Description
A hearty and flavorful smoky beef stew slow-baked to tender perfection, infused with warm spices and enriched with butter beans for a filling meal. This versatile dish can be enjoyed in various ways, including wrapped in tortillas, topped with cheese, or served with rice or bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Stew
- 1kg stewing beef, cut into large chunks
- 2 onions, chopped
- 800g chopped tomatoes (2 cans)
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp mild chilli powder
- 2 tbsp red or white wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 400g can butter beans, rinsed and drained
Instructions
- Preheat and Combine Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 160°C (140°C fan)/gas mark 3. In a large casserole dish, mix the stewing beef chunks, chopped onions, canned chopped tomatoes, sweet paprika, ground cumin, mild chilli powder, red or white wine vinegar, and caster sugar thoroughly.
- Bake Stew Covered: Cover the casserole dish with a lid and bake the mixture in the preheated oven for 2½ hours. This slow baking will tenderize the beef and allow the flavors to meld together.
- Add Butter Beans and Continue Baking: After 2½ hours, stir in the rinsed and drained butter beans. Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes if the stew is a little wet, or keep it covered if it has reached a good consistency. Continue until the beef is tender and the stew is thickened to your liking.
- Cool and Store: Once cooked, allow the stew to cool completely. Portion it into 6-8 servings using small food bags or plastic containers for freezing.
- Reheat and Serve: Defrost portions in the microwave or overnight in the fridge. Reheat thoroughly in the microwave or on the stove in the morning, then transfer to a thermos container to keep it warm for lunch, or reheat at lunchtime as preferred.
Notes
- Serve wrapped in soft tortillas with lettuce and soured cream for a delightful wrap.
- Alternatively, top with crumbled feta or grated cheddar and enjoy with wholemeal pitta or rice.
- For a hearty one-pot lunch, mix in leftover cooked potatoes and add peas or sweetcorn.
- Adjust the chilli powder to your preferred spice level for a milder or spicier stew.
- This stew freezes well and can be a great make-ahead meal option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: smoky beef stew, baked beef stew, slow baked stew, hearty beef recipe, butter bean stew
