French Oven Stew

Submitted by Debala

"I found this recipe years ago (don't remember where) and it's my favorite beef stew recipe. I use low sodium tomato juice because otherwise it's just too salty."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 lbs boneless beef roast
• 10 ounces peas and pearl onions, frozen
• 4 carrots, quartered
• 4 -5 potatoes, chunked
• 6 ounces mushrooms, trimmed
• 3 large celery ribs
• 1 1⁄2 cups low-sodium tomato juice
• 1⁄4 cup quick-cooking tapioca
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 small bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper

directions

1. Heat oven to 300°.
2. Mix all ingredients (except peas and pearl onions) into a heavy 3 quart oven proof sauce pot.
3. Cover and bake, stirring 3 times, 3 hours or until meat is tender and sauce thickened.
4. Add peas and onions 1 hour before stew is done.
5. Discard bay leaves before stirring.

Reviews

[Johnsdeere]

This was a tasty stew. Rather than using low-sodium tomato juice, I used the regular kind and omitted the salt the recipe called for. I think next time I will add the additional salt as well. Both my husband and I felt that more salt was needed for this dish. Rather than making this with a 2 1/2lb roast I will use Stew meat next time to ensure that the meat is tender and absorbs all the flavors in this dish. The three hours didn't seem to allow the roast to become tender as we like it. Thank you for sharing this dish. :) I made this for PAC fall 2009.

 

[susie cooks]

Wow! My kitchen smelled amazing for the 3 hours the stew was cooking. The only thing I did diiferent was add about 1/2 cup of red wine that I had in the fridge. I used Trader Joe's Garden Patch tomato juice. I have never used tapioca in a stew but it worked beautifully. Great dinner and I will make this a lot during the cold months!