Healthier Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is homemade beef stew healthy? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

It is possible to eat stew as part of a healthy diet, but it is not recommended to rely solely on stew as the sole source of nutrition. Stew can be a nutritious and satisfying meal that can provide a variety of nutrients depending on the ingredients used.

ANSWER: Waxy potatoes or those called boiling potatoes stand up well in soups and stews. These have thin skin and are high in moisture and low in starch. Potatoes that are low-starch and high-moisture hold together better. Yukon Gold potatoes are on the medium-starch side and will hold their shape in soups.

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

Vegetables that work well in a beef stew include Hardroots vegetable, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and parsnips. These vegetables add flavor and texture to the stew while complementing the richness of the beef. You can also consider adding mushrooms, turnips, or peas for variety.

What's the best vegetables to put in a stew? ›

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.

Vegetables: small chopped carrots, celery, and onion or shallot practically melt into the sauce. Mushrooms: button mushrooms are a nod to the quartered mushrooms many classic beef stew recipes call for, but are thinly sliced instead of being left in bigger pieces. Garlic: minced garlic brings lots of cozy flavor.

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

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.

Beef stew, homemade, gravy base with potatoes, with carrots or dark green vegetables (1 cup) contains 16.7g total carbs, 13.9g net carbs, 16.3g fat, 12.9g protein, and 265 calories.

This beef stew combines beef with a list of other ingredients like potatoes, broth, vegetables, herbs, and spices for a dish that is savory and rich in flavor. Plus, it's packed with nutrients! You'll get the protein from the beef, healthy carbs from the potato, and vitamins and fiber from the vegetables.

Nutrient Retention: The moist cooking method helps retain the nutrients in the ingredients, especially in vegetables, compared to methods such as boiling or stir-frying. Convenient Meal Preparation: Stews can be made in large batches and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, making them a convenient and ea.

Beef stew with potatoes, gravy contains 252 calories per 252 g serving. This serving contains 8.8 g of fat, 23 g of protein and 19 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 1.4 g sugar and 2.3 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.