Morgan Matkovic

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Mom’s Traditional Beef Stew

This past weekend was a long one- four days of family, friends and food to celebrate my baby sister tying the knot. It made me realize how lucky I am to have such a great tribe to call my own. It also made realize that I’m no spring chicken- and I’m still recovering from going non-stop for almost a week.  

Thankfully my mama is still in town to bring us all back to life with her good old fashion comfort food. Growing up we nearly always came home to a mom-made meal. Especially when we weren’t feeling great. I’ve shared her chicken soup and turkey chili- and this week she made us one of our childhood favorites: A classic beef stew. 

The smell of it cooking all day long brought me right back to cozy Connecticut nights as a family. And it’s just perfect for this time of year- hearty enough for Sunday football by the fire, but traditional enough to serve as a festive holiday meal. 

By popular request, here’s my Mom’s Traditional Beef Stew: 

Mom’s Traditional Beef Stew

Ingredients

2 lbs 80-20 stew meat- cut into one inch cubes

extra virgin olive oil

About 20 whole garlic cloves roasted- you can buy pre-roasted in the deli section of you local grocery store

10 large carrots- cut into one inch cubes

2 large Idaho potatoes- unpeeled, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 bag frozen pearl onions

1 bottle Holland House red cooking wine, 16 ounces

1 large can Italian style tomatoes, 28 ounces

1 can beef broth, 14.5 ounces

salt & pepper

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  2. On the stove top, coat bottom of a dutch oven with olive oil and add garlic

  3. Heat on high until garlic starts to sizzle

  4. Sear stew meat until brown on all four sides

  5. Add salt and pepper to taste

  6. Add carrots and potatoes

  7. Add pearl onions

  8. Add tomatoes

  9. Add bottle of cooking wine

  10. Add beef broth

  11. Blend all ingredients

  12. Cover dutch oven and transfer to oven

  13. Cook covered for 2.5 hours

  14. Remove lid and cook uncovered for 1.5 hours

  15. Remove from oven and serve

Serving Suggestions

In a bowl with a side of fresh bread- french bread or cornbread

In a bowl with crumbled corn bread on top

In a bread bowl

Over white rice

With a glass of red wine- or two- I would suggest a nice Cabernet

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