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–+ servings

Simple Slow-Cooker Italian Beef Stew

This easy beef stew recipe combines slow-cooked beef, hearty vegetables, and savory gravy for a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for beginners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 celery sticks finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 3 carrots halved and cut into chunks
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ pack thyme (fresh or dried)
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 beef stock cubes or stock pots
  • 900 grams beef (for braising, like skirt) – you can either cut it into chunks yourself or buy it pre-diced
  • 2 tsp cornflour (optional, for thickening)
  • ½ small bunch parsley chopped
  • Buttery mash (optional, for serving)

Instructions
 

Prepare the Vegetables

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of rapeseed oil in a pan over low heat.
    Add the chopped onion and celery, cooking until they begin to soften (about 5 minutes).
    Toss in the carrot chunks, bay leaves, and thyme.
    Cook for another 2 minutes.Stir in the tomato purée and Worcestershire sauce.
    Pour in 600ml of boiling water and mix well.
    Transfer everything to your slow cooker.
    Crumble the beef stock cubes over the top or add the stock pots.
    Stir, and season with pepper (skip the salt for now as the stock might already be salty).

Brown the Beef

  • Clean your pan and heat the remaining oil.
    Brown the beef in batches, making sure it’s well-seared on all sides.
    Once browned, add each batch of beef to the slow cooker.

Slow Cook

  • Cover and cook your stew on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
    The longer it cooks, the more tender and flavorful the beef will be.

(Optional) Thicken the Gravy

  • If you prefer a thicker gravy, mix 2 teaspoons of cornflour with a splash of cold water to make a paste.
    Stir this paste into 2 tablespoons of the stew liquid.
    Add this mixture back into the slow cooker and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the gravy.

Final Touches

  • Stir in the chopped parsley and taste.
    Adjust seasoning if needed.Serve your stew with buttery mash, if you like.
    Allow it to cool before freezing any leftovers.
    Enjoy your easy and delicious beef stew!
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