Description
A comforting and hearty beef stew featuring tender beef chuck and sweet pumpkin, slow-cooked to perfection with aromatic herbs and rich broth. This dish blends savory and slightly sweet flavors, making it ideal for chilly days and cozy meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion (from 1 large)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 pounds beef chuck, cut in 1-inch cubes
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups cubed pumpkin (acorn or butternut squash), peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Beef: Add the cubed beef chuck to the pot, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt, and brown the meat on all sides for 5 to 7 minutes, developing deep flavor.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to enhance its richness.
- Add Liquids and Herbs: Pour in the beef broth and red wine. Add the dried oregano, fresh thyme sprig, and bay leaf. Stir to combine, then cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Let the stew simmer gently until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Add Pumpkin: Once the beef is tender, stir in the cubed pumpkin. Continue cooking, covered, for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, or until the pumpkin is soft but not mushy.
- Finish and Serve: Taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove and discard the bay leaf and thyme sprig. Serve hot, ideally with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- This stew requires slow cooking on the stovetop to develop tender meat and rich flavors.
- Choose either acorn or butternut squash as the pumpkin substitute, based on preference.
- Serve with crusty bread to enjoy every bit of the stew’s flavorful sauce.
- Adjust seasoning at the end, as the broth and tomato paste contribute saltiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 3/4 cups
- Calories: 600 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 447.5 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 15.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 154 mg
