🥘 Hearty Beef Stew
⭐ Ingredients (4–6 servings)
For the beef:
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2–2.5 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1½-inch cubes
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Salt & black pepper
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2–3 tbsp flour (for dusting)
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2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
For the stew:
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1 large onion, diced
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3–4 garlic cloves, minced
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3 carrots, sliced
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3 celery stalks, sliced
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1–2 potatoes, cubed (Yukon gold preferred)
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1–2 tbsp tomato paste
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½ cup red wine (optional but great for depth)
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4 cups beef broth
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2 bay leaves
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1 tsp dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
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1 tsp dried rosemary (or 1 sprig fresh)
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1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
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1 cup frozen peas (added at the end)
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Salt & pepper to taste
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Fresh parsley for garnish
🧑🍳 Instructions
1. Season & Brown the Beef
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Pat beef dry; season generously with salt and pepper.
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Lightly dust with flour.
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Heat oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high.
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Brown beef in batches—don’t overcrowd.
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Remove and set aside.
(Browning = MAJOR flavor.)
2. Build the Flavor Base
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In the same pot, add onions, carrots, celery.
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Sauté 5–7 minutes until softened.
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Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
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Add tomato paste and cook until it darkens—1–2 minutes.
3. Deglaze
Pour in red wine, scraping up any browned bits.
Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.
(If not using wine, use ½ cup beef broth.)
4. Add Broth & Seasonings
Add:
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Beef broth
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Bay leaves
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Thyme
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Rosemary
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Worcestershire
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The browned beef + juices
Bring to a simmer.
5. Add Potatoes & Braise
Add the potatoes.
Cover and cook:
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Stovetop: Low heat for 1½–2 hours
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Oven: 325°F (160°C) for 2 hours
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Slow cooker: 6–8 hours on low
Beef should be very tender.
6. Final Touch
Stir in frozen peas for the last 5 minutes.
Taste and adjust salt & pepper.
If you want it thicker, simmer uncovered 10–15 minutes.
⭐ Serving Ideas
Serve with:
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Warm crusty bread
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Buttered noodles
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Mashed potatoes
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Rice or quinoa
Top with parsley for freshness.
🔥 Tips for an Even Better Stew
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Use beef chuck—it gets melt-in-your-mouth tender.
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Let it rest overnight—stews get better the next day.
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Add a splash of balsamic vinegar at the end for brightness.
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For richness: Add 1–2 tbsp butter at the end.
If you want, I can also make:
🍷 A red wine–heavy French-style beef stew
⏱ Instant Pot or slow cooker version
🌶 Spicy Southern-style beef stew
🥕 A veggie-packed or low-carb version
Just tell me!