Beef stew is a timeless, versatile, and comforting dish that’s great for family meals and gatherings. It’s also an excellent way to use less expensive cuts of beef, as the slow cooking process tenderizes the meat beautifully.

Classic hearty beef stew is a comforting and filling dish that’s perfect for colder weather.

Cuisines: There are many regional variations of beef stew. For example, in France, you have “Boeuf Bourguignon,” which is made with red wine, and in Ireland, there’s “Irish Beef Stew,” often made with Guinness stout.

Ingredients: While the core ingredients include beef, vegetables, and broth, you can customize the vegetables to your liking. Common choices include carrots, potatoes, celery, and peas. You can also add ingredients like mushrooms, pearl onions, or even parsnips.

Aromatics: Hearty beef stew often includes aromatic ingredients like garlic, thyme, and bay leaves for flavor. You can experiment with other herbs and spices to suit your taste.

Cooking Methods: Beef stew is typically prepared through slow cooking methods. It can be made on the stovetop in a Dutch oven, in a slow cooker, or even in the oven. The long, slow cooking time allows the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld together.

Thickening: Some recipes call for thickening the stew with a roux (a mixture of flour and fat) or a cornstarch slurry to create a thicker, gravy-like consistency.

Serving: Beef stew is often served with a side of crusty bread or rolls. It’s a complete meal in itself, but you can also serve it with rice or noodles if you prefer.

Leftovers: Like many stews, beef stew often tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld.

Do As You Want: You can make this dish your own by adding your favorite vegetables, using different cuts of beef (such as chuck or sirloin), and adjusting the seasoning to your preference.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 pounds (680g) stewing beef, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups beef broth

2 carrots, sliced

2 potatoes, diced

2 celery stalks, sliced

1 cup frozen peas

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, season the stewing beef with salt and pepper, then toss it in the flour until well coated.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown it on all sides. Remove the beef and set it aside.

In the same pot, add the chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

Return the browned beef to the pot, and add the beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1.5 hours, or until the beef is tender.

Add the sliced carrots, diced potatoes, and celery to the pot. Continue to simmer for an additional 30-45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the frozen peas, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the bay leaf, and discard it.

Serve the hearty beef stew hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Enjoy your comforting and delicious homemade Beef Stew, especially on a chilly day!