The Ultimate Beef Stew

Serves: 5

Hosea Feil

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

42

Spice

46

Sweetness

46

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.2

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3 tbsps

Butter

2.5 cups

Beef Stock

1 cup

Sour Cream

1

Salt

Directions:

1

Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme sprigs

2

Watch how to make this recipe

3

Preheat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter

4

While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish

5

Season the cubed beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat

6

Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful not to over crowd the pan, you might have to work in batches

7

Thoroughly brown all of the cubes on all sides

8

Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and reserve

9

Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits

10

Once the wine has gotten hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic, orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste, bay leaves and beef stock

11

Bring the mixture up to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes

12

Cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours

13

After 2 hours add halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine

14

Turn the heat up slightly and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the vegetables and meat are tender

15

Add the frozen peas during the last minute of cooking

16

To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, garnish with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and add a dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream

17

Right before serving add a slice of Toasted Peasant Bread, half way submerged in the stew

18

Combine sour cream, prepared horseradish and a drizzle of olive oil in a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined

19

Season with salt and pepper

20

Add a dollop of the mixture on top of the stew and garnish with chopped chives

21

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F

22

Put a sheet pan in the oven so that it gets good and hot

23

Place the bread slices on the hot sheet pan

24

Drizzle the bread with the extra-virgin olive oil bake for 5 minutes, until the bread is nicely toasted

25

Rub the bread slices with the garlic cloves, and discard garlic

26

Sprinkle with parsley and serve