Basic (No Tomato) Beef Stew

Dee514's Note:

This is a "basic" beef stew recipe. Please feel free to add your favorite herbs, spices and vegetables to make this recipe "your own". Serve with crusty bread and a tossed green salad for a complete meal.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2-2 lbs lean stewing beef (cubed round or your preferred cut)
• 2 -3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 3 1/2 cups beef broth (or 3 cups beef broth plus 1/2 cup dry red wine)
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 2 1/4 cups peeled cubed potatoes
• 2 cups carrots, sliced thickly
• 1 cup sliced celery (optional)
• 2 cups sliced green beans (OR 1 1/2 cups peas)
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Place flour in a plastic bag, add a few pieces of beef at a time shaking well to coat.
2. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large sauce pan.
3. Add meat and onions, brown meat well.
4. Add beef broth (and wine if using), garlic, basil and thyme.
5. Bring all to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours (or until meat is tender).
6. Add potatoes, carrots and celery, cover pot, and simmer for about 20-30 minutes (or until potatoes are almost done).
7. Add green beans (or peas) and simmer 10-15 minutes more.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Reviews

[songofbernadette]

This stew has a wonderful flavor.We used peas instead of green beans and a Merlot for the wine. It was quite easy to prepare, and we will definitely make it again.

[Divinemom5]

Excellent stew.Even my 'stew-hating' husband loved it.I have been looking for a no tomato stew recipe for years,this one is it.It has wonderful,down home flavor,just like grandma used to make.

[un petit chou]

Perfect! The only thing I did differently was coat the beef in seasoned flour before browning it so the stew would thicken up a little as it cooked. Almost as good as grandma's :) Thanks.