Hearty Beef Stew

Hearty Beef Stew – It’s been a bit chilly out so my Hearty Beef Stew is on the menu tonight. Simply delicious. Below includes InstantPot directions with some side notes to adjust for stovetop and/or slow cooking if you don’t have an InstantPot.  Enjoy!

Marinade Ingredients

• 1-2 lbs Beef tips or beef chuck for stew cubed
• 1/2 c Olive oil (evo)
• 1/3 c Coconut Aminos (or Bragg’s liquid aminos or soy sauce with a little Worcestershire)
• 1 Lemon, juiced (just the juice)
• 1-1 1/2 tbsp Garlic powder
• 2-3 tbsp Dried basil
• 1/2-1 tsp White pepper
• 1-1 1/2 tbsp dried parsley flakes or about the same in chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Pro tip:  you may need to add a little extra liquid ingredients if you have 2 lbs of meat.

Optional Marinade Tools

• Meat Tenderizer

Marinade directions

1. Tenderize beef, if not cooking with InstantPot. (If not already bought in beef chunks, chop into chunks. Place in large ziplock bag and tenderize with handheld meat tenderizer.)
2. Put beef tips and marinade ingredients in a sealable container (Tupperware or ziplock bag) and mix well.
3. Refrigerate for 1-24 hrs. (I’ve done a range of 4-24hrs in both Tupperware and ziplock, all came out good.)

Stew Ingredients

• 1-2 lbs, Marinated beef
• 3-6 Tbsp, Unsalted Butter
• 1/2 Onion, sliced long & thin
• 3 Garlic gloves, minced
• 2-3 Carrots, chopped in large chunks
• 2 Celery Stalks, chopped in large chunks
• 4-6 Red Potatoes depending on size, chopped in large chunks
• 14-15 oz Vegetable broth
• 2 oz Tomato Paste
• 1 Tbsp Herbs de Provence
• S&P, to taste
• Small Sachet or Bouquet Garni
  • 4 Thyme Sprigs, 1/4 bunch Parsley Stems, 2 Bay Leaves, generous pinch of whole Peppercorns – best contained in cheese cloth and cooking twine
  • 4 Thyme Sprigs, 1/4 bunch Parsley Stems, 2 Bay leaves – wrapped in a whole leek leaf and tied with cooking twine

Side note on Onions:  even if you aren’t a big fan of onions, trust me…put them in the recipe and follow my instructions. They will be so cooked down you will not notice, but add a crucial element to the dish. I’m sure it will taste good without them, but try it with and be amazed.

Stew Directions

1. Put InstantPot in Sauté mode.
2. Add marinated beef including any marinade liquid to instantpot for browning. Don’t cook all the way, just sear each side for a few minutes. Pro tip: Don’t crowd, do in a couple shifts if needed.
3. Remove seared beef and set aside to reintroduce later.
4. Melt a couple tbsp butter and sauté sliced onions until translucent. Stir often. If the bottom has some burnt roughness from the marinade herbs, it’s ok. It will loosen and add depth to the stew later.
5. Add garlic, and a little butter if needed, and stir well to prevent onions and garlic from sticking to bottom.
6. Add carrots, celery, potatoes, herbs and seasonings (including bay leaf) and mix well. You may need an oven mitt to hold the InstantPot’s inner pan steady.
7. Add seared beef tips, tomato paste, broth and sachet or bouquet garni. Mix well adding additional seasonings to personal taste. (If there seems to not be enough liquid, add some good water.)
8. Change Instant pot setting to “Beef/Stew”, close lid and close vent for proper high pressure cooking as directed on unit.
9. When the auto beef/stew program is done, let it sit for a few minutes then open the vent. *careful to not burn your hand on the steam that will release.* Let it vent completely.
10. Remove lid and do a careful taste test. Add salt if needed, to taste, and the stew is ready to serve. When serving watch for the bay leaf to throw away.

Stovetop option:  If you don’t have an instantpot, doing the same in a Dutch oven or large pot on the stove would also work. If all done on the stove, be sure at step 8 to bring the stew to a boil then reduce it to low and cook it for a longer period at a lower temp until the beef is tender.
Slow Cooker and Stovetop:  Alternatively, you could sear the beef on the stove and once all ingredients have been added and mixed together transfer it to a slow cooker. Slow cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours appx.

–Sorry, no pics of Step 4-5…I’ll add some next time, you can do it! I believe in you! —

Chef Recommended Sides:

Lemon Thyme Basmati

a cornbread side would also work very well.  Check out a cheesy cauliflower “cornbread” (probably labeled as gluten-free/paleo something or other) for a delicious healthy alternative using riced cauliflower! I’ll post my own recipe here once it’s perfected.

Enjoy!!!

Love,

Linus