Description
Hearty dutch oven beef stew celebrates robust flavors from pioneer women’s rustic kitchen traditions. Rich meat melts with tender vegetables, creating a comforting meal you’ll savor with deep satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (907 g) beef stew meat, seasoned with salt and pepper
- 4 cups (946 ml) low sodium beef broth (plus more if needed)
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) olive oil
- 4 oz (113 g) tomato paste
- 1 tbsp (15 g) butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 turnips, peeled and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsps minced fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
- ½ tsp sugar
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Season stew beef with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until butter foams.
- Browning Process: Sear meat in batches, creating a golden crust on each piece, approximately 2 minutes per side. Transfer browned meat to a separate plate using a slotted spoon.
- Aromatic Foundation: In the same Dutch oven, sauté onions and garlic, scraping up browned bits. Incorporate tomato paste, cooking and stirring for 2-3 minutes to develop deep flavors.
- Liquid Integration: Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Return browned meat to the pot, ensuring complete submersion in the liquid.
- Slow Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover, and allow stew to gently simmer for 1 hour and 45 minutes, periodically checking meat tenderness.
- Vegetable Incorporation: Introduce turnips and carrots, stirring to distribute evenly. Continue simmering for 30-40 minutes until vegetables reach fork-tender consistency.
- Consistency Adjustment: If stew appears too thick, gradually add beef broth to achieve desired texture.
- Final Touches: Stir in fresh parsley, taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the stew hot, garnishing with an additional sprinkle of parsley for vibrant color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Sear beef in batches to develop a rich golden crust, which builds deep flavor and prevents overcrowding the pot.
- Low and Slow Cooking: Simmer the stew on low heat to tenderize tough meat cuts, allowing collagen to break down and create a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Liquid Management: Monitor stew consistency by adding beef broth gradually, ensuring a perfect sauce-like thickness without becoming too watery or dry.
- Fresh Herb Finale: Add chopped parsley at the end to brighten the dish, introducing a fresh flavor and vibrant color that cuts through the rich, hearty stew.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg