Barbara's Slow Baking Savory Stew 🍲🥕

This hearty Slow Baking Savory Stew is a comforting dish perfect for chilly days or family gatherings. With tender chunks of beef and a medley of vegetables simmered to perfection, it's sure to warm your soul! Serve it with crusty bread for a complete meal that everyone will love. 🥖❤️

Ingredients

For the stew

• 2 lbs. boneless beef chuck, cut into 1" cubes
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 small bay leaf
• 2 tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• Pinch allspice
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 6 carrots, quartered
• 8 small whole onions
• 3 medium potatoes, pared and cut into eighths

For thickening

• Few drops bottled brown bouquet sauce
• 1 cup cold water
• ½ cup flour

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. In a Dutch oven, combine the beef, 4 cups of water, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, sliced onion, bay leaf, salt, pepper, allspice, sugar, carrots, whole onions, and potatoes.

🌿 This dish gets better with time, so feel free to make it a day ahead and reheat it for even more flavor!

3. Cover the Dutch oven, and bake for 4 hours, or until the meat is tender and the flavors meld beautifully.
4. When the stew is done baking, remove it from the oven. In a jar, combine the bouquet sauce, 1 cup cold water, and flour. Shake until well blended.
5. Stir this mixture into the stew and heat over medium, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil.

⚠️ Be careful while stirring—it can bubble up! Boil and stir for just 1 minute until thickened.

Serving Suggestions

• This stew serves 6 to 8, making it perfect for family meals or dinner parties. Consider topping it with fresh parsley for an extra burst of color and flavor! 🌱

Variations

• Vegetable Version: Substitute beef with hearty vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers for a delicious vegetarian stew!
• Spicy Twist: Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to give it a kick! 🌶️
• Herb Infusion: Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for additional depth in flavor.

Fun Facts

• This stew is a classic comfort food that many families cherish across cultures—there's nothing quite like a warm bowl on a cold night!
• Cooking with a Dutch oven allows for even heat distribution, ensuring your stew is perfectly cooked throughout.

Enjoy your culinary adventure with this delightful stew! 🍽️❤️