Friday, May 6, 2011

Katia's Beef Stew

I bought a slow cooker last year and since then I have been often making stews, trying to find the best combination of flavours.  Last night I think I finally got the flavours perfect.  Stew's are so hard to make look appetizing however I guarantee this stew's smell will entice. I used a sauce that Nick's parents make called 'Drop Dead'.  It is a tomato based sauce and has an absolutely wonderful flavour.  You can use tomato sauce, mild chili paste or tomato paste (or a combination of both) as a substitute.  As I didn't start cooking till 5pm, I didn't use the slow cooker but this recipe can easily be made in the slow cooker.


Katia's Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 500 grams diced beef (most fat removed - ask your butcher for the best cut they have for stewing)
 - 2 potatoes
 - 2 carrots
 - 1 red capsicum
 - 8-10 brown mushrooms
 - 1 onion
 - 3 cloves of garlic
 - 1 tsp ground coriander
 - 1/2 tsp turmeric
 - 1 tsp paprika
 - 1 tsp salt
 - 1 tsp cracked pepper
 - 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander seeds
 - 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
 - 1 can diced tomatoes
 - veggie stock cube
 - 2 tbsp drop dead
 - 2 tsp flour
 - 3 bay leaf
 - 1 tbsp sugar

Method
1.  Finely slice onion and crush the garlic and put aside.  Peel and cut into chunky pieces the potatoes and carrots.  Cut the mushrooms coarsely.  Chop the  capsicum very finely.
2. Make the spice rub by mixing the ground coriander, turmeric, paprika, salt, pepper, mixed herbs and ground coriander seeds.  Mix the meat with the spices.  Heat the pot with olive oil on high heat, add half the beef and brown, remove off heat and repeat with the other half of the meat.
3.  In the same pot fry the onions and garlic on medium heat until transparent (add any leftover spice mix).
4.  To the pot add the browned meat, diced tomatoes, all the veggies, dissolved veggie stock cube in 2 cups of water, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, bay leaf, drop dead sauce (or alternative).  Mix all the ingredients, cover the pot and place on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5.  After 30 minutes take some liquid and mix it with the flour until a homogeneous mixture forms.  Add back to the stew and mix.  Add sugar.  Cook the stew on very low heat for 1.5 hours (I used the smallest cook top at the lowest flame).  Insure to stir occasionally and after an hour has elapsed try the sauce.  It may need some salt - it will depend on the stock used.
6.  Serve and enjoy :)
N.B. test that the meat falls apart after 2 hours of cooking has elapsed, if not cook for another 30 mins.

3 comments:

  1. I love beef stew and yours look yummy! I am your latest follower and would like to invite you to follow my blog too! :)

    www.glutenfreewithjudee.blogspot.com

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  2. Thank you Judee. I am now a follower :). You must let me know if you try this stew (or any other of my recipes)!

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  3. yuuumm! this looks delicious! defs wanna try this one out!! all ur recipes are awesome! lov it, lov it! thanks to u and nick i can impress mum and dad wen they come up to visit!! =P
    -Liv (converse)

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