A Hearty Guide to Making Delicious Beef Stew
Beef stew is a classic comfort food that warms the soul, especially during chilly days. This guide will walk you through making a rich, flavorful beef stew, complete with ingredients, cooking instructions, and helpful tips. Plus, we’ll provide nutritional information and a calorie count to keep your meals balanced. Don’t forget to check out our eBook for more mouth-watering recipes and pre-order our upcoming cookbook, Deliciously Fit, for healthy meal options!
Ingredients
To create a delicious beef stew, gather the following ingredients:
- 3 lbs boneless beef chuck roast (cut into 1½ inch pieces)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 large carrots (peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 2 medium yellow onions (cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1½ tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 lb baby Yukon potatoes (cut in half)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Follow these simple steps to prepare your beef stew:
- Sear the Beef: In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper, then add them to the pot in batches. Sear on all sides until browned (about 6-7 minutes). Remove the beef and set it aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pot, add the onions and cook until softened. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste, cooking until fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the seared beef to the pot. Add balsamic vinegar, sugar, thyme, carrots, potatoes, red wine, beef broth, and water. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high in a slow cooker. Stir occasionally to incorporate flavors.
- Thicken the Stew: If you prefer a thicker stew, mix the flour with a little water to create a slurry and stir it into the stew during the last hour of cooking.
- Serve: Once cooked through and tender, garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Cooking Time
Total cooking time is approximately 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high in a slow cooker.
Nutritional Information
Here’s an approximate breakdown of nutritional values per serving (based on a standard serving size of 1 cup):
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Total Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
- Sodium: 203 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Dietary Fiber: 3 g
- Sugars: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
Calorie Count
For reference, there are about 94 calories in every 100 grams of beef stew
. A typical serving size of one cup (approximately 235 grams) would contain around 235 calories.
Helpful Tips
- Searing is Key: Always sear your beef before adding it to the stew; this locks in moisture and enhances flavor.
- Use Quality Wine: The choice of wine can significantly affect the taste of your stew—opt for something you would enjoy drinking.
- Adjust Thickness: If your stew is too thin, use a cornstarch slurry as an alternative thickening method.
- Make Ahead: Beef stew often tastes better the next day as flavors meld together; consider making it ahead of time.
Conclusion
Making beef stew is not only rewarding but also an excellent way to feed family and friends with minimal effort. With this guide at hand, you can create a hearty meal that’s sure to impress! For more delicious recipes that will tantalize your taste buds, be sure to purchase our eBook filled with mouth-watering dishes. Additionally, don’t miss out on pre-ordering our new cookbook Deliciously Fit, which focuses on weight loss and healthy meal options that are both nutritious and satisfying!
