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Belgian-Style Slow-Cooked Beef Stew

A comforting and hearty beef stew perfect for chilly evenings, filled with rich flavors and easy to prepare.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Belgian, Comfort Food
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 medium carrots, sliced
  • 4 medium potatoes, cut into cubes
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup Belgium-style beer Can be substituted with more beef broth or a splash of red wine.
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for garnish Fresh parsley Because we eat with our eyes first.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef chunks and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown them on all sides—about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Once the beef is browned, throw in the onions and garlic. Sauté for around 5 minutes, until the onions turn translucent.
  3. Stir in the carrots, potatoes, broth, beer, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, thyme, and bay leaf. Give everything a good stir to combine.
Cooking
  1. Bring the stew to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for about 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender and falling apart.
  2. Alternatively, for a slow cooker, cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Serving
  1. Before serving, remove the bay leaf and adjust any seasonings to taste. Scoop into bowls, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and enjoy with some crusty bread.

Notes

If you want to level up your stew game, remember the alcohol in the beer cooks off, leaving rich flavor. Embrace any lumps in the sauce; they add to the texture.