Provincial Beef Stew Recipes

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Fry the onion and celery in 1 tbsp oil over a low heat until they start to soften - about 5 mins. Add the carrots, bay and thyme, fry for 2 mins, stir in the purée and Worcestershire sauce, add 600ml boiling water, stir and tip everything into a slow cooker. Crumble over the stock cubes or add the stock pots and stir, then season with pepper (don't add salt as the stock may be salty).
• Clean out the frying pan and fry the beef in the remaining oil in batches until it is well browned, then tip each batch into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hrs, or on high for 4 hrs.
• If you want to thicken the gravy, mix the cornflour with a splash of cold water to make a paste, then stir in 2 tbsp of the liquid from the slow cooker. Tip back into the slow cooker, stir and cook for a further 30 mins on high. Stir in the parsley and season again to taste. Serve with mash, if you like. Leave to cool before freezing.

PROVINCIAL BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Dredge meat lightly with flour. In a large skillet, heat half the oil over medium-high heat. Cook meat in batches, adding more oil as needed, for 6 to 8 minutes or until browned all over. Transfer to a large ovenproof casserole.
• Drain most of the oil from skillet. Saute garlic and thyme for 1 to 2 minutes, or until garlic is softened. Pour in tomatoes, stock, and vinegar, stirring to scrape up brown bits and mashing tomatoes with fork. Bring to boil, then pour over meat. Add orange juice, bay leaves, orange rind, and pepper. Cover casserole dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.
• Stir in carrots, mushrooms, and onions. Bake for 40 minutes.
• Stir in pasta, and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove casserole from the oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove bay leaves and orange rinds. Serve.

SLOW-COOKER PROVENCAL BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle beef with 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper; dredge in flour. Add beef to pan; saute 2 minutes, browning on all sides. Place beef in slow cooker or crock pot.
• Add onions and garlic to skillet; saute 5 minutes. Add wine to skillet, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Place onion mixture in slow cooker.
• Add broth, tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, and tomatoes to cooker; top with zucchini and carrots.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until beef is tender. Stir in remaining 1 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper. Discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs.