Description
A hearty, traditional beef stew recipe that yields tender beef and a rich, flavorful sauce, perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, cut into chunks
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder, cornstarch or other flour
- 1 cup red wine
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 pound baby white potatoes, halved or quartered
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced on a diagonal
- 3 celery ribs, chopped
- Optional: fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Season the beef with salt and pepper.
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, place the beef in the pot and sear on all sides until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side, then remove the beef to a plate.
- Add the onion and garlic to the pot. Pour in the vinegar and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion softens. Add the tomato paste and cook for one minute more.
- Return the seared beef to the pot and sprinkle the flour on top. Stir everything together until the flour dissolves.
- Add the wine, broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir everything together. Bring the broth to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer partially covered for 1 hour.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Cook for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender.
- Remove the bay leaves, and garnish with fresh thyme before serving if desired.
Notes
- Do not crowd the pot when searing the meat; you need a good golden crust for flavor.
- You can replace the red wine with more beef broth if you omit the alcohol.
- Two tablespoons of flour is usually enough, as the potatoes will thicken the broth. If you want it thicker, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour with a small amount of broth in a separate bowl, then stir the mixture back into the stew.
- The flavor improves the next day, making this good for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 1 hour 40 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 110
Keywords: Classic Beef Stew, Crockpot Beef Stew, Easy Beef Stew, Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Hearty Dinner, Comfort Food, Traditional Beef Stew