Slow Cooked Beef Stew Recipe In The Slow-Cooker
Ingredients
- 400 gdiced beef
- 2 tbspcornflour
- a grind of black pepper
- 2 tbspunsalted butter
- 1onion
diced
- 4carrots
chopped into chunks
- 2 stickscelery
sliced
- 50 gbarley
- 2bay leaves
- 1 tbspdried mixed herbs
- 1 tspdried thyme
- 2 tbsptomato purée
- 1zero salt beef stock cube
- 700 mlhot water
extra if needed
Directions
- 1
Start by adding the cornflour and black pepper to a mixing bowl, add in the raw beef and mix until the beef is coated.
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of the unsalted butter in a frying pan and add the floured beef to the hot pan, on a medium-high heat. Seal the meat on a high heat for a few minutes, turning the beef often.
- 3
Pop the beef into the slow cooker.
- 4
Using the same frying pan, turn down the heat slightly and add in the remaining tablespoon of unsalted butter and add in the onion and celery, cover and cook for 5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
- 5
Add the onion and celery to the slow cooker, followed by the carrot, bay leaves, barley, tomato purée and herbs.
- 6
Break up the stock cube with your hands and add to the slow cooker. Pour over the 700ml hot water and stir all together.
- 7
Pop the lid on the slow cooker and stew beef for 4 hours on high cook time, or 8 hours on low cook time.
- 8
The barley soaks up a lot of the water so you may need to add in a drop of water here and there, but don’t worry if you’re going out and leaving it, you can add in some hot water to loosen it up right before serving!
Slow Cooked Beef Stew Recipe In The Slow-Cooker
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About this Recipe
When the chill sets in, nothing quite satisfies like a warm, hearty bowl of beef stew. This Slow Cooked Beef Stew Recipe in the Slow-Cooker offers that perfect comfort, delivering deep, savory flavors with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy families and an excellent option for baby-led weaning.
Why This Recipe Works
The magic of this classic beef stew recipe lies in the slow cooker. Allowing the diced beef to simmer for 8 hours ensures incredible tenderness, transforming tougher cuts into melt-in-your-mouth morsels. This hands-off approach also allows the flavors from the onion, carrots, celery, and herbs to meld beautifully, creating a rich and complex broth that's truly irresistible. It's a method that consistently delivers without constant supervision.
What to Expect
Prepare for a deeply comforting and robust meal. You'll enjoy exceptionally tender beef, soft, yielding vegetables, and the delightful chew of barley, all suspended in a thick, savory sauce. The bay leaves, dried mixed herbs, and dried thyme infuse the stew with a warm, aromatic profile that evokes traditional home cooking. This best beef stew provides a comforting embrace in a bowl, perfect for a chilly evening.
Customization & Variations
This versatile crockpot beef stew is easy to adapt. While the recipe uses diced beef, you could experiment with other stewing cuts. If you prefer a different texture, you could swap the barley for a similar grain or add extra root vegetables like parsnips alongside the carrots. The zero salt beef stock cube is perfect for those mindful of sodium, especially for baby-led weaning; if not a concern, a low-sodium beef stock works too. Don't be afraid to adjust the amount of dried herbs to your personal preference for a more pronounced herbal note.
Serving & Context
This comforting slow cooked beef stew is perfectly suited for a cozy family dinner on a cold evening. Serve it piping hot in a bowl, perhaps with some crusty bread to soak up every last drop of its rich, delicious sauce.