Beef Stew
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 7.5-8 hours
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1-large yellow onion, diced
3-Russet potatoes, cubed into bite-size pieces (about 2 cups worth)
4-celery stalks, chopped
3-carrots, peeled and chopped
4-tsp. garlic, minced
3-bay leaves
1-tsp dried thyme (or 1/2 tbsp. fresh thyme)
1-can diced tomatoes, no salt added
2-cups beef broth, low sodium/fat free
1-cup red wine (optional)
1-1/4 lb.-stew meat, cubed into bite-size pieces
salt and pepper, to taste (I use sea salt)
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Directions:
1) Let meat sit out to get to room temperature while chopping up vegetables.
2) Add all chopped vegetables and garlic into bottom of crock pot. Add bay leaves, thyme, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and wine. Stir with a wooden or plastic spoon (so that you don't scratch your crock pot) until thoroughly mixed.
3) Season cubed meat with salt and pepper, then add to the top of the crock pot.
4) Turn crock on and cook on low for 7.5-8 hours.
Beef stew has never been a favorite of mine, but it is a favorite of my husband's, so figured I'd give this healthy variation of it a try. My husband and son aren't big veggie eaters, so there are a few things I did to make this more of a hit. First, instead of regular diced tomatoes, I added "petite" diced, so that the tomato chunks are smaller. When chopping my veggies up, I also cut them up smaller than a classic stew would call for, because again, that seems to be more appealing to my crew when it comes to chow time-feel free to cut your bigger than pictured if that's what you prefer. With the red wine, I also used Barefoot's Cabernet Sauvignon, because that's what I tend to have in the house and will personally drink. So when choosing a red wine, use something that you'll drink rather than opening a bottle, just to use for one cup in a recipe. The house smelled quite delicious while this cooked, and it tasted even better! The wine in the broth made it absolute perfection, and the meat was so tender it melted in your mouth...a perfect recipe for a chilly fall/winter day! Enjoy!