Slow cooker beef stew, recipe ideas wanted.

[Dave7]

My wife used to make a nice stew but (at that time) I didn't think about ingredients, I just ate it.
Apart from my granddaughter the family are (nearly) veggies but will eat chicken.......... I have now promised GD I will make her a nice beef stew.
I have googled it and between the various suggestions I feel I can concoct something decent But...........
I would appreciate any proven recipes you have.

 

[vickster]

Look for a boeuf bourguignon recipe (BBC Good Food website often a good start)

 

[fossyant]

Easy. Beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, swede or turnip. Tin of tomatoes, water, bisto best gravy (near end of cooking to thicken), big blob of butter (makes it taste so nice), Worcestershire sauce to taste (adds kick and sweetness), course ground pepper. Could chuck in some red wine too !

If you want a goulash, add smoked paprika.

You'll see we end up with much more veg than beef.

 

[fossyant]

I often do mine slowly in a big pan on the hob. Start with onions and butter/water, then add beef and cook on low for at least a couple of hours until tender and falling to bits, then add the veg for an hour.

 

[Dave7]

Easy. Beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, swede or turnip. Tin of tomatoes, water, bisto best gravy (near end of cooking to thicken), big blob of butter (makes it taste so nice), Worcestershire sauce to taste (adds kick and sweetness), course ground pepper. Could chuck in some red wine too !

If you want a goulash, add smoked paprika.

You'll see we end up with much more veg than beef.

I was wondering about gravy granules. I was thinking of oxo cube stock. IYO would the gravy granules replace the stock or be as well as ?

 

[vickster]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_beef_68591/amp
Or https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-bourguignon

 

[Dave7]

I often do mine slowly in a big pan on the hob. Start with onions and butter/water, then add beef and cook on low for at least a couple of hours until tender and falling to bits, then add the veg for an hour.

I am using a slow cooker.
I am also adding potatoes as against swede/turnip as I don't like them.

 

[vickster]

I am using a slow cooker.
I am also adding potatoes as against swede/turnip as I don't like them.

No potato in BB, serve with mash

 

[Dave7]

No potato in BB, serve with mash

Thanks but i need 'simple' and mash adds complication.
I am not a natural cook. I have a very small kitchen, I need simple.

 

[vickster]

Just do some boiled new spuds on the side with lots of butter 😋
I guess you could add spuds...

 

[fossyant]

Any root veg is fine TBH. Literally chuck it all in the slow cooker.

 

[T4tomo]

I was wondering about gravy granules. I was thinking of oxo cube stock. IYO would the gravy granules replace the stock or be as well as ?

Stock cubes and gravy granules are full of salt, I defo wouldn't use both. A stock cube is fine and easy, but to be honest if you add Worcester sauce, a squeeze of tomato puree and use a can of beer / guinesss or some red wine as the cooking liquid, you don't really need stock.

If you coat the beef in plain flour before you brown it, that flour will then cook with the stew and should be enough to thicken it. if the gravy is too thin, a heaped teaspoon of corn flour dissolved in a tad of cold water stirred through near the end will thicken it.

Mushrooms haven't been mentioned, they go well in beef stew. Absolutely fine to lob your spuds in wit the stew. people can self mash with their fork on serving!

 

[Dave7]

Stock cubes and gravy granules are full of salt, I defo wouldn't use both. A stock cube is fine and easy, but to be honest if you add Worcester sauce, a squeeze of tomato puree and use a can of beer / guinesss or some red wine as the cooking liquid, you don't really need stock.

If you coat the beef in plain flour before you brown it, that flour will then cook with the stew and should be enough to thicken it. if the gravy is too thin, a heaped teaspoon of corn flour dissolved in a tad of cold water stirred through near the end will thicken it.

Mushrooms haven't been mentioned, they go well in beef stew. Absolutely fine to lob your spuds in wit the stew. people can self mash with their fork on serving!

All good sense, thanks.
I like mushrooms so will add them.

 

[vickster]

All good sense, thanks.
I like mushrooms so will add them.

Bacon/lardons, button mushrooms, shallots and of course red wine are the mainstay of a BB

 

[fossyant]

Forgot mushrooms, how could I do that. PS cooked turnip/swede is actually rather nice, believe me. Chop up fine.