Don't Peek Stew

Warm up your kitchen with the ultimate comfort food—"Don't Peek Stew," a savory, slow-cooked masterpiece that delivers melt-in-your-mouth beef and rich, hearty flavors. This classic one-pot dish features tender chunks of beef stew meat, simmered to perfection alongside carrots, potatoes, celery, and aromatic spices like thyme and bay leaf. The key to its depth of flavor lies in the "don't peek" method: the stew is lovingly sealed with a lid and baked in the oven for three hours without ever being disturbed. The result? A luxurious, velvety broth infused with beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce, creating an irresistibly cozy meal. Perfect for a family dinner or meal prep, "Don't Peek Stew" is best served with crusty bread or over a bed of fluffy rice for an extra dose of comfort. Easy to make yet packed with flavor, this dish is your go-to recipe for cold evenings and slow Sundays.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:200 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• 1 large yellow onion
• 3 large carrots
• 4 medium potatoes
• 2 stalks celery stalks
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, season the beef stew meat with salt and black pepper. Dredge the pieces in the all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess.

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown the beef on all sides, about 5-7 minutes per batch. Remove the browned beef and set aside.

Step 3

Peel and chop the onion into large chunks. Peel and slice the carrots into 1-inch pieces. Cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks. Slice the celery stalks into 1-inch pieces.

Step 4

Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are slightly softened.

Step 5

Add the tomato paste, stirring to coat the vegetables evenly. Cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.

Step 6

Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to lift any browned bits. Return the browned beef to the pot.

Step 7

Stir in the potatoes, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Step 8

Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in a preheated oven at 325°F (163°C). Cook for 3 hours without opening the lid, allowing the flavors to meld and the beef to become tender.

Step 9

Carefully remove the pot from the oven after 3 hours. Remove the bay leaf and give the stew a gentle stir. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Step 10

Serve hot with warm crusty bread or over rice for a comforting meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3325.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3988.0

Total Fat 169.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 60.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0g
Cholesterol 816.5mg	0%
Sodium 7234.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 312.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 33.3g	0%
Total Sugars 33.4g
Protein 285.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 559.0mg	0%
Iron 43.6mg	0%
Potassium 9454.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 39.0%

Protein: 29.1%

Carbs: 31.9%