stew beef recipes

When it's cold outside what is better than some nice beef stew! Stews have been made since ancient times and therefore are similar to soups but generally have less liquid. The most crucial part in cooking something incredibly delicious is to first start with a good recipe. Generally, beef stew recipes includes about 2 pounds of beef, a few cups of vegetables, as well as an assortment of oils and spices. Once you find the recipe you want to start with, it's time to get cooking! Some recipes use a crock pot or pressure cooker but using a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven is fine.

beef stew

When cooking beef stew, I like to brown my meat by completely drying it with paper towels at room temperature and tossing it inside a pan with some oil preheated to high. Then i sprinkle the meat with salt and toss it in the pan. Make sure to spread the meat out when it’s about the pan as crowding doesn’t help keep heat from circulating too much and brings the temperature down. When the meat is in the pan don’t move it until the bottom is a nice dark brown color. If the meat moves easily whenever you pick it up it’s ready to flip. When the beef doesn’t move, don’t force it until it’s ready. Don’t forget to brown the edges either; even if which means holding the meat with tongs, it’s worth it.

I also like to season early and often. I season every component of my dishes. Stay mindful of adding salt, particularly if you are adding chicken broth or any other salty ingredients. Always taste test as you go. When it comes to spices, I’m heavy handed. In the case of stew I use freshly ground cumin and coriander to the meat, and again to the vegetables as they sauté. I then add the spices again at the end of cooking to brighten up the flavor. I also use ground ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, mild chile powder, and saffron thread often.

If you like thicker stews, you can add cornstarch or flour into ½ cups of cold water. Stir until the stew is a desired consistency. It’s present with garnish the stew with slices of green olives, fresh mint, bay leaves, or parsley. I generally pass the saying that a recipe is only the basics. Feel free to add or edit the recipe to make sure it works for you! Try new ingredients, add or remove spices, and don’t panic to experiment.


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