I write about this beef stew in my memoir, All the Pretty Things. I had just given up my practice as a family doctor and I was trying to figure out what people do when they stay home. So I taught myself to cook. When I was first trying to figure out how to regularly put dinner on the table, I watched the Food Network like it was MY JOB. This was back in the day when food tv was new and it felt like I had my own personal tutor in the kitchen. I decided I was going to find a way to make the perfect pot of beef stew. When Stevie tasted the first bite, he looked at me with that certain twinkle in his eyes. This is the dish that made me a wife. You’re welcome! I also have a free ebook on my favorite soups, which you can download here!
Pick a day this week, gather your ingredients by noon and by six you’ll be queen of the world! This is like a love letter in a pot. I call it the best beef stew ever because I am a self professed drama queen, but this is no hyperbole. Make it this weekend for your people and they will swear their allegiance to you forever. Amen and amen.
I know I’ve been promising you a beef stew tutorial video, which I went to the trouble of making. Thankyouverymuch. And it’s horrible. Or ‘hahrrible’ as I would have sounded on the video. I’m not so fond of my video’d voice. So I give you the limited pictures I took and my very granny-ish instructions.
The Best Beef Stew Ever
Ingredients:
- 2-3 pounds of beef stew meat
- Steak seasoning (I use Montreal)
- 1/2 cup flour
- beef stock (I swear by Kitchen Basics and usually use a whole box, by the time you add stock several times to the stew)
- 1/2 red wine (I use it if I have it, but good beef stock will do)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1/2 bag baby carrots (about 20-30)
- 4-5 large red potatoes, cut to bite sized chunks
- 1 package of cremini mushrooms
- crushed red pepper, a few shakes
- salt and pepper, all along the way to add layers of flavor
- 3 T. worcestershire sauce
- 2 T. good honey
- 2 T. garlic/herb seasoning (I buy mine from Sam’s)
- optional veggies—I often add fresh brussel sprouts (halved, I usually parboil them for a few minutes to release the bitter flavor, then add to stew), parnsips (chunked), sweet potatoes (cut into chunks) cabbage (cut into quarters, if I’m not using brussel sprouts), frozen peas
How I do it:
Start with a package of boneless stew meat. I usually buy a large package for my large family (I’m guessing 2-3 pounds). Coat it with Canadian steak seasoning or 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe’s and salt it well. Then dredge it in flour. In a very hot dutch oven with a generous amount of oil added (you can also use some bacon fat, which I HIGHLY recommend, along with your more sensible oil), brown the meat on all sides. Once browned, add 1/2 cup (or so) of red wine (or a bottle, which I’ve been known to use if I’m making a double batch) and then enough beef stock to cover the meat and place the cover on the dutch oven and place it into a 250 degree oven. Let it cook for 3-4 hours. Three’s probably enough, but if you leave it for four…that’s okay too. After four hours, take it out of the oven and it will look something like this.
Then chop the following items into bite sized pieces: 4 carrots, 1 large onion, 4 large red potatoes (don’t use russet: they turn to mush), and a package of cremini mushrooms (often I go an extra step and hold the mushrooms until the end, at which point I cook them in bacon fat and oil and then add them separately to the stew at the very end. If I’m not short on time, I add them now). At this point you can just add all these veggies to the stew or you can go the extra mile and give these a short saute in some olive oil to release some of their natural sugar. I think the extra step is worth it but I’ve done it both ways based on time. Generously salt and pepper the veggies and then add more beef stock so that most of the veggies are covered. Don’t totally submerse them though or there’ll be too much liquid. Also add a few shakes of red pepper, a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce, 2 T. of garlic-herb seasoning, and 2 T. of honey. Put back into the oven at 250 for another 3 hours.
When you take the best ever beef stew out of the oven, the veggies should be soft but not mushy. Now for the part that makes my family think I’m a superhero: Add 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 t. sugar, stir and then taste it. It may need more salt, pepper, honey, whathaveyou. To finish it, thaw a half bag of frozen peas in the microwave and add those to the stew and then add 2T. of tomato paste. Put it back into the oven until your ready to serve. You can turn the oven off and just let it bask in the warmth. Serve with southern cornbread and prepare for lives to be changed. I forgot to take a picture just as it came out the oven, but here it is after 7 hungry people devoured it!
Enjoy!
Note to parents: The flour that you use to dredge the meat in is what will thicken your stew so be generous.
Like this post, check out some of my other awesome soups!
Swedish Meatball Soup (just as AMAZING as it sounds!)
Or just peruse the list and find one you want to try!
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ps. In case you didn’t know, this family doctor took the plunge into the world of natural health and essential oils and these oils are BLOWING MY MIND. If you want to feel better, sleep better, strengthen your immune system, reduce your stress, and clear some of the common toxins out of your life, I’d love to walk with you as you get started.
In the month of December (2016) I’m giving away a signed copy of my book along with a $10 product credit (to repay you for the cost of your shipping) to anyone who joins Young Living with me with a Premium Starter kit.
Young Living is giving away a free bottle of Christmas Spirit (my ABSOLUTE favorite Christmas scent and SO GOOD for mood!!) with every starter kit purchase, so it’s truly a great time to join!!
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I’ve been waiting for life changin’ beef stew.
love, Cindy
and I have been waiting for the mocha chocolate cake.. with it, i might be a contender for the gardian angel-ship!!! hope today is much better for you edie!! love ya!
Thanks for the recipe I love beef stew!
Oh Edie you MUST love us! I am so gonna make both of these. Thanks again for sharing!
Hey Edie!! I’m glad the hackers didn’t prevail…don’t worry about the mullet email ever being lost. I have it backed up on a disc because you never know. Oddly enough, I don’t have many family pictures backed up….thanks for the recipes!
That cook looks absolutely divine! Mocha, chocolate – two of my favorite things!
Well, Heavenly Hanna! This all looks wonderful. I’m now starving.
Come over and see my giveaway…send all your buds my way as well. You’ll like it!!!
Thanks for the Beef Stew recipe. I’ve always guessed at how to make it…maybe that’s why it hasn’t worked out so well! I’m going to make this on one of the cold nights coming up. It looks warm and yummy! Your desserts always look great!!! What an awesome Mom!
-Kim
Whoa, you are killin me with the Mocha Cake recipe. *drools*
YUM!! Whatever the cause Edie, I truly love when you share recipes. Always the best day of my week 🙂 Perhaps I will go make your mocha cake as a belated birthday gift to myself since no one made me a cake yesterday…
HUGS!
Kirsten
oh Edie!
now you will know how often i check my blog…haha i just got your comment from weeks ago! and i do believe the Verity has 2 quite awesome fans (ahem. you and i) and all the others…i had such a good time skating your pictures are great…as always 🙂
love ya!
Hi Edie –
You have soooo ruined my eat-healthy-take-care-of-my-body routine!
I tell ya…it’s 10pm right now and I was heading to bed, but just might whip me up a mocha cake instead. Yum!
(You are not a good friend!) *wink*
Pooh. I don’t like mocha- but the cake does LOOK good. 🙂 And the stew? I ‘ll take it!
I saw this link on Blissfully Domestic, and I’m glad I dropped by. I like how you took photos of your food in different stages. The recipes sound great.
-Lori
http://www.thetowells.com
Um, can you just whip this up for me, cuz you know I don’t cook. PLEASE….please….You are the best! : ) xo
i will have to try this version of beef stew!! it looks so yummy- with the cream! and… the mocha cake may be on our valentine’s dinner menu!! i have been wanting to try this cake! i send love over your way…
makin the beef stew as I type!!!! cant wait to devour it tonight with some warm french bread.
K, I’m going to attempt your stew. What does dredge mean? Just roll the meat in flour? Any particular kind of wine that’s good? I don’t know my wine. If you get this in time great, otherwise, have fun in AL. I’ll let you know how it turns out, I’m sure Kimball and his scouts will love having it up at their winter campout tomorrow. 🙂
Hi, I came over from your comment at The Nester's site. I am looking forward to trying both of these recipes.
I, too, am making this right now and came over from The Nester's place. I have a couple of questions though. What is the Canadian seasoning and what is in your garlic-herb seasoning because I don't have either one of them on hand. I just salt and peppered the beef then added some seasonings with the veggies but I'm sure to do it right would taste better. Maybe the garlic-herb is something I can make?
This is now one of my husband's favorite meals. Maybe you should put that disclaimer on the post, seeing as how you invest about a year of your life making it. But it IS scrumptious – and I don't usually even like beef stew! I leave out the tomato paste, but otherwise make it per recipe..
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Made this today for my family , everyone loved it. Best ever!
HI Edie – I am in constant awe as I look over your blog, every day is a beautiful surprise to see your beautiful new home. You are a real source of encouragement after what you have been through. God is good and may he bless your family now and forever. Betty Baker,from Ontario ,Canada.
Very yummy stew. Looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
oh yay! thanks for sharing 🙂
Edie, I made this wonderful stew and mocha cake last night for my son who is home from college for another week. He invited three buddies over to have “his Mom’s awesome food”……. I live alone and absolutely loved drawing in these thankful college kids who appreciate a home cooked meal. I think they will be back!
I just finished making and eating the beef stew. It’s the best I’ve made, my family loved it. Thank you.
Tanya
The name does not lie, this is the best ever!
this looks delish . I need to try this, but I will wait til its cooler in Texas to have my oven on all day.. I do a beef stew in the slow cooker and instead of red wine I add a can of Guinness, I top it with puff pastry .
This looks amazing! I really love how you add the brussel sprouts! great idea!
This looks absolutely delicious! Pinned and Stumbled. xo
I made this tonight and it was wonderful.
the southern cornbread doesn’t work. it will go to it, but then immediately it goes to your home page. i need to get my favorites printed out!!
Signature dishes: Ham chips dusted with vinegar powder, which is prepared from Broadbent country ham and pureed with tapioca pearls, before being dehydrated and fried to order. Main courses feature heartier preparations of game, poultry and fish as well as unique vegetarian offerings such as braised little gem in grilled pea broth with mushroom puree and mint oil. Following a refreshing, palate cleanser, desserts might include Burns signature Beets and Rhubarb dish ? a juiced rhubarb mousse, topped with pea and anise hyssop sorbet and an Italian beet meringue.
I really wish there was a “print” option on your recipes so that they could be printed without the whole page of extra stuff. I know I’m not the only reader who wants to print them. Thanks
Dearest Edie:
So glad to hear from you. You have been greatly missed. I sorta figured you were working on your book. Can’t wait to read it. You are such a BEAUTIFUL writer.
P.S. Forgot about your cute hair. Still love it!
Question- the one pic seems to show brussel sprouts and parsnips cut up and seasoned in your pot. But they aren’t listed as an ingredient. Do you use them in your beef stew? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I do sometimes use brussel sprouts but not always!
Made the beef stew today and the taste is so yummy, but the beef-as to always be my story-has the texture of shredded cardboard. I browned both the beef and veggies and threw everything in the recipe in the crockpot for the day since I had to be away. Can anyone tell me what the secret to tender beef in beef stew is?
Lisa, So sorry the meat wasn’t tender. I always cook my very slow and at 250 in a dutch oven. I actually don’t do mine in the crock pot. Try it next time in a dutch oven and I bet you’ll be pleased with the beef.
Made this today and it is AMAZING! Can’t wait for lunch tomorrow too 😉
Making a list for the groc shopping. Looks wonderful!
Do you think this would work if I had to use gluten free flour?
i made this with gluten free flour and it turned out heavenly!
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Could you also do this on the stove top or in a crock pot? Asking for those of us without a dutch oven. This sounds delicious!
Sounds wonderful. I have a couple of questions. How much red wine? I also saw a bay leaf in the pictures. How many?
This beef stew turns out to take 6 hours to cook? Looking forward to trying this, Thank you!
Have you ever tried freezing (then re-heating) this recipe? How does it do?
Yes, works great!!
This is by far the best stew recipe I have ever tried! It didn t last long, so I will be making it again real soon! I can put my other stew recipe s away. ??
Have you tried it without the added cream at the end? How does it taste?
Hi, can I assume this recipe is NOT Keto friendly? It surely looks delicious and I want to make it this weekend. Plan to try the Keto diet and looking for recipes.
Super love the flavor of this! However, I’d like to mention that the picture posted must be before adding the cream, which changes the look of the stew considerably.- truthfully, it looks less appetizing than the posted picture, but the taste is amazing. Thanks for the recipe!
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