Slow cooked beef stew, served with mash and buttered sliced baguette

Here’s a comforting and hearty recipe for a Slow-Cooked Beef Stew, served with creamy mashed potatoes and buttered, oven-warmed baguette slices—a classic, soul-warming meal perfect for a cozy dinner.

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🥘 Slow-Cooked Beef Stew with Mash & Buttered Baguette

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🍖 Beef Stew Ingredients:

• 2 lbs (900g) beef chuck, cut into 1½-inch cubes
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 2–3 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for dusting)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cups baby potatoes or chunked regular potatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 cup red wine (optional; sub more stock if preferred)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp paprika
• Optional: 1 cup frozen peas (added at the end)

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🥔 Mashed Potato Ingredients:

• 2½ lbs (1.1 kg) Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 tbsp butter
• ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk (adjust to texture preference)
• Salt and pepper to taste

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🥖 For the Buttered Baguette:

• 1 fresh baguette, sliced
• Softened butter
• Optional: sprinkle of garlic powder or chopped parsley

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🔥 Instructions:

Beef Stew (Slow Cooker Method)

1. Prep the meat:
   • Season beef with salt and pepper. Optional: Lightly coat with flour for a thicker stew base.
   • In a large skillet, sear beef in olive oil until browned on all sides (do this in batches).
2. Build the flavor:
   • Transfer beef to slow cooker. In the same pan, sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until just soft (3–4 min). Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 min.
3. Slow cook it:
   • Add sautéed veggies, potatoes, beef stock, wine, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, and paprika to the slow cooker.
   • Stir everything together. Cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until beef is tender.
   • In the last 20 minutes, stir in frozen peas if using. Remove bay leaves before serving.

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Mashed Potatoes:

1. Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15–20 minutes).
2. Drain and return to pot. Add butter and cream; mash until smooth and creamy.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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Buttered Baguette:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Spread softened butter over each slice of baguette. Add garlic powder or parsley if desired.
3. Bake for 6–8 minutes, or until warm and lightly crisp.

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🧑‍🍳 To Serve:

• Spoon creamy mash into bowls or plates.
• Ladle beef stew generously over or beside mash.
• Serve with a couple of warm, buttered baguette slices on the side.

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