Hearty Homemade Beef Stew

There are many different variations of the traditional homemade beef stew. No matter which recipe you use, it always comes out tasting great.


Not only is homemade stew easy to make, it's filling and really healthy for you. This is a perfect dish for a busy person as it only takes 10-15 minutes worth of preparation to make your own beef stew and you're free to go off and do other things while your stew is cooking.


Here's a simple homemade beef stew recipe that's one of my favorites.


Ingredients

• 2 pounds (1kg) beef
• 4 potatoes
• 4 cups beef stock
• 3 carrots
• 1 cup of peas
• 1 cup green beans
• 1 onion
• 2 sticks celery
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 cup of gravy

Method

1. Cut beef into bite-sized chunks and dice an onion. Crush the garlic. Chop beans, potatoes, and celery into small pieces. Cut the carrot into thin rings.



2. In a large casserole pot, lightly saute the onion and garlic in a little oil. When they're softened a little, add the beef and cook the meat until it's sealed.



3. Add four cups of beef stock to the casserole pot and add the other vegetables to the mix. If the stock isn't enough to cover all the vegetables, top up with water until everything is covered.



4. Cook until the stew is boiling. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer gently until vegetables are soft.
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6. Remember to stir occasionally to avoid stew sticking to the bottom. Add the gravy and continue simmering until the gravy thickens.

Serving suggestions:
You can serve your homemade stew on a bed of steamed rice or you might prefer to have your home made beef stew on its own in a bowl with a couple of slices of crusty buttered bread to mop up the gravy when you're done.

Italian Beef Stew

For a little bit of variety, this Italian beef stew recipe is very rich and has a lovely aromatic tomato base. It's an ideal meal for the whole family.

Ingredients

• 2 large onions, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 bottle red wine (shiraz is ideal)
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3.3 pounds (1.5kg) beef, cubed
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups chopped button mushrooms
• 1 cup peas
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Method

1. In a large casserole pan, add some olive oil and onions.



2. Cook the onions over a medium heat until they soften.



3. Add the garlic, paprika and tomato paste and stir to cook these ingredients through.



4. Add the wine and water and stir them well to blend the tomato through. Reduce the heat down to a low heat so the sauce is simmering gently.



5. Heat a frying pan on a high heat and add a little olive oil. Cook the beef until it's browned and sealed.



6. Season the meat with a little salt and pepper to taste if you prefer and then add the meat to the sauce.



7. Add the carrots, potatoes, peas, and mushrooms to the sauce and stir through. If there isn't enough liquid to cover all the ingredients, add a little more water.



8. Cover the casserole pan with a lid and leave your stew to simmer gently on a low heat for around 1 hour.



9. Remember to stir your stew occasionally so it doesn't burn on the bottom. When the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened, your Italian beef stew is ready to serve.



10. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Serving suggestions:
Serve your Italian homemade beef stew with fresh crusty bread, steamed rice or mashed potatoes.

Chili Beef Stew

Perhaps you might like your homemade beef stew with a little bit of chili behind it. This chili beef stew recipe is a favorite any time of the year and it's so easy to make!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (around 1kg) stew beef, cubed
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green capsicum (bell pepper)
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 can peeled tomatoes (approx 14.5 oz or 400g)
• 2 cans kidney beans (approx 14.5 oz or 400g per can)
• 1 can corn (approx 14.5 oz)
• 1 can chopped green chili peppers
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons plain flour

Method

1. In a large casserole pot, add oil and beef and cook until browned.



2. Remove the meat and set aside on a plate, but be sure to leave the meat juices in the pot.



3. Add the garlic, onion, and green pepper. Saute these ingredients lightly until onion has softened.



4. Stir in the chili powder and keep stirring until it's blended in thoroughly.



5. Add tomatoes and green chili to the pot and stir in the beef stock. If you prefer, add salt and pepper to taste at this point.



6. Add the meat back into the pot and reduce the heat down to a low heat.



7. Cover pot with a lid and simmer gently over a low heat for about 1 1/2 hours.



8. Blend flour with 1/4 cup of water in a cup. When blended fully, stir into your beef stew. When sauce begins to thicken, add beans and corn.



9. Serve with fresh crusty bread or mashed potatoes.

 

Whats next?
Here's a wonderful and healthy Irish Stew Recipe.... This is a perfect homemade stew for a busy person as it only takes a few minutes to prepare.

 

We hope you enjoy our homemade beef stew recipes. If you've tried any of these for yourself, we'd love to hear your comments. Perhaps you'd like to add a recipe of your own for others to enjoy. Feel free to Add your homemade recipes here.