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Poor Man’s Stew

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A simple, hearty, and soul-warming beef stew perfect for cold nights, made with budget-friendly ingredients and slow-simmered to tender perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 medium yellow onions, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Trim excess fat from beef chuck and cut into 1-inch cubes. Dice onions, peel and chop carrots and potatoes, slice celery, and mince the garlic.
  2. Brown the beef: Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes in batches to avoid overcrowding and brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Remove beef and set aside.
  3. Sauté the aromatics: In the same pot, reduce heat to medium. Add diced onions, celery, and garlic. Stir frequently until onions turn translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  4. Deglaze the pot: Add tomato paste and cook briefly, stirring to coat veggies. Pour in about 1/4 cup beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
  5. Add remaining ingredients: Return browned beef to the pot. Add the rest of the beef broth, diced tomatoes with juice, carrots, potatoes, thyme, bay leaves, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir gently to combine. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  6. Simmer low and slow: Bring stew to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with lid slightly ajar and let simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until beef is fork-tender and potatoes are soft.
  7. Final seasoning and serve: Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. For thicker stew, mash a few potato chunks into the broth or simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes. Serve hot.

Notes

Do not rush browning the beef to seal in juices and build flavor. Simmer low and slow for tender meat. Adjust seasoning gradually. If stew tastes flat, add a splash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of sugar. For thicker stew, mash some potatoes or simmer uncovered longer. Can be adapted for slow cooker or vegetarian versions.

Nutrition

Keywords: Poor Man's Stew, beef stew, comfort food, easy stew recipe, slow simmer, budget-friendly dinner, hearty stew, cold night meal

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/poor-mans-stew-recipe-easy-soul-warming-comfort-for-cold-nights/