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Hearty Savory Beef (or Poultry) Stew

Comfort food of the highest order. Follow the cooking directions and you will have a tender-meat stew with lots of healthy vegetables. Perfect for those days where you just want to curl up in a blanket and have a tasty bite to eat.
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Course: Main Dishes
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Stew Base
  • 2-3 lbs beef chuck, cubed or chicken/turkey breasts, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • 2 onions, chopped (don't skimp)
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp dried tarragon optional
  • 2 whole bay leaves
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 4 tbsp beef bouillon or chicken if using poultry
  • 1 tsp Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet
Remaining Stew Ingredients
  • 6-8 large carrots, sliced in coins
  • 3-4 stalks celery, sliced crosswise in ¼ inch widths
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen green beans yellow beans work great in this stew, too
  • 1 turnip, cubed in ½ inch pieces optional
  • 1 cup sliced corn fresh or canned (niblets)
  • 3-4 russet potatoes, cubed in ½ inch pieces not necessary to peel the potatoes unless you want to
Stew Thickener
  • ½ cup cornstarch lessen or increase depending on the thickness of gravy you want
  • ½ cup water

Method
 

Stew Base
  1. In a medium Dutch oven, heat olive oil on high heat. Carefully add and brown the beef (or poultry). Let the meat sear before turning over, then add the onions and let the onions sear as well.
  2. Add the boiling water and the seasonings, bouillon, and Gravy Master. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 2½ hours on very low heat. (This is the secret to getting tender -- instead of chewy -- meat bites.)
Remaining Stew Ingredients
  1. While the stew base is simmering, wash, cut, and prepare your vegetables.
  2. After the meat has finished simmering, add all of the vegetables, except the potatoes. Return to a boil, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. After 15 minutes, add the potatoes. Continue cooking for 15 minutes longer or until all vegetables are fork-tender. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary, prior to thickening.
Stew Thickener
  1. Mix the cornstarch and water in a shaker bottle until thoroughly combined. Add to the stew mixture and stir consistently until gravy is smooth and to the thickness you desire. You can always add a bit of water to the stew if it is too thick, or more cornstarch if not thick enough.
  2. Let the stew sit for about 3-4 minutes and then serve with your favorite oven-heated bread!