Comforting Beef Stew Food

COMFORTING BEEF CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan or deep casserole, and fry the onions and carrots until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the softened and oil-glossed vegetables to a bowl, and add the remaining oil to the pan. Put the flour into a large freezer bag along with salt and pepper, sage, and allspice; add the beef pieces to the bag, tossing in the flour, before searing the meat in the pan. Do this in batches, browning the meat a little and removing all of the beef to a large dish as you go.
• When all the meat is browned and out of the pan, whisk or stir in the orange juice and stout and let it come to the boil. Add the water and then return the meat and vegetables to the pan. Stir in the orange zest and bay leaves, bring to the boil and then turn the stew down to a soft simmer. Cover and cook for 2 1/2 hours. This is best reheated 1 or 2 days after, but if you are serving the stew on the same day, then add another half hour to the cooking time just to make sure the meat is soft, mellow and tender.

COMFORTING BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches. Remove with a slotted spoon., In same pan, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomato paste. Gradually stir in broth until blended. Return beef to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 1-1/2 hours., In a small bowl, mix flour and water until smooth; gradually stir into stew. Add carrots and turnips; cook, covered, 30-40 minutes longer or until stew is thickened and beef and vegetables are tender. Stir in parsley. Freeze option: Freeze cooled stew in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth if necessary.

COMFORTING BARLEY & PUMPKIN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and toss to coat. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown meat in batches. Transfer meat to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. In the same skillet, cook and stir onion in drippings until tender, 6-8 minutes; add to slow cooker. Stir in broth, pumpkin, barley, thyme, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 6-8 hours. If desired, serve with additional red pepper flakes and parsley.

ITALIAN BEEF STEW (SPEZZATINO DI MANZO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300f and make room on the middle rack for a large Dutch oven. Heat a large Dutch oven to medium-low heat, then add the olive oil, carrots, celery, and onion. Cook for 5 minutes then add the mushrooms, turn heat to medium, and continue to cook stirring frequently.
• While the veggies are sauteing, pat the chuck roast cubes dry. Once the mushrooms release their water and most of it has evaporated from the pot, season the beef cubes with salt and pepper and add to the pot.
• Coat the beef with the veggies and oil. Let the beef cook for 5-10 minutes (it won't develop much color). Next, turn heat to medium-high and add the wine and cook for 5-7 minutes or until it mostly evaporates and absorbs into the beef. Using a wooden spoon scrape up all of the brown bits while the beef is cooking.
• Add the beef stock, rosemary, and bay leaf and stir it all together. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook in the oven for 2 1/2 hours or until tender. For the last 30-45 minutes braise with no lid to thicken the sauce and add a bit of color to the meat.
• Once the beef is tender remove the pot from the oven. If there is too much liquid in the pot use a slurry of cornstarch (see notes) to thicken or cook over medium heat on the stovetop to thicken and reduce the liquid. Once satisfied with the consistency, taste test and make final adjustments to salt and pepper. Serve with crusty bread or with polenta or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

COMFORTING ALL DAY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250.
• Wash the potatoes and cut into halves and then quarters (so the potatoes are in larger chunks). Peel the carrots, and cut into larger chunks. Wash the mushrooms and cut the tips off of stems. Peel and chop the onion. Place all of the vegetables in a large roasting pan.
• Add the stew beef to the vegetables in the pan.
• Add the tapioca, soup mix, salt and pepper to the vegetables and stir gently to combine.
• Pour the tomatoes and beef broth on top of the vegetables. Mix gently. Tuck the bay leaf into the stew.
• Cover and cook for at least 5-6 hours. Remove the bay leaf and gently stir in the thyme.
• Wash and remove only the tender leaves from the kale stems, if using. Gently stir the kale into the stew and cover for 5 or 10 minutes just before serving.
• Serve warm with rolls or crusty bread.

COMFORT FOOD BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Place beef and flour in a plastic baggie, Shake.
• Pour oil into a large dutch oven, heat.
• Add beef cook until brown, stirring occasionally.
• Add water and next 4 ingredients.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover.
• Reduce heat and simmer 2 hours or until beef is tender.
• Discard bay leaves.
• Cut carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, and bell pepper, add to stew.
• Cover and simmer 30 minutes, or until tender.
• Combine water and flour, stirring well.
• Pour into stew.
• Boil, stirring constantly till thick and bubbly.