Unlock the secret: the ultimate guide to making beef stew gravy that will make your taste buds dance

Beef stew is a hearty and comforting dish that is perfect for a cold winter night. It is made with beef, vegetables, and a rich, flavorful gravy. The gravy is what really makes the dish, and it is surprisingly easy to make. In this blog post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make beef stew gravy.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Brown the beef. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the beef in the olive oil and butter. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
2. Sauté the vegetables. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute more.
3. Stir in the flour. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
4. Add the beef broth and red wine. Gradually whisk in the beef broth and red wine, if using. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened.
5. Add the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Return the beef to the pot. Add the beef back to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 hour, or until the beef is tender.
7. Serve. Serve the beef stew with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

Tips

• For a richer gravy, use a dark beer instead of red wine.
• If you don’t have red wine, you can use additional beef broth instead.
• To thicken the gravy even more, add a cornstarch slurry. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and stir into the gravy. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened.
• For a smoother gravy, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve.
• If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can use a large pot with a lid.

Variations

• Add mushrooms. Add sliced mushrooms to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add peas. Add frozen peas to the pot along with the beef.
• Add potatoes. Add diced potatoes to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add carrots. Add diced carrots to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add celery. Add diced celery to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add onions. Add diced onions to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add garlic. Add minced garlic to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add thyme. Add dried thyme to the pot along with the vegetables.
• Add bay leaf. Add a bay leaf to the pot along with the vegetables.

How to Make Beef Stew Gravy in a Slow Cooker

1. Brown the beef in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the beef to the slow cooker along with the vegetables, flour, beef broth, red wine (optional), Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
4. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

How to Make Beef Stew Gravy in a Pressure Cooker

1. Brown the beef in the pressure cooker using the sauté function.
2. Add the vegetables, flour, beef broth, red wine (optional), Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf.
3. Close the lid and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
4. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
5. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

How to Freeze Beef Stew Gravy

1. Let the gravy cool completely.
2. Pour the gravy into freezer-safe containers.
3. Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat Beef Stew Gravy

1. Thaw the gravy in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Reheat the gravy in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.

The Best Way to Serve Beef Stew Gravy

Beef stew gravy is best served with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for bread or vegetables.

The Bottom Line: Elevate Your Beef Stew with a Rich and Flavorful Gravy

Making beef stew gravy is easy and rewarding. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a rich and flavorful gravy that will take your beef stew to the next level. So next time you’re making beef stew, be sure to follow our guide and make your own delicious gravy.

Basics You Wanted To Know

Q: How can I make my beef stew gravy thicker?

A: There are a few ways to thicken beef stew gravy. One way is to add a cornstarch slurry. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and stir into the gravy. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Another way to thicken gravy is to add mashed potatoes. Simply mash a few potatoes and stir them into the gravy.

Q: How can I make my beef stew gravy smoother?

A: To make your beef stew gravy smoother, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve. This will remove any lumps or impurities.

Q: How can I store beef stew gravy?

A: Beef stew gravy can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze the gravy, let it cool completely and then pour it into freezer-safe containers.