COMFORTING 1 POT BEEF STEW (My Best Recipe of 2022)

beef

🥗Healthier: lean cuts of beef

💰Cheaper: pork

Pork is often less expensive and can be a leaner option.

potatoes

🥗Healthier: sweet potatoes

💰Cheaper: white potatoes

Sweet potatoes are more nutritious.

Preheat oven to 500°F.

Trim hard fat from beef chuck and cut into large chunks (1 to 1.5 inches).

Add olive oil and salt to the beef and toss to coat.

Spread beef evenly on a half sheet tray and place in the oven to sear for 20-25 minutes until browned.

Peel pearl onions by cutting off ends and making a shallow slice along the edge, then peeling off the skin.

Cut thick carrots into very chunky pieces (400 g total).

Quarter large button mushrooms (300 g total).

Remove beef from oven once browned and set aside.

In a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat, add olive oil, mushrooms, carrots, pearl onions, and a pinch of salt, and stir to combine.

Sweat the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until slightly softened and caramelized, then transfer to a bowl.

In the same pot, add 115 g butter and let it melt over medium heat.

Add 100 g all-purpose flour to the melted butter and stir to create a roux, cooking for 60-90 seconds until golden.

Add 1,800 g beef stock, 30 g better than bouillon beef paste, 30 g tomato paste, 30 g Worcestershire sauce, and 4 packets powdered gelatin to the pot and stir to combine.

Pour in 450 g dark stout beer and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently.

Add the seared beef back into the pot, scraping the sheet tray to include any fond.

Stir to combine and then load the pot into the oven at 300°F, cooking uncovered for 2 hours, stirring halfway through.

Peel and cut 500 g of medium to small golden potatoes in half, optionally peeling them for a better texture.

After 2 hours, check the viscosity of the sauce and adjust thickness as needed.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: