Description
Hearty beef stew brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Rich, tender chunks of meat simmer alongside root vegetables in a deeply flavorful broth that warms souls and satisfies hunger completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) beef chuck roast, cut into 2-inch chunks, excess fat removed
Vegetables:
- 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large carrot (or 2 small-medium), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 2 yukon gold potatoes, diced into 2-inch pieces
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour (or whole wheat for non-gluten)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) beef broth
- 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, preparing a robust cooking environment for the hearty beef stew.
- Generously coat beef chunks with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then dust with flour, ensuring an even, light covering that will help create a rich, golden crust.
- In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat and methodically brown beef chunks in batches, developing deep caramelized edges for approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer browned meat to a separate plate.
- Sauté chopped onions, minced garlic, and carrots in the same pot, stirring frequently until vegetables become fragrant and slightly golden, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Introduce chopped potatoes, beef broth, tomato paste, bay leaf, fresh thyme, and Worcestershire sauce into the pot, vigorously scraping accumulated flavor-rich browned bits from the bottom.
- Gently bring the mixture to a simmer, carefully reintroducing the browned beef chunks into the liquid, then cover and transfer the Dutch oven to the preheated oven.
- Allow the stew to slowly transform for 2-2.5 hours, letting the beef become incredibly tender and the flavors meld completely. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed, and serve piping hot.
Notes
- Select tough, well-marbled beef cuts like chuck roast for maximum flavor and tenderness during slow cooking.
- Coat beef chunks thoroughly with flour to create a delicious golden crust and help thicken the stew naturally.
- Brown meat in batches to maintain high pan temperature, ensuring perfect caramelization without steaming the beef.
- Use low and slow oven temperature to break down connective tissues, transforming tough meat into melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Replace beef with mushrooms or lentils for vegetarian version, maintaining similar rich umami profile.
- Add extra vegetables like celery or parsnips for increased nutrition and depth of flavor.
- Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 4 days, as flavors continue to develop and improve overnight.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg