Easy Beef Stew
Learn how to make the perfect beef stew with tender meat, rich broth, and hearty vegetables. A comforting meal that's easy to prepare and full of flavor!
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- Two pounds of beef chuck cut into chunks deliver mouthwatering results during slow cooking because of their excellent marbling qualities.
- Two ingredients salt and black pepper add flavor enhancement to beef directly following their natural tastes.
- The flour in quantities of 4 teaspoons enables the beef stew broth to become thick and rich.
- Rate of beef browning occurs through the addition of 2 tbsp olive oil that also establishes additional flavors in the dish.
- The diced onion brings both a sweet component to balance the dish with its inherent depth of flavor.
- The warm flavor and characteristic aroma of garlic comes from 3 minced cloves used in the stew.
- A bowl of three sliced carrots serves traditional sweetness and tender texture in this dish.
- Two cubic-cut large potatoes serve as broth-absorbers which create satisfying mouthfuls of beef stew.
- Tomato paste 2 tbsp: Adds a deep, umami-rich base.
- Beef broth 4 cups: Creates the hearty, savory foundation of the stew.
- Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp: Enhances the stew with a subtle tangy depth.
- The stew acquires its warm terrestrial taste through the infusion of two bay leaves with a teaspoon of dried thyme.
Instructions
Step-by-Step: How to Prepare Beef Stew
- The next step involves beginning the preparation process using all your required ingredients for this delicious beef stew. The following straightforward instructions will assist you in preparing beef stew which will become a rich tender flavorful dish ideal for relaxed evening meals or large family gatherings.
Brown the Beef for Maximum Flavor
- Application of paper towels should be used to dry all beef chunks first. A proper sear develops when you follow this process.
- Generously season the beef with salt and black pepper. Season the beef heavily because it will bring out tremendous flavor in the final dish.
- Cover the meat pieces with flour then tap off surplus flour. The flour coating the beef plays an essential role to make the stew thicker during the simmering process.
- In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Brown the beef individual pieces one at a time so they can get sufficient contact with the hot surface. Proper spacing of the meat pieces in the pot allows the brown crust to develop. Large amounts of beef in the pot prevent browning and will lead to steam instead.
- Set the beef on a plate after it reaches brown color.
Sauté the Aromatics
- If additional olive oil is required for the pot then add some.
- The diced onion requires sautéing in the pot for three minutes to achieve a softened and brilliant golden color. The cooked onions provide tastiness as foundation for the stew's base.
- After 30 seconds the minced garlic will develop its aromatic quality. The addition of this step develops strong flavors that enrich your stew.
Build the Flavorful Base
- Add tomato paste to the pot after which you need to cook it for one minute. Then continuing with cooking produces deep rich flavors that appear in the stew.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce before using a wooden spoon to remove delicate brown specks from the pot floor. The stew base benefits from the delicious elements that stick to the bottom of the pot.
Let It Simmer
- Place the browned beef into the pot before you add both potatoes and carrots and thyme with the bay leaves.
- Add beef broth into the pot so that all contents become fully submerged beneath the liquid. The meat and vegetables result in a deep flavorful liquid.
- Let the stew reach boiling temperature prior to maintaining a low heat throughout the process. Maintain low heat and cook the mixture with covered pot for 1.5 to 2 hours while occasional stirring helps. The lengthy gentle heat of the simmer transforms the beef into pure tenderness while all flavors within the stew fully emerge.
Final Touches
- Users should discard the bay leaves from the stew just before serving.
- To achieve a thicker stew consistency you should either break up several potatoes using a fork or expose the stew to open heat for ten additional minutes until some liquid evaporates.
- Insert frozen peas when the stew has five minutes remaining on the cooking heat to add vibrant color and delightful sweetness to the dish.