Best Beef Stew Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5 kgs good stewing beef ,largecubes ,–chuck or blade
• 1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
• 1 tps white pepper
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 425 gm can crushed tomatoes ,or similar chopped fresh tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 stick celery ,finely chopped
• 3 carrots .chopped
• 4 onions ,chopped
• 1 large potato ,finely chopped –will help in the thickening
• 1 cup red wine
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat your oven to 180C
2. Use a plastic zip lock bag and toss your cubed meat with the flour ,white pepper and paprika till well dusted .
3. Place the floured meat in a heavy covered casserole dish –I use cast iron but thats up to you .
4. Now add the tomato ,wine and all the vegetables ,stirring well to mix.
5. If the mix doesn’t come to the top of your chosen dish ,I then cover with a greased kitchen paper or baking sheet .
6. Cook undisturbed for 1 and a half hours ,then test for seasonings and tenderness .I sometimes need to cook a bit longer if the meat needs it .
7. I serve this on mashed potato or with Irish Colcanon –its delicious served with a creamy garlicky polenta too.
8. I sometimes add fresh herbs to the cooking ,thyme especially .But I find the rich beef flavour needs little addition whenusing prime organic beef like we raise here .
9. A good Napa Valley red would seem to be the final ingredient to your meal –remember the glass you used in the cooking ?–drink the rest and enjoy !!