i'm trying to cook beef stew but i don't remember how my friend cooked it?

Question

i know he added bay leaf and tomato paste... do i let the beef in water until it gets tender and then add the tomato paste? if anyone knows how to cook good beef stew with not a lot of ingredients please pass the recipe to me... I'd very much appreciate it :)

Answer 1

This is the best way I've found to make beef stew. I usually start early in the day (about 10 AM to have it ready for dinner at 6 or so, though heating it the next day is even better.) You can use the pre-packaged "stew beef" pieces (which are, admittedly, easier and faster) or get your own pieces of chuck and cube it yourself. Either way, make sure it's good beef (not the "pre-seasoned special".)
Cover the bottom of a large pot with vegetable oil and heat it on medium. Do not cover the pot and make sure the oil does not sizzle.
Open the beef and, leaving it on the tray it comes in, salt, pepper and garlic salt both sides.
In a sealable plastic baggie (the larger ones), add about one cup of all-purpose flour and then put the beef in the bag. Seal the bag well, then shake to coat the beef with the flour.
Now drop the beef cubes into the pot and turn the heat up to medium-high. Brown the beef until it is JUST done on the outside, but not cooked all the way through. (At this point, you can continue to use the same pot you used for browning, or you can transfer the beef to another pot, it is up to you.)
Saute a chopped onion, then add it to the beef. Add warm water to the beef pot (a little over half way up the side of the pot). At this point you can stir in a dissolved bullion cube, which is great for flavor.
Turn the heat down to medium-low and cover the pot. Let the stew simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour, but keep checking it and stir once in a while. You can add about tablespoon of tomato paste and the bay leaf at this point, although I've never used it.
Once the stew has been simmering, you can add whatever vegetables you like. I usually cube a bunch of potatoes, carrots and celery and boil the potatoes and carrots slightly before adding them. I also add a can of cut green beans and a can of sweet corn.
Now is the best part - turn the heat to low and let it sit on the stove, covered for as long as humanly possible (six hours is pretty good.) The longer you let it sit, the thicker the stew will get and the more tender your beef will be. Don't worry about the vegetables, they will become more tender but not mushy. The key is letting it sit, not boiling or even simmering, but on the lowest heat for a long time.
You can salt/pepper/garlic salt to taste too, and make sure to remove the bay leaf before serving.
Beef stew goes great with brown rice, crusty French bread, or even on its own.
Good luck!

Answer 2

I think it would take it much longer to cook, to make the meat very tender.
Season and Brown the meat
add beef broth and tomato paste
add water
cook it for at least an hour on medium to med low
add potatoes, and carrots
add celery, pepper and I use a little powdered gravy mix to add more seasoning, and thicken it up, if you think its good enough seasoning but thick enough, add some flour mixed with a little water, don't add it directly into the stew becuase it will form little balls and its gross.

Answer 3

Geez, your mom needs to get a grip. You could really be helping her in the kitchen! My kids are 13 adn 11 and have been making pancakes, eggs, cookies, cakes, biscuits, scones, mac & chz, grilled chz sammies, all that stuff for years now. Since they were 8 or so! Why don't you just get in there and do it when she's not home? You can follow a recipe, can't you? Bisquick is pretty easy, too. Be sure to clean up. It will make her made if you leave her a huge mess to clean up!!!

Answer 4

Brown the beef in a small amount of cooking oil. Drain the oil and add a can of tomato sauce, water and about 1/4 C of red wine. Add any seasoning you like including garlic, salt and pepper. Add sliced carrots, small onions, and cut up potatoes. Cover an simmer on low until the beef is very tender -- about 3 or 4 hrs.

Answer 5

Hmm...I don't use a bay leaf or tomato paste...

I start w/ browning the beef cubes, add diced onions, add a tablespoon or 2 of flour and season w/ salt and pepper....then add some water and beef bullion...simmer for 30 mins or so, until beef is tender...add cubed potatoes, carrots and celery or what ever veggies you like...and you're done!

Answer 6

I'm the ultimate lazy person. I just buy a packet of beef stew seasoning at the store and add water per the directions. I brown the meat in a skillett and dump it in.... I add a few veggies and forget about it in the slow cooker.

Answer 7

Hot pot, with a enough oil to cover a nickel.
Add beef and brown well.
The beef should stick when added to the pot.
Add carrot
Add celery
Add onion
Add garlic
Add tomato paste
Let the tomato paste turn a rust color.
Add beef stock.
Simmer with lid for one and a half hours.
Try not to remove the lid until done. Unless it's burning or boiling.

Answer 8

This is my grandmother's recipe...yummy!
1 lb. stewing beef in smal cubes, 1/4 lb. beef suet(fat), 1 onion chopped, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 2 dashes garlic powder, water to cover, 2 cups each cubed carrots & potatoes, couple TBS. flour for thickening, 1/2 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet or Gravy Master, 1 cube beef boullion (optional).
Bring beef, suet, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder to boil in large covered pot. Skim off foamy brown stuff & reduce heat, simmer til meat almost tender, remove suet, skim off any excess fat. Add cubed carrots & potatoes; when vegetables are cooked thicken with flour mixed with water (shake in jar to remove lumps), add Kitchen Bouquet/Gravy Master for color. If not beefy tasting enough for you add boullion cube.
Serve in a bowl with a big spoon & crusty bread!

Answer 9

The best beef stew I have tasted is the Irish stew.

Here is one recipe with instructions... http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/104817

Answer 10

Look on www.allrecipes.com They have great recipes on there for stew. Good Luck