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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Some days take a lot out of me. Yesterday was one of them. I was so happy that it was expected and I was able to plan out a slow cooker recipe. I posted the recipe as written but to truly make this quick and easy I just threw the meat right into the pot. No pre-cooking for me. One slow cooker, a cutting board and you are good to go.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Adapted from Real Simple Dinners

Ingredients:
4 pounds bottom round, well trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup olive oil (plus more if needed)
large onions, diced (2 cups)
6-ounce can tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
1 pound potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
1/2 pound baby carrots (about 2 cups)
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
bay leaf

Directions

  1. Coat the beef in the flour. Heat a few tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meat, a few pieces at a time, adding more oil as necessary. Transfer to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
  2. Add the onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and coat the onions; transfer to the cooker.
  3. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add to the cooker. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, broth, salt, thyme, and bay leaf.
  4. Cover and cook on low heat for 7 1/2 hours, or on high for 4 hours. 

    7 comments:

    1. This is total comfort food. I often think about buying a slow cooker, so many recipes you can make with one. If I can find room in my tiny kitchen to store it...

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    2. That looks so wonderful! I really need to get my hands on a slow cooker... any brands/sizes you can recommend? I'm only cooking for two...

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    3. Delicious. Beef stew in fall/winter is just the BEST, isn't it? Simple, comforting and cozy!

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    4. Hmmm. May be simple to wham it all in the pot, but just looking at it is swarming me with memories of my Granny's stew on cold Scottish winters. It also had turnip in it. This is my favourite comfort food!

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    5. Beef stew is a total comfort dish for me as well. It's so hearty and delicious. And you gotta love anything you can make in the slow cooker!

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    6. It looks delicious! I suspect the dredging in flour and browning it would make the stew thicker, but it looks just right the way you made it, too!

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    7. Love a good slow cooker meal. Beef stew is pretty much the definition of comfort food!

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