Beef Stew

This is my version of the classic Beef stew , a savory meal which is a deeply comforting food that will warm your family up on a cold winter night.

You can adjust this recipe to your tastes. I used about a cup of hearty red wine to deglaze the pan which will pick up all the caramelized brown bits that come from browning the meat, but you can use a little water instead.

Ingredients

1/4 cup oil
2 lbs stew beef, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups beef stock or beef broth

1 cup hearty red wine

3 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 Worcestershire sauce
4 bay leaves
5 sprigs thyme
1 tbsp oil for frying the vegetables
3 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups 1/2 pieces peeled carrots
1 cup 1 inch celery
2 tomatoes - quartered
salt and pepper
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/4 stick butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour


Method

Heat oil in pressure cooker over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper and add to the pot. Saute until golden brown on all sides, then add garlic.

Pour the red wine in and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spatula.

Add tomato paste,  thyme, Worcestershire and bay leaves. Stir to combine, cook, add beef stock , bring mixture to boil.  Put the lid of pressure cooker on and pressurized for 15 minutes - time when the pressure is build up - that is alot of hissing sound.

While the meat and stock is cooking, heat oil in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion, tomatoes, celery and carrots, Saute vegetables until golden. Set aside.
Remove the lid of pressure cooker only when pressure is released. 

Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender,  Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off some fat.

Melt butter over medium heat and shisk in the flour to cook, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes.  Gradually ladle in about 2 cups of the hot stew cooking liquid and bring to a boil. shisking until thickened and smooth.  Stir the thickened liquid back into the stew, Continue to simmer to marry the flavors.

Adjust taste with salt and pepper

Transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with parsley.