Friday, December 10, 2010

Beef Stew with Red Wine and Mushrooms


I'm not usually one to plan ahead, but this morning had a busy day in front of me and I actually put a Beef Stew on the stove shortly after breakfast.  Letting it simmer away while I finished up the dishes and other little chores, I got a head start on dinner.  I do have a crock pot, however, I frequently forget to use it - as I did this morning!  But I'm certain that this would be one of those crock pot recipes that would come out perfectly.

Browned beef, sauteed onions and garlic enhanced with a robust red wine and a touch of thyme give this simmering stew a mouthwatering scent that meanders its way throughout the house.  A side of crusty bread to sop up the juices is a nice addition to this one pot chill chaser!

A forgiving recipes that works well with what you have on hand, I have to admit that I have never really measured what I toss in, but the results have always been just fine!



Beef Stew with Red Wine and Mushrooms

beef (I used a sirloin steak that I had on hand) chunked
1 1/2 Tbs olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 large onion, chopped in large chunks
2 Tbs chopped garlic
1 can diced or chopped tomatoes, with juices
red wine -I use about 1 1/2 cups for the stew and 1 glass for me! (But not when I make it in the morning...)
1-2 cups beef broth
water
1 tsp dried thyme (adjust more or less to your taste)
1 basket cremini mushrooms, quartered
sliced carrots ( 2 or 3 carrots)
2 Tbs corn starch mixed with 3 Tbs warm water (to thicken)

In a large stockpot, add the olive oil over medium high heat.  When the oil is hot add the chunked beef and sautee until browned.  Remove the browned beef from the pot.  Add more oil if necessary and add the onions and garlic.  Sautée for a few minutes then return the beef to the pan.  Give it a stir, then add the tomatoes, thyme, wine and beef broth.  Add enough water to cover about an inch over the beef, then add the quartered mushrooms.  Reduce heat and simmer (adding water if necessary) for a few hours or until the beef is very tender.  Just before serving, add the carrots.  Simmer until carrots are tender, about 8 minutes.  Mix the cornstarch with water until smooth.  Stir the mixture into the stew and simmer a few minutes longer, until thickened a bit. 

Ladle into bowls and serve.  This is one of those recipes that is even more flavorful the 2nd day!  Chopped parsley is a nice garnish.

Note:  The mushrooms will get very soft, if your prefer firmer mushrooms add them closer to the end of the simmering.

20 comments:

  1. I love recipes where you don't need to measure what goes in! :) This recipe looks perfect for the colder winter months - comforting and wholesome.

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  2. This sounds divine and know my children would enjoy this. Love spur of the moment inspiration like this. I can almost smell this amazing looking dish. YUM!

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  3. Anything with red wine in a stew is good for me! Yummy!

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  4. We made a good stew last week, but I didn't use wine....next time I will try your recipe!

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  5. Stew is such a perfect dish for this time of year. Yours sounds wonderful!

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  6. I have some stew recipes that always sound good, but don't pan out. I'd love to try this one to see if I can get an ace in the hole!

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  7. I love beef stew, one of my favorite comfort foods during the winter months. There is something about beef stew and fresh baked rolls that will get me every time.

    Have a good weekend Kim!

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  8. what fantastic ingredients everything I love! thanks for sharing!

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  9. Your stew looks so good, even in the morning. I've made a similar dish in the crock pot, and it turned out well. Have a great weekend!

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  10. ahhhhmaZing <3 hearty and fantastic!

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  11. This looks so good and I agree that this would be perfect for a crockpot. I haven't used mine this season but I can't wait. It makes life so much easier. Have a great weekend!

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  12. Hey Kim,
    I'm a new follower. Thank you so much for dropping by and leaving a comment about my little family. That's some yummy looking soup you've got there :)

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  13. Mmmmm...perfect dinner with this arctic chill settling in!!!

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  14. I love beef stew and am always on the search for new recipes to mix it up. Looks GOOD!

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  15. If I didn't have something planned for dinner I would make beef stew for dinner! I'll save this idea for another night this week. Your photos are awesome and I loved checking out your Hawaii posts as well. Have a nice weekend:)

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  16. I've been looking for a beef stew recipe that doesn't require 50 different ingredients. This looks perfect (and with wine!!). Think some par-cooked potatoes would be nice in the stew?

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  17. This looks warm and wonderful! I will definitely have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. I love red wine in stew, my mom always made it that way, and I can't have it without it anymore. I'm going to put stew on my list for this week, I need super easy, I know it's going to be crazy!
    -Gina-

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  19. A perfect recipe for a cold winter afternoon!

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  20. I have a pot simmering away on my stove right now! I bought a bottle of pinot noir that was a bit too acidic for my husband...I have a feeling he will much prefer it in the stew. The only I change I made was to add a little bacon fat along with the olive oil, because everything is better with bacon. ;)

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