Tomato Less Rustic Beef Stew Food

NO TOMATO BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Place flour in a plastic bag, add a few pieces of beef at a time shaking well to coat.
• Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large sauce pan. Add onions, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Transfer to a large stew pot.
• Heat 2 Tbsp oil in sauce pan. Add meat and brown well. Transfer to stew pot.
• Add beef broth (and beer if using), basil and thyme. Bring all to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender.
• Add 3 more cups beef broth. Add potatoes, carrots and celery, cover pot, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
• Add peas and simmer 15 minutes more.
• Add salt and pepper to taste. You won't need much salt, as the broth has plenty.

TOMATO-LESS BEEF STEW

Steps:

• If using an oven, preheat it to 325 degrees.
• Place the flour in a large bowl, add the meat, and stir to coat.
• Transfer the coated meat, shaking off the excess flour, to a plate.
• Place the oil in a large skillet and set over med-high heat.
• Add the meat and cook, stirring often, just until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the browned meat to a 6-quart slow cooker or heavy Dutch oven with a lid and add the beef broth, marinade, potatoes, carrots, onions, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• If using a slow cooker, cover and seal the pot and cook until the meat and vegetables are tender, 7-8 hours on LOW, 3-4 hours on HIGH.
• If using a Dutch oven, cover and bake until the meat and vegetables are tender, 2 hours.
• Transfer the stew to a large serving dish and serve.

BASIC (NO TOMATO) BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Place flour in a plastic bag, add a few pieces of beef at a time shaking well to coat.
• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large sauce pan.
• Add meat and onions, brown meat well.
• Add beef broth (and wine if using), garlic, basil and thyme.
• Bring all to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours (or until meat is tender).
• Add potatoes, carrots and celery, cover pot, and simmer for about 20-30 minutes (or until potatoes are almost done).
• Add green beans (or peas) and simmer 10-15 minutes more.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

TOMATO-BASED BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl mix the flour with salt and black pepper; add in beef cubes and coat in the flour mixture, shaking off ANY excess flour before adding to the oil (this is important or you will get small lumps of flour in the stew if you do not shake off the excess flour, just coat very lightly).
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat; the beef cubes in batches and browned well on all sides (the cubes must be well browned, this will take some time to brown well so have patience!).
• To the same pot with the beef add in the onions, celery, thyme and chili flakes (add in more oil if needed) saute stirring with a wooden spoon for about 4-5 minutes adding in the garlic the last few minutes.
• Add in the tomato paste and bay leaves; cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes.
• Add in the wine, stir for about 1 minute to deglaze the pot scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon.
• Add in the Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, consomme, crushed tomatoes, bouillon powder (or browning sauce if using) bring to a boil stirring over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat and and simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for about 1-1/2 hours or until the meat is tender but not overdone (the beef will become stringy and tough if overcooked).
• When the beef is cooked remove to a bowl with slotted spoon.
• Add in the cubed potatoes, carrots and frozen peas; cook until the veggies are just fork-tender.
• Season with salt and lots black pepper to taste and add in the sugar (if using, the sugar will reduce the acid taste to the stew, it is only optional).
• At this point you can add in the flour water mixture to the simmering stew; cook until desired thickness adding in more flour/water mixture to create desired thickness).
• Add in the cooked beef back to the pot; stir and cook until heated through.
• Serve the stew on cooked pasta if desired and top with grated parmesan cheese.
• Delicious!