WHAT TO PUT IN BEEF STEW RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. If using the oven to cook the stew, preheat it to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
  2. Put a large shallow ovenproof casserole pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil.
  3. Trim the celery, wash the carrots, peel the onions, then roughly chop it all about the same size as your beef chunks, adding the veg to the pan as you go.
  4. Season the veg with sea salt and black pepper, and fry for 10 minutes, or until softened and starting to caramelise, stirring occasionally.
  5. Strip in the rosemary leaves, stir in the flour for 2 minutes, then pour in the booze and let it cook away.
  6. Pour in the tomatoes, breaking them up with the back of the spoon. Fill the tin with water, swirl around, and pour into the pan.
  7. Bring just to the boil, then stir in the meat, season, and cover. Either simmer slowly on the hob or place in the oven for 2 hours, or until the meat falls apart easily.
  8. Taste the stew and tweak the seasoning, if needed, then serve with rice or mashed potato, and some lovely veggies, or check out the topping ideas below.

Steps:

• Heat the slow cooker to high. Toss the beef in the seasoned flour then shake off the excess. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan. Fry some of the beef chunks, making sure not to crowd the pan, on a high heat until browned all over. This will add a lovely deep colour to the final stew. Scoop the beef out of the pan and into the slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining beef and oil.
• Pour the red wine into the frying pan and bubble, scraping the crusty bits from the base. Tip into the slow cooker. Add the onion, carrots, celery, tomato pur é e, rosemary and beef stock to the slow cooker and stir. Put on the lid and cook for 4 hours, then season. Serve the stew in bowls with mashed potato, broccoli and a sprinkle of parsley, if you like.