It’s been a bit chillier outside and it’s totally making me crave comfort food – you know, stews, soups, chilis, etc. I’d add macaroni and cheese to that list too but it’s still another month or two before I can *hopefully* add dairy back into my diet. We’re going to do a trial run at some point in November or December and see how my son reacts when I add it back in. Fingers crossed that I can enjoy milk and cheese again!
This is actually our first time adding beef back into my diet, but that is the least allergenic of all the foods I cut out for nursing so our MD recommended adding this back first.
Anyway – when the cooler weather hit, we also started getting a ton of potatoes in our CSA so it seemed like the perfect time to experiment with a stew recipe. Believe it or not I’ve actually never made beef stew before (which is so random because I cook pretty much every night at our house). I started this recipe with the intention of using lamb because I found some on sale, but when I opened the package and was hit with an obviously spoiled meat smell – I decided to go with beef instead.
This stew is really rich thanks to the beef, wine, and tomato paste. It’s warm, hearty, got a good amount of vegetables, and is just perfect for the fall and winter. I can.not.wait to make it again. Yes, it takes quite a while simmering on the stove, but that makes it a nice option for a lazy Sunday at home. Start it mid afternoon and it’ll be ready by dinner time! {Side note – I would love to experiment with making this in the crock pot too. I think it’d work really well and plan to try it out in the next month!}
While it was simmering, I also baked up some fresh homemade French bread. It was perfect to sop up the stew at the bottom of the bowl!
I hope you’ll give this recipe a try, then pop back over here and let me know what you think.
Hearty & Comforting Beef Stew
Makes 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
1 tbsp oil + 1 tbsp oil
1 to 1.5 lbs beef chunks
1/3 cup flour
Salt and pepper
1 onion
1 stalk celery
2 cloves garlic
½ cup red wine
1 cup baby carrots, chopped
2 large potatoes, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
3.5 cups beef stock (or other stock)
1 sprig rosemary
Salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Place flour along with a pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss beef in flour mixture.
2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot. Add beef and cook until all sides are browned. Remove beef with a slotted spoon and set aside.
3. Heat an additional 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed). Add onion, celery, and garlic and sauté for a few minutes until tender.
4. Add red wine and cook for 3-5 minutes or until reduced by half.
5. Add in carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, stock, and rosemary to the pot. Add beef back as well, and season with salt and pepper (to taste – I probably used about 1/4 tsp salt and about 1/2 tsp of pepper).
6. Cover and let simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on low heat. {I didn’t have any issues with consistency, but if for some reason your stew is too thin when done, just let it simmer uncovered for a few minutes to thicken up.} Enjoy!
Share with me: What is your favorite cool weather comfort food?
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Beef stew and french bread? I want to eat dinner with you. That stew looks great and not too complicated. Plus there’d be an excuse to have a glass of wine ….
Haha, well thank you! I should have a big blogger dinner where we all bring our fav recipes 🙂
This looks so good and now I am bummed with what I have cooking right now. Chicken seems super boring compared to this stew. Thanks for sharing and making me super hungry. I hope you get to have cheese again. I can’t imagine….
Haha, chicken is still yummy too! 🙂 I’ll definitely get to have cheese again eventually, it’s just a matter of hoping he tolerates it soon versus having to wait until I stop nursing. But I’ve made it 7 months now so I know I can make it longer if needed. But once I can have it again – mac & cheese is going to be my date that night.
This beef stew looks AMAZING! I love a good stew or chili – especially as the weather cools down!!
Chili is definitely another one of my favorites. I have so many different ways of making it too – different meats, different beans, red vs white, etc.
Mmmm. Can almost smell it cooking! Love love thick beef stew.
YES – it made the house smell amazing!
This looks amazing! Perfect cool weather food yum yum!
Thanks Ivanna 🙂
I don’t eat meat but the rest of my family does and they would love this one. It’s simple and easy for a weeknight dinner.
Totally Deborah – it’s complex enough that it feels like a treat, but easy enough that you could make it any day of the week.
I’ve never made a beef stew from scratch, but it is the ultimate comfort food! We’d love this for dinner!
It’s super easy to make, I promise! I hope you’ll give it a try 🙂
Yum! This is my kind of cool weather meal. I need to make this!
I know – stews, soups and chilis are my cool weather meal favorites. They’re just so warm and comforting.
This looks delicious! I love beef stew!
It is super delicious – I hope you’ll give it a try!
I absolutely love beef stew and this is definitely a great recipe. I love rosemary in beef stew. Comfort food is always the best this time of year!
Yes, rosemary gives it such wonderful flavor!
That looks amazing, and I may just have to make that this weekend! I love comfort foods–one of my favorites is pot roast. I also love spaghetti and meatballs.
Mmmm, I’m a big fan of pot roast too. I love making it in the crockpot when the meat gets so tender and the vegetables absorb the flavor of the meat too. So delicious.
I am a BIG fan of beef stew!!! yum.
Me too! I wish I made another batch of it so I had extra this week. Time to go pick up groceries to make it again!
I always love your recipes Chrissy! This looks so awesome! I was excited about the stew and then you added homemade bread! YUM.
I have a breadmaker that I am so excited to use and I now I am inspired 🙂
This is the perfect fall meal!
Aw, thank you for the compliments Natalie. I’ve never actually used a bread maker before – does it make it super fool proof? I just got into bread making this year 🙂
That looks delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe!
You’re very welcome Stephanie!
Sounds so so good! I definitely need to make this.
Pop back over if you give it a try and let me know how you liked it 🙂
I love love love beef stew but I never remember to make it. Thanks for sharing this recipe, looks great!
You’re so welcome Becki! I hope you enjoy it.
I just added this to my recipe list for next week. What an awesome seasonal meal! You always post great ideas!
Thanks Jenna! I hope you love it – it really was such an awesome fall dish.
This looks amazing! I’m going to make this sometime this week per hubby’s request. I don’t have any rosemary springs, but I do have the seasoning. Would that work just as well and any idea how much? So far we’ve loved all the recipes we’ve tried from your blog! THANK YOU!!!
Yes, rosemary seasoning would work too! (You could also just use an italian seasoning blend, or the seasonings of choice that you prefer.) I’m just a sucker for rosemary – I love that subtle almost piney flavor it adds.
As far as amount, dried herbs are more potent than fresh, and that’s even more so for rosemary in particular. I’d start small – maybe 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. You can always adjust after simmering to suit your tastes.
And you are too sweet – I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed all the recipes so far! I hope I can keep up the streak 🙂
Thank you so much Chrissy!! I’m going to make the stew today! I wonder how it would do in the crockpot?
I’m sure you already made it since I’m commenting a day late, but I bet it would work in the crockpot! I might reduce the liquid a bit though since liquid doesn’t evaporate out of the crockpot the same way it does on the stovetop.