Slow Cooker Sicilian Style Beef Stew Recipes

SIMPLE SICILIAN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat and oven to 300 degrees F with racks in lower third and upper third of oven.
• Pat meat dry and season with salt and pepper. Add some olive oil to the pan, 1 turn of the pan, melt about a tablespoon of butter into oil and when it foams, add about a third of the meat. Brown evenly on all sides and remove, then repeat with more oil and butter as needed and removing meat to platter or tray as you work. Add remaining oil and butter and when butter foams add the onions, fennel and garlic, bay, citrus and rosemary. Partially cover and soften about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste, then stir and add wine. Reduce 2 to 3 minutes, then add beef, stock, semi-dried or sundried tomatoes, olives and chile flakes or paste. Cover and place in oven for about 2 hours until very tender.
• Arrange the Roma tomatoes on a small baking sheet, dress with EVOO, thyme, salt and pepper and slow roast them along with the meat, for 2 hours.
• Serve beef on a platter topped with tomatoes or in shallow bowls atop Polenta or potatoes.
• Heat water and milk in a saucepan to a low boil, then whisk in cornmeal and season with salt and pepper. Cook 35 to 40 minutes, whisking occasionally, until thickened and creamy to taste. Stir in butter to serve.

SLOW COOKER ITALIAN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Whisk flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. Add beef to seasoned flour and toss to evenly coat; shake off any excess flour.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook beef in hot oil until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer beef to slow cooker; add carrots, onion, potatoes, celery, and garlic.
• Whisk red wine, beef broth, tomato paste, and rosemary together in a bowl until smooth; pour over beef and vegetables.
• Cook on Low until beef and vegetables are tender, 4 to 6 hours.

SLOW-COOKER SICILIAN-STYLE BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon oil and half of beef, in a single layer; cook, turning a few times, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Repeat with remaining oil and beef. Add shallots and wine to skillet; cook, scraping up browned bits, until wine has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker; stir in tomatoes with their juices, fennel, rosemary, and zest. Cover and cook on high until meat is fork-tender, about 4 1/2 hours.
• Stir in olives; season with salt and pepper. Remove rosemary; serve, with mashed potatoes, orange wedges, and more pepper.