Beef Stew Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

FAQs

How to add sweetness to beef stew? ›

Parsnips and carrots will definitely add sweetness as will caramelizing any of the vegetables that you use in the stew. I have used sweet potatoes in beef stew but I wasn't crazy about them and I also find parsnips too sweet. The vegetables I like are: Celery, Rutabaga, Russet or Yukon gold potatoes, and Carrots.

Using sugar for flavor balance is easiest in dishes where it can seamlessly dissolve and be adjusted on the fly, often right before serving, though you can taste throughout cooking as well. At the top of my list would be sauces, stews, soups and salad dressings.

Vinegar can add depth of flavour to soups, sauces, and stews. Especially great for tomato-based recipes, you can add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar towards the end of the cooking process to amplify the flavours of your other ingredients.

The base of the stew also uses onion and garlic for the best depth of flavor. I prefer to use fresh herbs when I can (though I haven't been able to find a fresh bay leaf in years), but include notes in the recipe to substitute dried herbs. Wine. Use a dry red wine, I always opt for an inexpensive Merlot.

A finishing diet of silage, corn, and distillery grains gives the beef a sweet, buttery flavor while a finishing diet of grass yields beef with a mild taste. Remember: fat determines flavor. So, if a breed (such as Wagyu) is genetically prone to marbling, it can reach the desired marbling score on a grass diet.

Stew meat is made from cuts of beef with lots of tough connective tissue, namely chuck and/or round. When you simmer it in a liquid, the connective tissue breaks down and becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender. That's why it's traditionally braised in stock and turned into beef stew.

Go for the chuck

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

Butter: softened butter mixed with flour helps gives the stovetop beef stew a luxurious thickness. Feel free to use vegan butter for dairy allergies/intolerances.

The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

What if I forgot tomato paste in beef stew? ›

For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce. Add the puree or sauce in place of the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the puree or sauce has reduced and thickened. You'll have a similar deep, savory flavor.

Onion and garlic for a big punch of flavor. Tomato paste adds a richness to the sauce and the acidity helps to break down and tenderize the meat. Flour to thicken the sauce. Red wine for additional flavor and body to the sauce.

To add acid to a dish. All that means is that it tastes brighter and fresher. Citric acid, the kind found in lemon and lime juice breaks down at higher heat so it is added when cooking is complete.

Don't be tempted to rush the process, let the low heat do its thing. For the beef to get tender and the flavours to meld, it needs about 3 hours on the stove and at least 4 in a slow cooker. Your patience will be rewarded, and you can use that down time to make mashed potatoes and steam some green beans to serve.

You can modify the flavor by adding vinegar, citric acid, and aromatics, or a touch of honey or agave if you like the spicy sauce on the sweeter side. There you have it, ingredients and seasonings for beef stew that are sure to help you create a hearty, flavor recipe.

Add lemon juice or vinegar to your stew one ½ tsp. at a time.

White sugar for marinades and dressings. It disappears quickly into the dish you're preparing, and adds sweetness without overpowering or affecting the color. Honey for subtle sweetness. A little goes a long way.