Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is homemade beef stew healthy to eat? ›

The essential ingredients for stew -- meat, vegetables and broth -- are healthy stuff. The problem is that traditional recipes call for massive portions of fatty meats paired with super-salty canned broths. Don't be turned off by recipes that use wine; a large portion of the alcohol and calories cook away.

Carrots and other root vegetables, onions, chard, spinach, and lettuce are ideal for stewing while potatoes, leeks, cabbage, and porcini mushrooms are optimal for braising.

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

Chuck. Chuck is one of the leaner types of beef, making it perfect for stews because it melts into delicious pieces as it cooks. A chuck roast has a large amount of connective tissue, which allows it to retain its moisture during the cooking process.

BETTER-FOR-YOU BEEF STEW. The key to making this comfort food better for you is using more vegetables and less meat. It's still hearty and rich but also packed with fiber, vitamin A and beta carotene. Make this on the weekend and enjoy it through the week.

The Bottom Line. By opting for lean meats, giving preference to vegetables, and selecting healthy carbohydrates, you can create a hearty stew that not only tantalizes your taste buds but also moves you closer to your weight loss objectives this season.

Turnips are an ideal potato replacement as they have a similar texture. Turnips can be prepared n several different ways, including baking, boiling, roasting, or steaming.

Couscous is ideal for thickening soups and stews because it cooks quickly, releasing starch as it plumps. Choose tiny Moroccan-style couscous for the subtlest thickening effect. Use larger pearl couscous (aka Israeli couscous) to add a more luscious, subtly chewy element to the final dish.

Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work. Stir them in gently and immediately return the pot to the oven for the final hour of cooking.

The most common herbs and spices for a traditional beef stew would be thyme, parsley, bay leaves, and black pepper. In some cultures, there are also spices like sweet paprika, oregano, cilantro (coriander), or basil.

How do you deepen beef stew flavor? ›

After you brown the meat and cook your aromatics, simply stir in a few tablespoons of tomato paste and heat it gently to amplify its flavors before continuing with your recipe—it's a budget-friendly, simple trick that makes all the difference.

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

The most tender and juicy beef stews always take at least a few hours to cook. Start with a cut with lots of connective tissue, such as beef shank, neck, or chuck, and be sure to cook the meat on a light simmer for at least a couple of hours.

Pot roast doesn't typically get a nutritional nod, but that's likely because of the marbling (striations of fat not found in top round or loin). But for just 176 calories, 3 ounces of chuck roast (the cut that makes the best pot roast) boasts 22 grams of protein and almost half of the recommended daily intake for iron.

A stew can be a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals depending on the ingredients used, but it may not provide all of the essential nutrients needed for optimal health.

intake and health benefits. vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and B6), vitamin E, iron, zinc, and magnesium. safe to eat without cooking. If heated, serve right away or refrigerate leftovers in a container that is not made from metal.

It's also a way to retain the maximum nutritional value of the food you cook. Stewing is suitable for the least tender cuts of meat that become tender and juicy with the slow, moist heat method – simmered, not boiled. This makes stewing popular in low-cost cooking.