Description
A hearty and comforting beef and vegetable casserole slow-cooked to tender perfection with a rich, flavorful sauce made from a blend of fresh vegetables, herbs, and Worcestershire sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 really big carrots, halved lengthways then very chunkily sliced
- 5 bay leaves
- 3 sprigs thyme
Meat
- 850g stewing beef (featherblade or brisket works nicely), cut into nice large chunks
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 beef stock cubes, crumbled
- 600ml hot water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Vegetables: Heat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan, Gas mark 3). Prepare the vegetables by thickly slicing celery, chopping the onion, and chunkily slicing the carrots lengthwise.
- Soften Vegetables: In a casserole dish, combine the celery, onion, carrots, 5 bay leaves, and 1 sprig of thyme with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Place on the stovetop and soften the vegetables gently for 10 minutes to develop flavors without browning.
- Add Flour and Flavorings: Stir in 2 tablespoons plain flour until the mixture is no longer dusty to help thicken the sauce. Then mix in 2 tablespoons tomato purée, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, and the crumbled 2 beef stock cubes.
- Add Liquid and Beef: Gradually stir in 600ml of hot water to create a sauce. Add the 850g chunks of stewing beef into the casserole and bring to a gentle simmer on the stovetop.
- Oven Cooking: Cover the casserole with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook for 2 hours and 30 minutes to allow the beef to slowly braise and become tender.
- Finish Cooking Uncovered: Remove the lid and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour until the beef is very tender and the sauce has thickened to a rich consistency.
Notes
- Using a tough cut of beef such as featherblade or brisket allows the meat to become tender and flavorful when slow-cooked.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by cooking uncovered longer if needed, or add a splash of water if it becomes too thick.
- Bay leaves and thyme sprigs can be removed before serving for better texture.
- This casserole tastes even better the next day, as the flavors deepen.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or over rice for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: beef casserole, stewing beef recipe, slow-cooked beef, vegetable casserole, comfort food, British casserole
