Stew Odessa Food

INSTANT POT BRUNSWICK STEW

Steps:

• Set a 6-quart Instant Pot® to high saute (see Cook's Note) and allow it to heat up for 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the beef with 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the pot and sear the beef on all sides until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pot with the carrots, celery and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, hot sauce, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir until combined. Add the beef, ham hock, corn, lima beans, peas, potatoes and 2 cups water and stir to combine.
• Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes.
• After the pressure-cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release and wait until the quick-release cycle is complete. Being careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid.
• Remove the ham hock, cut off any meat and return it to the stew; discard the bone. Season the stew with salt and pepper and serve with bread, cornbread, biscuits or saltine crackers.

BEEF AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW

Steps:

• In a large soup pot heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, rosemary, and thyme and saute until the onions are tender, about 2 minutes. Toss the beef cubes in salt and pepper and flour. Turn up the heat to med-high and add the beef to the pot. Cook until the beef is browned and golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the Marsala wine. Using a wooden spoon, gently stir up all the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the butternut squash and sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine. Add enough beef broth to just cover the beef and squash. Bring the stew to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Season the stew with additional salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve with crusty bread alongside.

OLD-FASHIONED BEEF STEW WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the beef with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add to the pot in batches and cook, turning and adding more oil as needed, until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Add 2 more tablespoons oil to the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Add the roughly chopped carrot, celery and onion and cook, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon and scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pot, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Move the vegetables to one side and add the tomato paste to the empty side. Cook until it darkens around the edge, about 2 minutes; stir into the vegetables. Add the wine and bring to a boil.
• Return the beef and any juices to the pot; add the stock. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam off the top. Add the thyme. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• Strain the beef and vegetables in a colander set over a large bowl, reserving the cooking liquid. Tent the beef mixture with foil. Let the cooking liquid stand for 5 minutes and then skim off the fat on the surface. Return the liquid to the pot. Add the remaining carrots and celery and the potatoes and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until they release their juices and brown, 10 minutes. (Pour off any extra liquid, if necessary.) Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour to make a roux, then let it bubble (do not brown), 2 minutes. Whisk in 2 cups of the reserved cooking liquid. Stir this sauce into the pot with the vegetables; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, 5 minutes.
• Return the beef to the pot, discarding the roughly chopped carrot, celery, onion and thyme. Add the mushrooms and simmer until heated through, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with parsley.

SLOW COOKER HEARTY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Season the beef with black pepper. Coat the beef with 2 tablespoons of the flour. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef in 2 batches and cook until it's well browned, stirring often.
• Place the potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic into a 5-quart slow cooker. Top with the beef. Add 3 cups of the stock, Worcestershire, thyme and bay leaf.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 10 to 11 hours* or until the beef is fork-tender. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
• Stir the remaining flour and stock in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth. Stir the flour mixture and peas in the cooker. Increase the heat to HIGH. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the mixture boils and thickens.
• *Or on HIGH 5 to 6 hours
• Serving suggestion: Serve with buttermilk biscuits and tossed salad topped with Ranch dressing.

ZUCCHINI, POTATO AND FENNEL STEW

Steps:

• In a medium soup pot, heat the olive oil, then add the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and then the Piment d'Espelette. Lightly brown, 5 minutes, while you chop the remaining vegetables. Add the garlic, zucchini, fennel and onion to the soup as they are chopped. Add the tomatoes and cover the pan to soften the vegetables and burst the tomatoes, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the stock and passata, and mix to combine. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• Reheat over medium heat and garnish with the reserved fennel fronds and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with warm bread.