Beef Stew with Potatoes

Beef stew with potatoes is a classic homestyle dish. Its delicious taste and rich nutrition make it much loved by many. This dish combines the tenderness of beef with the softness of potatoes, topped off with a variety of ingredients cooked together. It has a rich taste and nutrition, creating a delicious and cozy homestyle dish.

6 Reviews
6 Comments
POSTED:04/06/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2-3 servings
Total:1 hr 0 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:15 min

Many people enjoy eating beef stew with potatoes, but it's important to pay attention to the cooking techniques. Once you've mastered these skills, you can easily make this dish! Let's learn together!


1、How to choose beef and potatoes? 

①Beef: Choose parts with a moderate amount of fat and fascia, such as beef brisket and shoulder, which will be more tender after stewing. Try not to use too lean beef like shank or rump, as the stewed meat will be stiff and tough. 

After cooking, beef shrinks significantly, it's recommended to stew at least about 3 pounds of beef at a time. If the amount of beef is insufficient, the aroma of the cooked beef will not be rich and full-bodied, and even the flavor of the seasoning might overpower the smell of the beef.

②Potatoes: Choose potatoes with high starch content, they will be easier to soften after stewing.


2、How to make the beef taste less gamey and more fresh? 

①When blanching, keep the lid open to avoid the funky smell from evaporating and infusing into the beef. This is a common mistake made by beginners.

②After the beef has been blanched, avoid rinsing it with cold water. Warm water is the best choice because cold water will cause the beef to contract rapidly, making the fibers tighten up and resulting in a tougher texture.

③Ingredients like ginger and green onions mainly serve to neutralize the gamey and greasy taste of beef. If possible, you can also add celery and onions. Extra amounts wouldn't hurt. With these added, the stewed beef will carry a faint vegetable aroma, blending nicely with the beef's own flavor, creating an enticing but not greasy taste.

④Adding a few hawthorns when stewing beef can speed up the tenderization process. The acidity in hawthorns can break down the fibers in beef, making it much tenderer.

⑤You could also add beer when stewing beef. It helps to neutralize the gamey taste of the beef and enhance its flavor, making the stewed beef more delicious. In addition, the color of the beef would be more appealing, providing a visually appetizing experience.


3、How to master the control of heat while cooking? 

①Beef needs to be simmered over medium-low heat in order to fully bring out its deliciousness.

②As for potatoes, they should be stir-fried over high heat to preserve their crisp and tender texture.


4、Do you need to add extra water during the stewing process? 

Start stewing the soup with hot water, and add sufficient amount of water at once. Try not to open the pot lid during the process, and simmer over low heat. If the water level is low during cooking, you can add appropriate amount of heated water.


5、When should the salt be added? 

Pay attention to the timing of salt addition. Adding salt too early can cause the beef brisket to shrink and be difficult to stew. I usually add a spoonful when preparing to take the pot off the heat, or when adding potatoes. Taste it before serving, if it's not salty enough, add more.


6、What are the nutritional values of beef stew with potatoes? 

Beef is rich in protein and trace elements, which can enhance physical strength and immunity. Potatoes contain a large amount of starch and Vitamin C, which can satisfy the body's energy needs, while also enhancing the body's resistance. 


I believe that after mastering these little tricks, you'll be able to make a genuine beef stew with potatoes quickly. You can also adjust the amount of seasonings and change the auxiliary ingredients according to your own taste. Now, let's get started together!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 500 grams of potatoes
  • 500 grams of beef brisket

ACCESSORIES

  • 1 piece of ginger
  • 6 cloves of garlic

SEASONINGS

  • 1 bunch of scallions (green onions)
  • 4 dried chili peppers
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 piece of cinnamon bark
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 15 grams of cooking wine
  • 20 grams of light soy sauce
  • 10 grams of dark soy sauce
  • 2 grams of salt
  • 30 grams of cooking oil
  • 20 grams of granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare all the ingredients needed.

Prepare all necessary ingredients for a recipe.

STEP 2

Peel and chop the potatoes into chunks.

Instructions for peeling and chopping potatoes into chunks.

STEP 3

Cut the beef brisket into chunks, and wash the spices, scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Prep beef brisket by cutting into chunks, washing spices, scallions, ginger, garlic.

STEP 4

Blanch the beef brisket chunks in cold water and set aside.

Blanch beef brisket in cold water before cooking.

STEP 5

Heat cooking oil in a pot, fry the potato chunks until golden brown on the surface, then remove and set aside.

Tip:

This process makes the potatoes more flavorful, improves their texture, and saves time during the stewing process.

Fry potato chunks for improved flavor and texture before stewing.

STEP 6

Leave some oil in the pot and add the scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon bark, bay leaves, and dried chili peppers. Stir-fry until fragrant.

Fragrant stir-fried pot ingredients with oil, scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon bark, bay leaves, and chili peppers.

STEP 7

Add the blanched beef brisket and stir-fry evenly over medium heat.

Cook blanched beef brisket on medium heat until evenly stir-fried.

STEP 8

Add cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and granulated sugar.

Instructions for adding cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar to a dish.

STEP 9

Stir-fry until evenly colored.

Instruction to stir-fry until uniform color.

STEP 10

Pour in enough boiling water to cover the beef, bring to a boil over high heat, cover the pot, then simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.

Boil water, cover beef, then simmer for 45 minutes.

STEP 11

After the beef is tender, remove and discard the spices, then add the fried potato chunks and salt.

Tender beef, discard spices, add fried potatoes and salt.

STEP 12

Continue to simmer for 7-8 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Simmer for 7-8 minutes until sauce thickens.

STEP 13

A delicious stew of potatoes and beef is ready to serve.

Delicious beef and potato stew ready to serve.

STEP 14

The potatoes become soft, fluffy, and sweet after stewing, making it incredibly appetizing. Give it a try!

Try stewing potatoes to make them soft, fluffy, and sweet for a delectable dish.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Beef Stew with Potatoes
  • Main Ingredients:4
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:1 kg
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 1048 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):1426 kcal
    65%
  • Protein:85.19 g
    156%
  • Fat:75.27 g Why gray?
    155%
  • Carbohydrates:99.33 g
    40%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 24%
    346 kcal
  • Fat: 48%
    678 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 28%
    398 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
4:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

6 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
WrenSeptember 27, 2024

Whenever I stew beef with potatoes, I always find the flavor slightly monotonous, what seasonings can make the beef stew more flavorful and delicious?
reply:
September 29, 2024
Try adding some spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and fennel to add aroma, the right amount of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce can also enhance the flavor, and adjusting the amount of salt and sugar is also key.
XavierSeptember 15, 2024

Whenever I try to braise beef with potatoes, the beef always braises a little old, how should I adjust it to make it more tender and flavorful?
reply:
September 18, 2024
Try using parts of the beef that are suitable for slow braising, the braising time can be extended appropriately
DannaAugust 01, 2024

Turns out you have to pour in hot water, I added cold water and the meat turned to mush.
ElizabethJuly 19, 2024

Basic ingredients with straightforward cooking steps for busy everyday home cooking.
PeterJune 04, 2024

I had beef stew with potatoes in China once before and the taste was so nostalgic, today I came across this recipe, I followed it and it was a success, it tasted so good, thank you so much!
AbnerJune 04, 2024

This beef stew with potatoes is really authentic, the texture is very soft and satisfying to eat, it's fantastic!
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