Classic Beef Stew Recipe

Our Family’s Classic Beef Stew. The beef is so tender and just melts in your mouth! Every bit of this beef stew is infused with wonderful flavor from slow roasting in the oven.

INGREDIENTS: 6 oz thick sliced bacon chopped into 1/4" wide strips 2 - 2 1/2 lbs boneless beef chuck or good quality stew meat trimmed and cut into 1" pieces Salt and ground black pepper to taste 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups good red wine such as Soft Red or Pinot Noir (see note above) 1 lb mushrooms thickly sliced 4 large carrots peeled and cut into 1/2" thick pieces 1 medium yellow onion diced 4 garlic cloves chopped 1 Tbsp tomato paste 4 cups low sodium beef broth or beef stock 2 bay leaves 1 tsp dried thyme 1 lb small potatoes new potatoes, or fingerling, halved or quartered

Classic Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 potatoes, peeled and chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, toss the beef cubes with the flour until evenly coated.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
3. Add the beef cubes in batches and cook until browned on all sides.
4. Remove the beef cubes from the pot and set aside.
5. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot and sauté until the onion is translucent.
6. Add the beef broth, red wine, bay leaves, and dried thyme, and bring to a boil.
7. Add the browned beef cubes back to the pot, along with any accumulated juices.
8. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender.
9. Add the chopped carrots and potatoes to the pot and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
10. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
11. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Note: You can also add other vegetables such as mushrooms, celery, or peas to the stew for added flavor and texture.