Garden Stew Food

ULTIMATE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300˚ F.
• Heat the oil in a large (11- to 12-inch) Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until browned. With a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a plate lined with a paper towel and set aside.
• Meanwhile, season the short ribs all over with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Brown half the meat in the Dutch oven over medium heat, turning occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until browned on all sides. Transfer the meat to a bowl and brown the second batch. (Don't cook them all in one batch or they won't brown!) Transfer the second batch to the bowl and set aside.
• Off the heat, add the Cognac and 1/3 cup of the wine to the pot, scraping up any browned bits, then simmer over medium heat for one minute. Add the onions and fennel and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 8 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
• Stir the tomatoes and tomato paste into the vegetables. Add the remaining 2/3 cup of wine, the beef broth, the seared meat (and juices), 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover and bake for 1 1/4 hours, checking occasionally to be sure the liquid is simmering.
• Degrease the stew, if necessary. Stir in the carrots and potatoes, cover and bake for one hour longer, until the vegetables and meat are very tender when tested with a fork. Just before serving, stir in the peas and pancetta, taste for seasonings and serve hot in large, shallow bowls.

SEAFOOD STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot, add the onions, potatoes, fennel, salt, and pepper, and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the onions begin to brown. Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the tomatoes with their juices, stock, garlic, and saffron to the pot, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Add the shrimp, fish, and mussels, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit covered for another 5 minutes. The fish and shrimp should be cooked and the mussels opened. Discard any mussels that don't open. Stir in the Pernod, orange zest, and salt, to taste. Serve ladled over 1 or 2 slices of toasted baguette.;
• Warm the oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add 1 1¿2 quarts of water, the white wine, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. If not, you can make up the difference with water or white wine.

GROUND BEEF VEGGIE STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook beef over medium-high heat, breaking into crumbles, until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes; drain. Remove from pan; set aside., In the same saucepan, add oil, squash, zucchini and red pepper; cook and stir until vegetables are crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes. Add beef, tomatoes, water, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 5-8 minutes. Stir in cilantro to serve. If desired, top with sour cream.

OLD-FASHIONED HAMBURGER AND VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and cook ground beef until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until onion is soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Pour in beef stock and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil and add carrots.
• Tie parsley, rosemary, thyme, and sage together into a bundle with cooking twine and add to the pot. Add bay leaf and season soup with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium and add potatoes, green beans, corn, and drained tomatoes. Return soup to a boil, partially with a lid so steam can still escape, and simmer until potatoes are fork-tender, about 25 minutes. Remove herb bundle and bay leaf and discard. Adjust salt and pepper, if needed.