Madeira Beef Stew Recipes

CAçOILA | PORTUGUESE STEWED BEEF

Steps:

• The day before cooking, in a large bowl, coat the beef with the crushed red pepper, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• About 4 hours before you intend to sit down at the table, scatter the onion slices, parsley, garlic, and bay leaves in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Tuck the allspice and cloves in a piece of cheesecloth tied together with kitchen twine or in a tea ball and toss them in the Dutch oven. If desired, season the beef with salt. Place the beef on top and dot with the butter or lard.
• In a measuring glass or bowl, stir together the wine, tomato paste, and cinnamon and pour it over the beef.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the meat is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning the pieces occasionally. For a more stew-like version, keep the lid on for the duration of cooking. For a more concentrated, glaze-like sauce version, about halfway through cooking, remove the lid to let some of the liquid evaporate so the sauce can concentrate in consistency and flavor.
• Remove the bay leaves and the cheesecloth pouch or teaball. If desired, serve the caçoila with boiled white potatoes, roasted red peppers, and cooked greens. Originally published May 10, 2001.

MADEIRA BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Cut the beef into 1"-1 1/2" cubes; then place them in a large bowl. Add the flour and toss to coat.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat and add the meat. Brown on all sides for approximately 10 minutes; then add to your slow cooker.
• Add the mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, Madeira wine and beef broth to the slow cooker and mix well.
• Cover your slow cooker and cook on high 2-4 hours, low 4-6 hours or warm 6-8 hours.

FILET OF BEEF WITH MADEIRA SAUCE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the filet with salt and pepper. To a heated pan add the oil, salt and pepper. Brown the meat on all sides. Place into a 350 degrees F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the meat thermometer registers 120 degrees F. to 125 degrees F. (for rare). Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes, covered loosely with foil.
• Make the sauce while the beef is resting. Pour off the fat from the pan, add the Madeira, and boil it, scraping up the brown bits, until it is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Add the broth and boil the mixture, stirring for 1 minute. Stir the arrowroot mixture, add it to the skillet, whisking, and simmer the sauce, whisking, for 1 minute.
• Slice the filet and transfer to a platter. Spoon sauce around the meat and serve the remaining sauce separately. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

HEALTHY BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine 4 tablespoons flour, paprika and pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. , In a Dutch oven, brown beef in oil over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste; cook until fragrant and the color starts to darken slightly. Add the water, bouillon, 1-1/2 teaspoons basil, 3/4 teaspoon thyme, 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is almost tender., Add the potatoes, onions and carrots. Cover and simmer 30 minutes longer or until the meat and vegetables are tender., Discard bay leaves. In a small bowl, combine the parsley, salt, and the remaining flour, basil, thyme and garlic powder. Add cold water; stir until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

CLASSIC BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Generously season beef with salt and pepper. Dust with flour and shake off excess. Heat a Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high, and swirl in 2 tablespoons oil.
• Add half of beef in a single layer and cook, turning a few times, until browned in places, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate, leaving fat in pot. Brown remaining beef; transfer to plate.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Swirl remaining 1 tablespoon oil into pot, still over medium-high heat. Cook onions until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until caramelized, 1 minute. Add Worcestershire sauce and wine; boil until mostly evaporated.
• Return beef and any accumulated juices to pot with broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Cover pot, transfer to oven, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Remove pot from oven and stir carrots and potatoes into stew. Cover and continue cooking in oven until beef is fork-tender and vegetables are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour more. Stir in peas; return to oven for 5 minutes more, just to heat through.
• Ladle stew into shallow bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and serve. Cooled stew can be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated up to 2 days, or frozen up to 3 months.

THE BEST BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a small bowl, toss beef and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a large bowl, combine 4 tablespoons flour and paprika. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and toss to coat. , In a Dutch oven, brown beef in oil over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste, herbes de Provence and garlic; cook until fragrant and color starts to darken slightly. Add wine; cook until mixture just comes to a boil. Simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, 1 teaspoon rosemary and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until meat is almost tender, about 1-1/2 hours., Add potatoes, onions and carrots. Cover; simmer until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes longer., Discard bay leaves. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 2 tablespoon flour. Add cold water and vinegar; stir until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring to a boil; add peas. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. If desired, top with additional fresh rosemary.

OLD-FASHIONED BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Combine the flour and pepper in a bowl, add the beef and toss to coat well. Heat 3 teaspoons of the oil in a large pot. Add the beef a few pieces at a time; do not overcrowd. Cook, turning the pieces until beef is browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch; add more oil as needed between batches.
• Remove the beef from the pot and add the vinegar and wine. Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.
• Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the onions and carrots and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Add broth or water if the stew is dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle among 4 bowls and serve.

MADEIRA SAUCE FOR STEAK

Steps:

• Pour off fat from skillet steak was cooked in or heat 1 tsp olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add shallots and stir. Pour in wine and cook about 30 seconds. Add beef broth and bring liquid to a full rolling boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking until reduce by 1/2. Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, blend 2 teaspoons butter with 1 teaspoon flour. Stir into simmering sauce. Cook another minute or two until slightly thickened. Swirl in 1 teaspoon butter. Strain over meat and garnish with parsley.