Northern Italian Beef Stew

This hearty beef and vegetable stew that can be made in the slow-cooker is a family favorite. It is also the backbone for an excellent beef soup, if you actually find yourself with leftovers.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 4 hrs 20 mins

Total Time: 4 hrs 50 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds lean top round, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 large sweet onions, diced
• 2 cups large chunks of celery
• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into large rounds
• 1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 cups dry red wine
• 4 large tomatoes, chopped
• 1 ½ pounds red potatoes (such as Red Bliss), cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• ½ teaspoon dried sage
• 1 quart beef stock
• 2 cups tomato sauce

Steps

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef in batches in hot oil until browned completely, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove browned beef cubes to a plate lined with paper towels, keeping skillet over heat and retaining the beef drippings.
2. Cook and stir onion, celery, and carrots in the retained beef drippings until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir mushrooms and garlic into the onion mixture.
3. Pour red wine into the pan; bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking the mixture until the wine evaporates, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir tomatoes into the mixture.
4. Return beef to skillet with potatoes, basil, thyme, marjoram, and sage. Pour beef stock and tomato sauce over the mixture. Bring the liquid to a simmer.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the beef is very tender and the sauce is thick, 4 to 6 hours.