🍲 Old-Fashioned Beef Stew (hearty & comforting)
This is a classic, slow-cooked stew—tender beef, rich broth, and soft vegetables. Perfect for a cozy meal.
🧾 Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 700 g beef stew meat (chuck, cut into chunks)
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 3–4 carrots (sliced)
- 2–3 potatoes (cubed)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme or mixed herbs
- 1 bay leaf
🔥 Instructions
- Coat the beef
- Toss beef with flour, salt, and pepper
- Brown the meat
- Heat oil in a pot
- Sear beef until browned on all sides (adds deep flavor)
- Add aromatics
- Add onion and garlic, cook 2–3 minutes
- Build the stew
- Stir in tomato paste
- Add beef broth, water, herbs, and bay leaf
- Simmer slowly
- Cover and cook on low heat for 1.5–2 hours
- Stir occasionally until beef becomes tender
- Add vegetables
- Add carrots and potatoes
- Cook another 30–40 minutes until soft
- Final touch
- Taste and adjust salt/pepper
- Remove bay leaf before serving
🌟 Tips for best flavor
- Low and slow cooking = tender beef
- Use a heavy pot or Dutch oven if possible
- Let it sit 10–15 minutes before serving—it thickens and tastes better
😋 Variations
- Thicker stew: mash a few potatoes into the broth
- Richer flavor: add a splash of Worcestershire sauce
- Veg-loaded: add peas or green beans at the end
🍞 Serve with
- Fresh bread or naan
- Rice or mashed potatoes
If you want, I can give you a quick pressure cooker version or a budget-friendly version using fewer ingredients 👍
