Beef And Eggplant Stew Greek Crock Pot Version Food

OLD FASHIONED BEEF STEW WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven top 325 F.
• Cut the eggplant cubes. Oil a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Add the eggplant pieces to the baking sheet. Brush a little olive oil on top of each eggplant cube. Season with sea salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of oregano. Bake cubes for 30 to 45 min or until eggplant flesh is soft and a light golden color. When done remove baking sheet with eggplants from oven and set aside.
• Dry the beef pieces well using a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly dust 1 - 2 tbsp all purpose flour all over beef.
• In a large pot heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Brown the beef, a few pieces at a time all over, about 2-3 minutes. Remove beef pieces on a plate and set aside.
• Add the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 1-2 min. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and oregano. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes
• Add the tomatoes. Gently crush them to eliminate any big chunks. Mix well. Add the beef, 1/2 cup of water, some fresh thyme and oregano sprigs. Stir gently, cover and simmer in low heat for 1 hour.
• Add eggplant pieces to the stew. Stir gently, cover and simmer for another 30 to 45 min or until beef is soft and almost falling apart with a fork. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. and serve.

SLOW-COOKER GREEK BEEF BITES

Steps:

• Cut beef into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef in oil, in batches if necessary, 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides.
• Place beef in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with garlic, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the pepper and 3 tablespoons of the lemon peel; toss to mix.
• Cover and cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours.
• Stir together yogurt, cucumber, 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon peel in small bowl. Serve beef with toothpicks for dipping into yogurt sauce. Beef bites will hold on Low heat setting up to 2 hours; stir occasionally.

SLOW-COOKER GREEK BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Remove excess fat from beef. Cut beef into 1-inch pieces. Toss beef, flour and cinnamon. Rinse frozen onions in cold water to separate; drain. Place beef and onions in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker.
• Mix water, tomato paste, wine, vinegar and honey. Pour over beef mixture.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 9 to 10 hours or until beef is tender. Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with cheese.

BEEF AND EGGPLANT STEW (GREEK - CROCK POT VERSION)

Steps:

• Wash the eggplant, then top and tail.
• Don't bother to peel, just cut into 1 inch thick segments.
• In large skillet, brown the beef, onions, garlic and eggplant in olive oil until dark golden-brown; drain.
• Place in crock pot.
• Combine the beef stock with the tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, spices, and salt and pepper to taste, and stir it into the meat.
• Cover and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours.
• If serving with pasta, prepare pasta until al dente, pour onto a large serving platter and cover with meat, eggplant and sauce (you may add the feta- it is delicious).
• Sprinkle minced parsley over.
• If serving on its own as a main course, garnish with parsley and feta, serve with a green salad, lots of crusty bread (the sauce has to be mopped up!), and plenty of red wine.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO STEW IN THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low heat for 8-9 hours.
• Discard bay leaf before serving with some brown rice or fluffy couscous or polenta.

GREEK STYLE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a 5-quart pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Add half the beef; cook and stir until well browned on all sides. Remove beef with a slotted spoon and set aside. Brown the remaining meat and set aside.
• Place chopped onion in the pressure cooker; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the garlic and stir for an additional minute. Pour in the red wine, red wine vinegar, and beef broth; stir in the tomato paste and mix well.
• Grind or crush rosemary, oregano, and peppercorns in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Add crushed spices to the cooker with bay leaves, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and brown sugar.
• Pour in tomatoes and their juice; rinse the can with 1/2 cup water and add the water to the cooker. Stir in potatoes and carrots. Return the browned meat to the pressure cooker. A 5-quart pot should be about half full and a little soupy; the potato will dissolve a bit and thicken it after cooking. Cover the pot and seal the lid.
• Bring the pot up to high pressure over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let the pressure reduce naturally. Taste the stew and add salt, if desired.