Traditional Beef Stew
Two weeks ago I posted this beautiful Chicken Tortilla Soup, I got the guys excited to eat soup for dinner, a big fat juicy steak they get excited about, soup sometimes not so much, by calling it Chicken Tortilla Stew. Sneaky, no?
Then, I felt guilty. So, today a real honest to goodness stew. With big hunks of browned beef, of course, carrots, potatoes, onions, you know, all the usual players for a yummy stew. However here is the curve ball, to make it nice and thick and creamy, enough that you can’t wait to drag a nice hunk of bread through it, I used Masa flour.
In my ongoing effort to thicken gravies, soup and stews, I have tried sweet rice flour, it certainly works but it doesn’t lend the same richness that masa flour does. Once, just once, and I would never do it again, I used cornstarch. Not a good thickener, it creates a gummy, sort of like cheap chinese food consistency, and after all that work of making a soup or stew just to screw it up at the end, a tragedy for sure.
Now, with their cave man cravings satisfied I might move on to some sort of poached fish, the Hub thinks all poached fish recipes are girly food. Any suggestions?
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs lean beef stew meat, cubed
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 4 large potatoes, cubed
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large sprigs rosemary
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 bottle gluten free beer
- 16 oz carton of low sodium chicken stock
- 3 teaspoons masa flour
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
In a large stock pot or cast iron pot add olive oil and warm over med high heat
Lay beef on a layer of paper towels and pat dry (wet meat won't brown) sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper
Add to hot oil and cook turning to brown each side, don't crowd cook in batches if needed, then remove to plate and set aside
Add onions and carrots, cook stirring for approx. 10 mins or until onions are cooked through
Add garlic, cook another minute
Add beer and scrape bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits, cook over med high heat until beer reduced by half, about 5 minutes
Now add stock, rosemary and thyme and simmer for 2 hours
Mix masa flour with water in small bowl, mix well and add to stew stirring constantly until dissolved
Add potatoes and simmer over medium heat until cooked through, about another 15-20 minutes
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve
https://pamelasglutenfreerecipes.com/gluten-free/traditional-beef-stew/