Superb Beef Stew
Author: 
Recipe type: Beef Stew
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
We all love beef stew! Warm, comforting, aromatic, savory, you know! The house smells divine while it's cooking, warm bread to soak up the gravy! So here is your go-to recipe, it's been perfected so that the beef is super tender, the veggies are perfectly cooked, not mushy and the gravy is absolutely perfect! Chuck roast is the only way to go for this stew and you can certainly add your favorite veggies.
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup of flour
  • 1 tsp of kosher salt
  • ½ tsp of black pepper
  • 2-1/2 lbs of chuck roast, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 2-3 Tbs of vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbs of butter
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 5 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 cup of good dry red wine
  • 2 (14 oz) cans of beef broth
  • 1 Tbs of tomato paste
  • 1 tsp of sugar
  • 1 tsp of kosher salt
  • 1 tsp of black pepper
  • 3 - 4 fresh thyme sprigs or 2 tsp of dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 5 carrots, cut into equal size chunks
  • 1½ - 2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 cups of frozen peas
For thickening gravy
  • 2 Tbs of water
  • 2 Tbs of flour
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt & pepper and coat the beef. Heat the oil in a dutch oven or a large heavy ovenproof pot. Place some of the beef chunks in the pot making sure not to overcrowd, brown for 2-3 minutes on each side, then transfer them to a bowl.
  2. Remove any black bits from the pot, but leave the rest, add in the butter and saute the onions for 3-4 minutes, until softened, then add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Pour in the wine and deglaze the pot, scraping up all of the bits from the bottom.
  3. Return the beef to the pot and add the beef broth, tomato paste, sugar, salt & pepper, thyme, and bay leaves. Cover and bake for 1½ hours. Now add the potatoes and carrots, return to the oven and bake for 45 minutes uncovered or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.
  4. Last step, add the peas and bake another 10 minutes. Don't forget to fish out the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. If you'd like the gravy a little thicker, mix 2 Tbs of water with 2 Tbs of flour, add it the pot, stir and cook for a few minutes, always taste and add salt if needed.
  5. All done! Serve with warm bread or biscuits to soak up that glorious sauce!
Recipe by Cabin In The Woods at https://cabininthewoodsblog.com/superb-beef-stew/