Slow Cooker Homemade Beef Stew

• Meat

  • 2 lbs Beef stew meat

• Produce

  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 3 Carrots, medium slices
  • 2 Celery, ribs
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Onion, large
  • 1/2 tsp Onion powder
  • 1 tsp Parsley, dried
  • 2 tbsp Parsley, fresh
  • 1 tsp Rosemary, dried
  • 4 Russet potatoes
  • 1 Sweet potato, large
  • 1/2 tsp Thyme, dried

• Canned Goods

  • 4 cups Beef broth, homemade or low sodium
  • 5 tbsp Tomato paste

• Condiments

  • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• Baking & Spices

  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 1/3 cup Flour
  • 1 tsp Sea salt
  • 1 Star anise
  • 1 Sugar

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 Cooking oil

Found on lifemadesweeter.com

Description

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1 - 2 inch chunks
• 1 -2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/3 cup flour
• cooking oil
• 1 large onion, diced into large chunks
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 4 cups beef broth, homemade or low sodium
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 4 Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into slices
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 star anise (optional)
• Sugar, salt and pepper to taste
• Optional:
• To thicken stew : 2 Tablespoons flour (all purpose, gluten free or arrowroot powder)

Directions

• In a large zip-top bag, combine flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and thyme. Add meat and shake until well coated..
• Browning the meat: (feel free to skip to step 5 and add all the ingredients together instead)
• In a large skillet on medium high heat, add cooking oil and brown the meat on all sides. Meat will not be cooked through. (Be sure not to crowd the skillet - you may have to work in batches). Transfer browned meat into the slow cooker.
• Put the uncleaned pan back on the stove and add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two then add the balsamic vinegar and tomato paste until just hot enough to deglaze the pan, about 1 minute. Pour into slow cooker.
• With the beef inside the slow cooker, pour in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, dried parsley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and celery (and star anise if using) and stir to combine.
• Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, stir about half way through.
• Adjust seasonings with sugar, salt, and pepper if necessary (discard star anise if used). Serve hot with fresh parsley.