Deglaze pot with red wine, scraping up browned bits from bottom. Add beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
- Return beef and bacon to the pot, ensuring meat is mostly submerged in liquid.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add cubed potatoes during the last 45 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking.
- Remove bay leaves before serving. Stew should be thick and meat tender when done.
Notes
- Ensure beef is thoroughly dried to achieve perfect golden-brown searing without steaming the meat.
- Use thick-cut bacon for richer flavor and save the crispy pieces as a delicious garnish.
- Layer flavors by browning meat in batches, creating deep caramelization that develops complex taste profiles.
- Adapt for gluten-free diets by substituting flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder for thickening.
- Control liquid consistency by adjusting broth quantity if stew becomes too thick during slow cooking.
- Enhance meal prep by making larger batches, as this stew tastes even better the next day after flavors meld.
- Consider wine alternatives like beef stock or grape juice for non-alcoholic versions without compromising depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg