Slow Cooker Island Inspired Beef Stew
Daughter #2 and the Frenchman
When the weather is snowy and I want to get all cozied up, I think about beef stew. I don’t just want something warm and slurpy, I want something warm and hearty-something that I am sure that I have eaten because I can feel its goodness in my tummy. And even though I could easily make this recipe on the stove top, I like crock pot stews in the winter, so I can appreciate the aromas in my house all day long. This recipe in particular is full of unusual spices (unusual for a stew at any rate) like cinnamon and ginger.
We have not seen the sun shine since the beginning of November in Winnipeg and so as I was searching for a new stew recipe to try, I came upon this one on the Canada Beef website. If I can’t see and feel the sun right now, at least I can remember the feeling with “tropical” recipes. I served this over a brown rice pilaf and it was a savoury and delicious one bowl supper.
- 2 T canola vegetable oil
- 2 lb Stewing Beef Cubes
- ¼ c all-purpose flour
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, cut lengthwise into eighths
- 1 t finely grated ginger root
- 1 c beef broth
- 1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes
- 2 T EACH Worcestershire sauce and paprika
- 1 t EACH dried sage, crushed & cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf and cinnamon stick
- ½ t EACH chili pepper flakes, salt and pepper
- 1 coarsely chopped sweet red pepper
- ½ c raisins
- ½ c green olives with pimento, halved
- Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat until sizzling hot.
- Brown meat in small batches.
- Set beef aside; sprinkle with flour.
- Add garlic, onion and ginger root; cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until just softened, adding more oil if necessary.
- Stir in broth, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan.
- Add beef, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, sage, bay leaf, cinnamon, pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- Bring to simmer.
- Transfer mixture to a 24-cup (6 L) slow-cooker insert.
- Stir in red pepper chunks and raisins.
- Cook, covered, on low for 8 hours, adding the olives in the final hour of cooking.
Kath’s quote:“Talk of joy: there may be things better than beef stew and baked potatoes and home-made bread — there may be.”
-David Grayson
Love that is all.
