Beef stew

Chef

Greenwich Pantry

Themes

Making in multiple steps (fatigue)

Freezing advice

Summary

In this recipe, we’ll show you how you can make beef stew on the hob or in a slow cooker. We’ll also include information about a vegetarian alternative.

Cost to make

Below are the prices for the main recipe and the alternatives. The first value is how much you would spend if you had to buy everything. The second is how much you would spend based only on the amount you used.

£13.82 / £8.85 Diced beef (800g)
£7.94 / £2.97 Mushrooms sliced and frozen (1kg)

All prices based on Aldi website taken on 6 December.

Serves

2

Equipment

Large saucepan with a lid, Slow cooker, Frying pan, Measuring spoons and jug, Knife and chopping board, peeler, Wooden spoon or alternative

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 celery sticks, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp rapeseed oil

• 2 carrots, halved and cut into chunks

• 1 bay leaves

• 1/4 pack thyme

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 low salt beef stock cube

• 250g beef for braising such as skirt

• 200g mushrooms

• 1/4 small bunch of parsley, chopped

Methods / Notes

Chop onions, celery and carrots.

Take a break here if you need.

Using a frying pan, fry the onion and celery in 1 tbsp oil over a low heat until they start to soften – about 5 mins.

Add the carrots, bay and thyme, and fry for 2 mins.

Stir in the purée and Worcestershire sauce.

Tip all of this into your slow cooker or a large pot.

If you need to take a break, this is a good point to do it.

Add 300ml boiling water and stir.

Crumble over the stock cubes or add the stock pots and stir, then season with pepper (don’t add salt as the stock may be salty).

Wipe out the frying pan and fry the beef (or mushroom or soya) in the remaining oil in batches until it is well browned.

Add batch into the slow cooker or pan.

Slow cooker: Cook on low for 8-10 hrs, or on high for 4 hrs.

Hob: Cook on low for an hour.

Stir in the parsley and season again to taste.

Serve with mash or just some bread.

If you want to freeze it, make sure you let it cool before freezing.