California Beef Stew Recipes

BEST EVER ONE POT BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place a large Dutch Oven pot over medium-high heat and warm the olive oil in it.
• Season the beef with salt and pepper and add to the hot pot, just so the beef covers the bottom of the pot (Don't overcrowd as this will prevent the browning process. Brown the beef in batches if necessary.).
• Brown the beef pieces on each side just until they're beautifully caramelized, sprinkling the flour over the beef as it browns, about 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Remove the beef from the pot to a plate after it has browned (don't worry about cooking it through at this point!) and add the thyme, smoked paprika, onions, garlic, carrots and celery to the pot.
• Stir the vegetables around to catch all the drippings left in the pot from the meat and add the beef back into the pot after the onions are almost translucent.
• Add the red wine, the Worcestershire Sauce, and the tomato paste. Give everything a good stir and let the liquid cook down (it's important to let the wine cook off for a good 4-5 minutes before adding the other liquid).
• Once the wine liquid has reduced for several minutes and it has thickened, add the tomato sauce, the beef stock and the potatoes.
• Give everything a good stir, scraping any bits off the bottom of the pot.
• Make sure the potatoes are nicely nestled into the liquid and add the lid to the pot. Place the pot in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3 to 3 and a half hours.
• Every hour or so, lift the lid of the pot and give everything a quick stir.
• If you'd like to add the frozen green beans (they're totally optional and I only add them about 50% of the times I make this dish), stir them in during the last 30 minutes of cooking so they don't get soggy.
• You'll know the stew is done after the allotted time has passed and the beef pieces fall apart when you touch them with a fork.
• Serve in deep bowls with a piece of crusty bread for dipping, and a sprinkling of fresh parsley for garnish (if desired).

CALIFORNIA BEEF STEW

Steps:

• 1. In large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, fry bacon until crisp; push bacon bits to side of pan. To drippings in pan, add stew meat and cook until well browned. Stir in wine, broth and next 4 ingredients; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 2-1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender, stirring occasionally.
• 2. Meanwhile, in covered, medium saucepan over high heat, in about 1 inch boiling salted water, cook onions 10 minutes; add mushrooms; cook 5 more minutes; drain.
• 3. In small bowl, mix cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water until blended; stir into stew and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Add onions and mushrooms, frozen peas and olives; cover and cook 10 minutes or until peas are fork-tender.

BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl and coat each piece of beef with it. Heat olive oil or butter in a heavy pot or Dutch oven and brown the meat over moderate heat. Remove meat as necessary to brown remaining meat. Return all meat to the pot. Dissolve beef stock cube in 2 cups boiling water and add to pot with meat. Add bay leaf and garlic and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer slowly until the meat is tender. Add onions, carrots, and potatoes; stir to mix ingredients, and cook for 10 minutes. Add peas, and continue simmering until the meat and vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

CALIFORNIA OXTAIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven. Add oxtails and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer oxtails to a plate. Pour red wine into the Dutch oven; scrape any browned bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon.
• Return oxtails to the Dutch oven and add vegetable broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer until flavors combine, about 90 minutes. Add 1 cup water, if needed, to keep the oxtails covered.
• Add beef broth, barley, garlic, bay leaves, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer until barley softens, about 30 minutes. Add carrots, shallots, and celery. Continue simmering until oxtails and carrots are tender, about 30 minutes more.

CALIFORNIA BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In 6 quart dutch oven over medium-high heat fry bacon until crisp and then push bacon to side of pan.
• To drippings in pan, add stew meat and cook until well browned.
• Stir in one cup water, wine and next six ingredients; heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 2 1/2 hours or until meat is fork tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile in a covered 2 quart saucepan over high heat, in about 1 inch boiling, salted water, cook onions ten minutes; add mushrooms and cook 4 more minutes and then drain.
• Blend cornstarch and 3 tbsps. water; stir into stew and cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened.
• Add onions, mushrooms, frozen peas and olives and cover.
• Cook 10 minutes or until peas are fork tender.
• Serve and enjoy!

SLOW COOKER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Combine vegetables in 4½ qt (4.3 L) slow cooker. Add bay leaves.
• Place stewing beef, flour and pepper into a sealable plastic bag and toss to coat beef.
• Brown beef well on all sides in heated oil over medium-high heat in large non-stick skillet. Place beef on top of vegetables in slow cooker.
• Add broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and garlic to skillet and combine well with pan drippings. Pour mixture over beef and vegetables.
• Cook, covered, on HIGH setting for 4 hours* or until the beef reaches internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is fork-tender. Discard bay leaves before serving.