STEW IDEAS RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF/gas 3.
  2. Dice the beef into 1cm pieces, then toss in a bowl with the flour, making sure the meat chunks are totally covered. Set aside.
  3. Add a splash of oil to a large casserole pan and place it over a medium heat. When it’s hot, add the beef and cook for 5 minutes, or until the meat is browned all over. Transfer to a plate and leave to one side.
  4. While the beef cooks, peel and finely chop the garlic, then peel the shallots and halve most of them, keeping a few whole. Trim and roughly chop the celery, then peel, trim and chop the carrots into 2cm rounds.
  5. Splash a little more oil into the pan, then add the veg. Strip the leaves from the thyme and add to the pan, then cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened.
  6. Return the beef to the pan, then stir through the tomatoes and wine. Once the liquid has been absorbed, add the stock, bay leaves and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
  7. Season with sea salt and black pepper, then transfer the stew to the oven to cook for 3 to 4 hours, or until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily with forks.
  8. Serve your beef stew with creamy mashed potato and, if you like, a glass of your favourite red wine.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4.
  2. Heat the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat and brown the lamb chops, then remove to a plate.
  3. Peel and finely slice the onions and carrots, then add to the pan and soften for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
  4. Add a wineglass of water and deglaze the pan for 5 minutes.
  5. Peel and slice the potato, then spread half in a layer in a large casserole dish and season well.
  6. Add a layer of onion and carrot, the lamb chops, thyme and bay leaves, then season again.
  7. Add the remaining onion and carrot and sprinkle the pearl barley on top. Layer over the remaining potato, the deglazed liquid and 500ml of water.
  8. Cover and bake for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the meat is tender and the potato starts to crisp up, then serve.