Spanish Beef Stew
Directions
- 1Season the cubed beef generously with salt and pepper.
- 2Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy pot.
- 3Sear the beef on all sides, working in batches so the pot doesn't get crowded.
- 4Set the beef aside on a plate.
- 5Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan if necessary, then add the onions, peppers, and garlic.
- 6Sauté on medium heat until the veggies are tender and browned, about 10 minutes.
- 7Add the carrots, whole peppercorns, and the wine of your choice.
- 8Stir and simmer until the wine reduces by two-thirds, about 2-3 minutes.
- 9Add the beef and bay leaves, then cover the meat with water or beef broth.
- 10Bring to a boil, then cover the pot and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- 11Add the potatoes and simmer uncovered until they are fork tender, about 20 minutes.
- 12Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
- 13Serve immediately, or for even more flavor, allow the stew to rest for a few hours or overnight.
Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs beef chuck, cubed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 medium waxy potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 bay leaves
- 0.75 cup red or white wine
- water to cover the beef
- salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns or ground pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Equipment
heavy pot
Tips
- Use any good stewing meat, like well-marbled beef chuck (aguja).
- If you prefer to use red bell pepper instead of green, it works well.
- Shallots are also a lovely addition.
- Use waxy boiling potatoes that won't break down in the stew.
- Use red wine, white wine, or even dry sherry wine for this dish.
- To make it vegetarian, swap the beef for meaty mushrooms (portobellos and oyster mushrooms), cook for 30 minutes, and add potatoes at the same time as mushrooms.
- Feel free to use cubed pork instead of beef.
- For a thicker sauce, purée a ladleful of broth and veggies (no meat) and add it back to the stew.
- Tougher or leaner cuts of meat may take more than 1 ½ hours to cook.
Related recipes
Creamy Loaded Potato & Chorizo Soup
Spanish · Soup
Sopa de Ajo (Spanish garlic soup)
Spanish · Soup
Sopa de gato
Spanish · Soup
Spanish Garlic and Bread Soup
Spanish · Soup
Guiso de pollo
Spanish · Soup
Couscous Gazpacho Salade
Spanish · Soup
Taboulé Gazpacho
Spanish · Soup
Sopa Castellana o de Ajo
Spanish · Soup15m
Ensalada de gazpacho
Spanish · Soup20m
Gazpacho Verde de Calabacín
Spanish · Soup5m
Avocado Gazpacho
Spanish · Soup
Crema fría de espárragos blancos, manzana y aguacate
Spanish · Soup5m