Classic French Beef Stew with Mushrooms
Ingredients:
3 lbs beef chuck, cut into 2-inch pieces
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups beef broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 lb mushrooms, quartered
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp olive oil plus extra for mushrooms
1 bouquet garni a bundle of thyme, bay leaves, and parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Cook the Bacon:
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until its crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside.
Brown the Beef:
Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper. In the same pot, sear the beef in batches to ensure each piece is well-browned. Remove the browned beef and set it aside with the bacon.
Cook the Vegetables:
Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and minced garlic to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the onions become translucent.
Add Flour for Thickening:
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables, stirring well to coat them evenly. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to incorporate the flavorful residue.
Combine Ingredients and Simmer:
Return the beef and bacon to the pot. Stir in the tomato paste and add the bouquet garni. Pour in the beef broth. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil, then lower it to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and let it cook for about 2 hours.
Sauté the Mushrooms:
About 30 minutes before the stew is done, heat a small amount of oil in a separate pan. Sauté the quartered mushrooms until they are golden brown. Add the cooked mushrooms to the stew, stirring to combine.
Final Simmer and Serve:
Continue simmering for the remaining time. Once the stew is done, remove the bouquet garni and serve warm.
Nutritional Information:
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6
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