Award Winning Stew Recipes

THE ULTIMATE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.
• While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. Season the cubed beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat. Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful not to over crowd the pan, you might have to work in batches. Thoroughly brown all of the cubes on all sides. Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and reserve.
• Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits. Once the wine has gotten hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic, orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring the mixture up to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours.
• After 2 hours add halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine. Turn the heat up slightly and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the vegetables and meat are tender. Add the frozen peas during the last minute of cooking. Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme sprigs.
• To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, garnish with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and add a dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream. Right before serving add a slice of Toasted Peasant Bread, half way submerged in the stew.
• Combine sour cream, prepared horseradish and a drizzle of olive oil in a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add a dollop of the mixture on top of the stew and garnish with chopped chives.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Put a sheet pan in the oven so that it gets good and hot.
• Place the bread slices on the hot sheet pan. Drizzle the bread with the extra-virgin olive oil bake for 5 minutes, until the bread is nicely toasted. Rub the bread slices with the garlic cloves, and discard garlic. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

CONTEST-WINNING EASY OVEN STEW

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. Dutch oven, combine all ingredients. Cover and bake at 350° for 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours, or until the meat and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

BEST EVER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season steak with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Working in batches, add steak to the stockpot and cook, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned, about 6-8 minutes; set aside. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 3-4 minutes. Whisk in flour and tomato paste until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the stockpot. Stir in beef stock, thyme, bay leaves and steak. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until beef is very tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in potato; simmer until potatoes are just tender and stew has thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper, to taste.* Serve immediately.

BRUNSWICK STEW

Steps:

• Rinse the fryer under cold running water.
• Place fryer in large stock pot and cover with water about 6 inches over chicken.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and let chicken cook for one hour.
• Remove cooked chicken from pot, set aside to cool.
• Place the frozen baby lima beans and frozen corn in a colander. Rinse well.
• Add the beans and corn to a large stock pot.
• Wash, peel and cut up the potatoes, add to the beans and corn.
• Add enough water to cover the vegetables by about 2 inches.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until vegetables are tender. About one hour.
• While the vegetables cook, pull the chicken meat from the bones. Discard bones and skin.
• Shred chicken into small pieces.
• When vegetables are done, remove any excess liquid, leaving just enough to reach top of vegetables.
• Add tomato sauce.
• Add apple cider vinegar
• Add brown sugar.
• Add black pepper
• Add salt.
• Add butter.
• Add Texas Pete Hot Sauce.
• Add tomato paste.
• Add Worcestershire Sauce.
• Stir well.
• Add chicken to the stew.
• Add pork barbecue to stew.
• Add Ketchup. Stir well.
• Return to stove top and simmer on medium, stirring often, until warm, prior to serving.
• Stock or liquid from vegetables may be added if needed to obtain desired consistency.
• Serve warm and Enjoy!

OLD FASHIONED BEEF STEW

Steps:

• *See the pictured tutorial for more info on the tips to creating the best beef stew.
• Sprinkle the beef chunks with the salt and pepper. Sprinkle the flour over the beef to coat all sides.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy stock pot until hot (when you sprinkle in a few drops of water they should jump and sizzle). Add the coated beef chunks, spacing them out about 1/2 inch from each other and, working in batches so as not to overcrowd, generously brown the beef on all sides. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Add the onions with another tablespoon of butter to the Dutch oven (do not remove the browned/blackened bits in the bottom of the pan) and cook until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes (add a little more oil or butter if necessary). Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the wine, bring it to a rapid boil, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and boil for 2 minutes or until the wine is mostly evaporated. Return the beef to the Dutch oven.
• Add the broth, tomato paste and seasonings. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 90 minutes.
• Add the vegetables, cover and cook for another hour. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot sprinkled with a little chopped fresh parsley.

AWARD WINNING BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium high heat, fry the bacon for 5 to 10 minutes, or until well browned.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside.
• In small batches, saute the meat in the bacon fat until browned.
• Use a slotted spoon and set the stew meats aside as well.
• Melt the butter in the bacon fat in the same skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the flour, caraway seeds, paprika and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Stir for two minutes until all the flour is dissolved.
• Whisk in the vinegar and tomato.
• The mixture should be very thick.
• Next, pour in the beef stock, beer, salt, water, red bell peppers, reserved bacon and reserved meat.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Stir in the potatoes, parsnip, celery and carrots and continue to simmer, covered, for 30 more minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
• Stir in the breadcrumbs until stew has thickened.
• Add the cabbage and peas and simmer for 5 more minutes.
• (Note: For best results, allow soup to cool slightly, then refrigerate overnight and reheat before serving.).

TRADITIONAL IRISH BEEF AND GUINNESS STEW

Steps:

• Cut the beef across the grain into into 1-inch pieces. Sprinkle with some salt, pepper and the flour and toss to coat the pieces. Set aside.
• Fry the bacon in a Dutch oven or heavy pot until done then remove it with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan.
• Working in batches and being careful not to overcrowd the pieces, generously brown the beef on all sides. Transfer the beef to a plate and repeat until all the beef is browned.
• Add the onions and fry them, adding more oil if necessary, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the vegetables and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the Guinness and bring it to a rapid boil, deglazing the bottom of the pot (scraping up the browned bits on the bottom). Boil for 2 minutes. Return the beef and bacon to the pot along with the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. (**At this point you can transfer everything to a slow cooker if you prefer. Follow the remaining steps and then cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.)Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve with some crusty country bread or Irish soda bread. This soup is even better the next day.