Beef stew is a classic in American homes. It's comforting and filling, and you get that warm feeling all inside. The recipe below adds a wonderful combination of sweet and tart in the classic dish we all know and love. Can you take a guess at what it is?
Believe it or not, the secret ingredient used in the recipe below is cherries. The flavors make this dish both sweet and savory at the same time. What are you waiting for? Try the recipe below and get ready to impress your family and friends!
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Slow cooker cherry beef stew
6
30 minutes
5 hours
5 hours, 30 minutes
4 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
7 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 onion, peeled and cut into quarters
3 medium-sized carrots, peeled and cut into thirds
3 celery stalks, cut into thirds
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1½ cups water
1½ cups dried cherries
5 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
Put a large saute pan on medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil.
Season beef with salt and pepper. Add to the pan, in batches if needed. Brown meat on all sides, adjusting heat as needed. Place browned beef in a 6-quart slow cooker.
With the heat still on, add the remaining oil to the saute pan. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Roast vegetables in pan for 5 to 8 minutes.
Add tomato paste. Mix and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, continuously stirring. The tomato paste will stick to the bottom of the pan. This is OK; just keep mixing and adjust heat as needed.
Add water to the pan to deglaze it. As water heats up, scrape all the bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Allow to simmer for about 3 minutes, or until all the bits at the bottom of the pan have lifted. Pour into slow cooker over the meat.
Add cherries, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Mix well.
Cover and cook on high for 5 hours, or on low for 8 to 9 hours.
If desired, garnish with fresh chopped parley. Serve with mashed potatoes or polenta.
Note: All slow cookers are a little bit different in temperature and calibration. This recipe was tested in Cooktop Cove's Test Kitchen using this slow cooker, which is available for purchase here.
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