Beef stew: the easy recipe to make it tender and juicy

Ingredients
BEEF
600 gr
TOMATO PUREE
150 ml
CELERY
1 Costa
WHITE ONION
1/2
CARROT
1
RED WINE
60 ml
BOILING WATER OR BROTH
400 ml
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
qb
SALE
qb
BABY
qb
LAUREL
qb
Beef stew is a typical Italian traditional second course with meat, a great classic for Sunday lunch and special festive occasions. The preparation is simple: the beef mash is cut into bite-sized pieces and then fried in a pan with chopped vegetables and tomato puree. Slow and longer cooking with the addition of red wine makes the stew tender and juicy, perfect for any family lunch or dinner, accompanied by mashed potatoes or hot croutons.

The choice of cut of meat is important so that you get a soft and juicy stew that is not too dry and dry. For these reasons, it is preferable to choose pieces that are not too fine or too lean, but contain some fatty parts and suitable for long cooking, such as belly, shoulder or neck. Aromatic herbs or spices such as bay leaves, sage and juniper berries can be added if desired. You can replace the beef with veal and also add potatoes for a tasty and complete single dish.

Learn how to make beef stew with step-by-step instructions and advice. Also try the stew with polenta.

How to prepare beef stew

Step 1
Wash and dry the vegetables well. Peel the carrots and chop roughly with a knife along with the celery and onion
1
.

Step 2
Pat the beef dry with paper towels and then cut into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4cm per side.
2
.

Step 3
Pour the oil into the bottom of a heavy-bottomed pot and gently fry the chopped vegetables
3
.

Step 4
Add the meat pieces
4
, increase the heat and brown them, stirring frequently.

Step 5
The meat will release liquid, so it is important that the flame is high and the morsels are evenly colored
5
.

Step 6
When the water in the meat has evaporated, add the red wine
6
.

Step 7
Let it evaporate and then add the tomato puree and water
7
. It smells like bay leaf.

Step 8
Season with salt and pepper, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat. Cook the beef stew slowly and with the lid closed for about 2 hours. If it dries out too much, add more water
8
.

Step 9
Check whether the meat is cooked. It needs to be delicate and not stringy. Allow the sauce to simmer over high heat for a few minutes and then serve the beef stew hot
9
.

Storage
The beef stew can be stored in a special glass container in the refrigerator for two days. If you use fresh meat, you can freeze it.