Description

This Beef and Vegetable Stew is a comforting and hearty meal filled with tender beef chunks, fresh vegetables, and savory flavors from vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) and a rich broth. It’s a versatile, nutritious, and satisfying dish perfect for any season that brings warmth and homestyle happiness to your table.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Broth

1.5 lbs beef chunks (well-marbled cuts such as chuck or brisket)
4 cups beef broth

Vegetables

3 medium carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 medium potatoes, chopped

Flavorings and Sauces

2 tablespoons tomato paste (natural)
1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 to 1.5 teaspoons salt, to taste

Cooking Essentials

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon natural gelling agent

Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Cut beef into bite-sized chunks. Chop carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes into uniform pieces for even cooking. Mince garlic and set aside fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
Brown the Beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef chunks without crowding the pot. Brown on all sides until a caramelized crust forms to lock in flavor and build depth.
Sauté the Vegetables: Remove browned beef and set aside. Add onions, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook until softened and fragrant, stirring often to lift flavorful bits left from the beef. Add minced garlic near the end to avoid burning.
Build the Broth: Stir in tomato paste (natural) and cook for about a minute to deepen flavor. Return beef to the pot. Pour in beef broth and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural). Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves, then bring to a gentle simmer.
Simmer Until Tender: Add chopped potatoes and sprinkle in the natural gelling agent while stirring to thicken the stew gradually. Cover and cook on low heat for at least 1.5 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are soft.
Season and Serve: Remove bay leaves and thyme stems. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to combine flavors and serve the stew hot.

Notes

For perfect browning, do not rush searing as it develops richer flavors.
Simmer gently on low heat to achieve melt-in-your-mouth beef and well-blended flavors.
Use the natural gelling agent gradually to avoid clumps and reach desired thickness.
Season gradually, starting with some salt early, adjusting to taste to avoid oversalting.
Allow stew to rest briefly before serving to let flavors marry fully.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 600 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg

Keywords: beef stew, vegetable stew, comfort food, hearty stew, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), natural gelling agent, slow cooking