Easy Beef Stew Recipe: Warm and Hearty Comfort Food Delight

A warm and hearty bowl of beef stew is the perfect comfort food for a chilly fall or winter evening. This easy beef stew recipe is simple to make and is sure to become a family favorite. In this article, we'll walk you through how to prepare this delicious meal step by step.

Ingredients

To make this delicious beef stew, you'll need:
- 2 lbs of beef stew meat
- 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 2 cups of beef broth
- 1 cup of water
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 large carrots, sliced
- 2 large potatoes, diced
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

2. Brown the beef stew meat on all sides, about 8 minutes total.

3. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside.

4. Add the onion and garlic to the pot, and sauté until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 3 minutes.

5. Add the beef broth, water, tomato paste, rosemary, and thyme to the pot, and stir well.

6. Return the beef stew meat to the pot and bring to a simmer.

7. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.

8. Add the carrots and potatoes to the pot, and stir well.

9. Cover the pot, and continue to simmer for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

10. Season the beef stew with salt and pepper, to taste.

11. Serve the beef stew hot in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley or thyme, if desired.

Variations

This beef stew recipe is delicious as is, but you can also experiment with different herbs and spices to make it your own. Try adding some bay leaves, red pepper flakes, or paprika for some extra flavor. You can also substitute different vegetables or add beans or barley for additional texture and nutrition.