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Beef Stew with Root Vegetables (Midwest Style)

USA

Beef Stew with Root Vegetables (Midwest Style)

A comforting cold-weather classic featuring garden-grown carrots, potatoes, onions, and herbs.

~145 mintotal~255 kcalper serving~28g protein~25g carbs~5g fat

Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 6.

Ingredients

  • 1–2 lbs beef stew meat (or mushrooms/lentils for vegetarian)
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 3 potatoes, cubed
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2–3 cups beef or vegetable stock
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt & pepper
  • Optional: peas, celery, turnips, rosemary

Cooking Steps

  1. Brown meat

    Sear beef (or mushrooms) in oil until browned.

  2. Add vegetables

    Add onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes; sauté briefly.

  3. Add liquids

    Add stock, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.

  4. Simmer

    Simmer 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until tender.

  5. Finish

    Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning. Add peas if desired.

Optional Enhancements

  • Vegetarian: mushrooms + lentils
  • Irish style: add stout beer
  • Herb-heavy: thyme, rosemary, parsley
  • Autumn version: add butternut cubes

Plant & Growing Tips

Carrots

  • Direct sow in light, sandy soil.
  • Thin seedlings to prevent crowding.
  • Keep evenly moist during germination.

Potatoes

  • Plant seed potatoes in early spring.
  • Hill soil around stems for higher yield.
  • Stop watering once foliage begins to die back.

Onions

  • Plant sets in early spring.
  • Keep weed-free and evenly watered.

Garlic

  • Plant in fall; harvest mid-summer.

Thyme & Rosemary

  • Perennials; thrive in sunny, well-drained soil.
  • Harvest sprigs frequently to encourage new growth.

Natural Pest Control

  • Carrot fly → use row covers.
  • Potatoes → hand-pick Colorado beetles, mulch heavily.
  • Onions → interplant with carrots to deter pests.
  • Herbs attract beneficial insects that reduce aphids.

Harvest

Carrots

  • Harvest when brightly colored and smooth.
  • For winter storage, leave in ground with heavy mulch.

Potatoes

  • Harvest new potatoes at flowering.
  • Full harvest when plants die back.

Herbs

  • Pick anytime; strongest flavor before flowering.

Storing & Freezing

Keeps 4–5 days refrigerated. Freezes up to 4 months. Flavors improve after 1–2 days.

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