The New Year always brings a higher level of excitement and activity to our lives, as we get back to school, homework, sports, and of course, all of our various church ministries! So, what’s a busy mom to do?
I recommend breaking out the crockpot and filling it full of real food ingredients on those especially busy days. That way, you can focus your energy on the tasks for the day, knowing that a healthy home-cooked meal awaits you and your family.
This classic comfort dish is made using grassfed beef chuck, which is one of the best choices for making beef stew. The fat content in beef chuck actually lends itself well to slow cooking, resulting in delectable fork-tenderness and rich flavor. So for this reason, I do not recommend substituting with a leaner cut of beef.
Pair this hearty beef stew with my light and fluffy Garden Herb Biscuits for the perfect wintertime meal that warms the tummy and the soul!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs *grassfed beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 3 tbsp organic tomato paste
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (I prefer Bariani balsamic vinegar
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- 1 1/3 cup beef stock (homemade is best)
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small sprig fresh rosemary (or 1/4 tsp dried rosemary)
- 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 1/2 lbs small white or red potatoes, peeled & cut in half
- 5-6 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Cut beef chuck into 2-inch chunks (do not trim off fat for best flavor). Place the beef chunks in a 6-quart slow cooker and generously season with about a half-teaspoon of sea salt and a half-teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
- Next, add the tomato paste, vinegar and beef stock. Use a wooden spoon to combine.
- Then, add the garlic, bay leaf and rosemary. Top with the chopped onion, potatoes and carrots in that order. Do not stir.
- Cover slow cooker; cook on high until beef is fork-tender, about 5 hours (or cook on low heat about 7-8 hours).
- During last 30-45 minutes of cook time, stir the green beans into the stew. If you’d like to thicken up the broth, just before serving, add about 1-2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder, making sure to thoroughly stir it into the stew.
- Serve with crusty bread topped with butter, or my yummy Garden Herb Biscuits.
Notes
*Grassfed beef is a much healthier choice than commercially-produced beef. If you cannot find grassfed beef at your local markets, U.S. Wellness Meats carries a wide selection.
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