Name: Smoky Beef Stew Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1kg stewing beef, cut into large chunks; 2 onions, chopped; 800g (2 cans) chopped tomatoes; 2 tsp sweet paprika; 2 tsp ground cumin; 2 tsp mild chilli powder; 2 tbsp red or white wine vinegar; 2 tbsp caster sugar; 400g can butter beans, rinsed and drained

Description

A hearty and flavorful smoky beef stew slow-baked with aromatic spices, tender butter beans, and rich tomatoes. This comforting dish is perfect for a cozy meal and can be served in multiple ways including wraps, with pitta or rice, or turned into a one-pot lunch with added vegetables and potatoes.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1kg stewing beef, cut into large chunks
2 onions, chopped
800g (2 cans) chopped tomatoes
2 tsp sweet paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp mild chilli powder
2 tbsp red or white wine vinegar
2 tbsp caster sugar
400g can butter beans, rinsed and drained

Instructions

Prepare and mix ingredients: In a casserole dish, combine the stewing beef chunks, chopped onions, canned chopped tomatoes, sweet paprika, ground cumin, mild chilli powder, red or white wine vinegar, and caster sugar. Stir well to coat the beef evenly in the spices and tomatoes.
Bake the stew: Preheat your oven to 160°C (140°C fan)/gas mark 3. Cover the casserole dish with a lid and bake in the oven for 2½ hours, allowing the beef to slow cook and become tender while the flavors meld together.
Add butter beans: Remove the lid, stir in the rinsed and drained butter beans, then continue to bake the stew for another 30 minutes. If the stew appears too wet, leave the lid off to reduce the liquid; if it has a good consistency, keep the lid on to retain moisture.
Serve or store: Once the beef is tender and the stew is rich and thickened, remove from the oven. Let it cool before freezing into 6-8 portions in small food bags or plastic containers. To serve, reheat in the microwave or stove, and enjoy with your preferred accompaniment.

Notes

Serve the stew wrapped in soft tortillas with lettuce and soured cream.
Top with crumbled feta or grated cheddar and accompany with wholemeal pitta or rice for a complete meal.
Add leftover cooked potatoes and peas or sweetcorn to transform the stew into a hearty one-pot lunch.
The stew freezes well and can be reheated in the microwave or stove and transported in a thermos for a warm meal on the go.
Adjust chili powder according to your preferred spice level.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Category: Stew
Method: Baking
Cuisine: British

Keywords: smoky beef stew, slow baked beef stew, hearty beef stew, butter bean stew, comforting beef casserole