Description
Hearty beef stew from grandma’s kitchen brings comfort and warmth to winter dinners. Rich beef, tender vegetables, and savory broth combine for a soul-satisfying meal people crave when winter winds blow.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (907 g) beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch chunks, excess fat removed
- 2 Yukon gold potatoes, diced into 2-inch pieces
- 1 large carrot (or 2 small-medium), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 0.5 yellow onion, chopped large
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (16 g) gluten-free all-purpose flour (or whole wheat for non-gluten)
- 2 cups (473 ml) beef broth
- 0.25 cup (59 ml) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 g) coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons (2 g) fresh thyme leaves, to garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly dredge beef chunks in seasoned flour, creating a protective coating that will caramelize and intensify flavor during cooking.
- Searing: In a spacious Dutch oven, brown meat in batches, developing a rich golden crust that locks in juices and creates a flavor-packed foundation for the stew.
- Vegetable Base: Sauté onions, carrots, and celery until they become translucent and slightly caramelized, releasing their aromatic essence into the cooking vessel.
- Liquid Integration: Pour in red wine, beef broth, and tomato paste, vigorously scraping the pot’s bottom to incorporate all deeply developed flavor compounds and culinary sediment.
- Herb and Seasoning Infusion: Add fresh thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, garlic, and black pepper, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the developing stew.
- Braising Process: Cover and transfer to a preheated 325°F oven, allowing the stew to slowly simmer for 2-3 hours until meat becomes extraordinarily tender and flavors meld completely.
- Final Refinement: Remove bay leaf, taste and adjust seasoning, ensuring a perfectly balanced and deeply satisfying culinary experience that celebrates rustic comfort and sophisticated flavor complexity.
Notes
- Flour Power: Fully coat beef chunks in seasoned flour to create a deliciously crispy exterior that locks in flavor and helps thicken the stew.
- Sear with Care: Brown meat in batches to develop deep caramelization, which builds a rich flavor foundation for the entire dish.
- Veggie Magic: Sauté vegetables until they reach a golden amber color, releasing their natural sweetness and adding complexity to the stew.
- Flavor Maximizing: Deglaze the pot thoroughly, scraping up browned bits from the bottom to capture every bit of concentrated deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg