Do you enjoy the rich, hearty flavors of southern-style cuisine? Then, boy have I got a recipe for you. Introducing my signature Southern Stew Recipe, packed full of savory ingredients that will surely tantalize your taste buds.

As a chef who specializes in southern-style cooking, I have spent years perfecting this stew recipe, experimenting with different combinations of vegetables, meats, and seasonings to create the ultimate comfort food. The result is a dish that is both satisfying and heartwarming, perfect for any occasion or mood.

Whether you’re looking for a down-home family meal, or an impressive dinner party centerpiece, this Southern Stew Recipe is guaranteed to impress. So grab your apron and let’s get cooking!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Folks, I’m about to share with you a recipe that’ll warm your heart and soul! This southern-style beef stew, crafted by the one and only Brenda Gantt, is the ultimate comfort food. Not only does it taste absolutely delicious, but it’s also a great way to use up all those veggies sitting in your fridge before they go bad. Trust me; this recipe is worth every minute of preparation time!

What’s not to love about hearty beef stew that simmers low and slow in a Dutch oven or a slow cooker until it’s fall-apart tender? Imagine biting into succulent pieces of beef, tender vegetables, and rich flavors that will make you feel like you’re sitting right in the heart of the Deep South.

This recipe not only offers unique flavors that will satisfy any Southern craving but also offers up lots of leftovers which means more happiness served in a bowl! You can take advantage of this recipe anytime you feel like diving into something comforting and filling. It’s perfect for those chilly nights when nothing else will do, or even on busy weeknights when there’s no much time for cooking.

So why should you love this recipe? Because it’s nutritious, hearty, flavorful, easy-to-follow, and satisfies your desire for Southern-style comfort foods. Gather what fresh ingredients you have on hand and give this recipe a try! I guarantee that once you taste this delicious Southern Beef Stew by Brenda Gantt, it will become one of your top favorites ever!

Ingredient List

Cast iron pots are perfect for cooking this Southern Stew to perfection.

Let’s talk about the star of the show- Southern Beef Stew. This hearty stew requires a variety of ingredients that come together to make a bowl of pure comfort. To make four servings of this Southern-style beef stew recipe, you’ll need:

Ingredients 1

2 pounds stew beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups hot water
1 medium onion, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced

Ingredients 2

1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 turnip, peeled and cubed
1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
Half a can of diced tomatoes
Half a can of green beans

Ingredients 3

Garlic powder, dried thyme as needed

Keep in mind that you can always adjust the amounts of ingredients based on your personal preferences or what you have available in your pantry. Now, let’s move on to how you can cook this mouth-watering Southern Beef Stew.

The Recipe How-To

The aromatic onion and garlic will make your kitchen smell like home.

Now that we have all our ingredients ready, let’s start preparing this hearty Southern Stew!

Step 1: Preparing the Beef

The first step in any stew recipe is to prepare the meat. Heat up a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, brown the stew meat in batches. Set aside.

Step 2: Sauteing the Vegetables

In the same Dutch oven over high heat, add 3 tablespoons of butter and saute one medium onion (sliced) until translucent. Next, add in 6 cloves of finely chopped garlic and continue stirring for about a minute until fragrant.

Step 3: Adding Flour and Liquid

Reduce heat to medium-low and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour over the onions and garlic. Stir well to combine until you achieve a paste-like consistency. Pour in 4 cups of hot water and stir until there are no visible lumps of flour.

Step 4: Simmering

Return the browned beef into the Dutch oven along with any juices that may have collected on its plate. Add in other stew ingredients, including 6 peeled and cubed carrots, 6 potatoes, 2 turnips, one large sliced bell pepper, a 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon dried thyme (use fresh thyme if available), and one pound each of fresh green beans and lima beans. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

Bring everything to a boil, then cover your Dutch oven with its lid and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook undisturbed for an hour, checking occasionally until everything is tender.

Step 5: Adding Beef Broth

Once everything is tender, add in 1 cup of beef broth and allow to simmer again for another hour.

Step 6: Final Touches

Your stew is almost ready! To finish it off, add two cups of pulled pork, a pound of chicken breast, and another pound of chicken thighs. Let everything simmer together for another half-hour, stirring occasionally.

Step 7: Voila!

Remove the Dutch oven from heat and let sit for five to ten minutes before serving. This stew is perfect when paired with a slice of warm, crispy cornbread or over white rice. Enjoy your delicious and flavorful Southern Stew!

Substitutions and Variations

This stew is packed with veggies: potatoes, carrots, green beans, and corn.

As a chef specializing in southern-style cuisine, I know that sometimes it can be tough to find every single ingredient needed for a recipe, or perhaps you just want to mix things up a bit. That is why I’m providing you with some substitutions and variations to make this recipe your own.

Firstly, if you don’t have beef stew meat on hand, you can always substitute it with pulled pork or even chicken thighs. These options will give the dish a different texture and flavor profile, but they’ll still hit the spot.

If you’re feeling like adding some vegetables to this already hearty beef stew, consider throwing in some okra or lima beans. They’re both great traditional southern vegetables that will add a pop of color and extra nutrition to your meal.

For those who prefer chicken over beef, try making a southern-style chicken stew instead! Swap out the beef for chicken breast or thighs and add in some oregano and smoked paprika for an extra savory flavor.

If you’re looking for an easier way to make this stew, consider using a slow cooker instead of a dutch oven or oven. Simply brown your stew meat on the stove top and then place all the ingredients in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours.

No matter what substitutions or variations you choose, just remember to keep the heart of this recipe – the classic southern flavors of garlic powder, dried thyme, and black pepper.

Serving and Pairing

A warm bowl of Southern Stew is comfort food at its finest.

After all the hard work you’ve put into making this hearty Southern stew, it’s time to enjoy it in the best way possible – with a perfect pairing!

Serve your steaming bowls of Southern stew with a crusty slice of bread or cornbread on the side. The bread will soak up the rich flavors of the broth, and add crunch to the meal. If you want, you can also add a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt on top of each bowl for added creaminess.

If you want to pair your Southern stew with a drink, I recommend going for full-bodied red wines like Malbec or Sangiovese. If wine is not your thing, then go for something simple yet refreshing like iced tea, or a light lager.

You can also take your stew game to another level by serving it over rice or mashed potatoes. The starchy base will absorb all the delicious juice and create an even more satisfying meal.

When it comes to sides that complement Southern stew well, there are endless options. You can add creamy mac and cheese for some cheesy goodness, sauteed greens or even corn on the cob for some added crunch.

No matter how you choose to serve or pair it, this Southern stew is versatile enough to be enjoyed any way you like. So grab a spoon and tuck in!

Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating

Top the stew with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a pop of color and flavor.

One of the great things about Southern-style stew is that it can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick and easy meal later on. To store your hearty beef or chicken stew for later, be sure to follow these tips.

Firstly, once the stew has cooled down to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container. Stew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months. If freezing, be sure to label your container with the date and contents to ensure freshness.

When ready to reheat your Southern-style stew, there are a number of ways you can go about it. The quickest and easiest method is to warm it up in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, stirring occasionally until heated through. Alternatively, you could reheat it on the stovetop by adding a splash of water or broth and warming it over low heat for several minutes.

However you choose to reheat your stew, be sure to taste and adjust seasonings as needed before serving. And remember, those slow-cooked flavors will only get better with time, so make sure to enjoy every last bite!

Tips for Perfect Results

Slow cooking the stew on low heat will really allow the flavors to meld together.

When it comes to making a hearty Southern beef stew, there are a few tips and tricks that can make all the difference in achieving the perfect result. After trying various methods and testing out different ingredients, here are my top tips that will ensure your stew comes out absolutely delicious every time.

1. Brown the meat well: To achieve that rich and deep flavor we all know and love in a beef stew, browning your meat properly is key. Take some time to really sear the meat on all sides before adding to the pot.

2. Don’t skimp on seasoning: A good Southern beef stew needs a variety of seasoning to awaken its flavors. Use generous amounts of salt, black pepper, and dried thyme to spice up your recipe.

3. Don’t overcook the veggies: As much as possible, aim to keep the veggies slightly firm by not overcooking them. This keeps them from becoming mushy and losing their texture in the stew.

4. Experiment with veggies: While traditional Southern beef stews call for root vegetables like turnips and carrots, mixing it up with green beans or even okra can add an unexpected flare to your dish.

5. Use a Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker for optimal results: These two cooking tools ideally conduct heat evenly and help retain moisture in your stew while cooking. Cooking your stew at low heat for longer periods fixes flavor gaps and makes the meat more tender.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to create a southern beef stew that captures all of the classic flavors of this iconic regional dish. Whether you serve it over rice or alongside some crusty bread, this hearty comfort food is sure to become a family favorite everyone will always crave more of!

FAQ

Before we wrap up, let’s review some common questions and concerns about this Southern Beef Stew recipe. From substitutions to cooking methods, I’ve got you covered on everything you need to know to make sure your stew turns out perfectly every time. So, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s get into the most frequently asked questions before jumping into the kitchen.

What is the secret to good stew?

When it comes to making a delicious stew, one must be patient, as the process takes time to fully develop the flavors. This dish usually consists of tougher cuts of meat that are high in collagen. To break down these fibers, it is important to allow the pot to simmer for at least two hours. It is important not to boil the stew, as this will cause the muscle fibers to shrink and make the meat tough. Therefore, it’s best to set aside a few hours to let it cook and tenderize properly.

Why put vinegar in stews?

Hey y’all, if you’re looking for a tasty beef stew recipe, then I’ve got just the thing for you! One of my tricks to making the perfect savory beef stew is to add a hint of vinegar. The vinegar’s acidic quality helps to balance out the sweetness from the honey and the saltiness of the soy sauce. This gives the stew a nice, light feel that doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try adding some sweet potato or egg noodles to bulk up this dish, or if you’re wanting to keep things simple, you can serve it as is or pair it with a side of rice. Trust me, this recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

What are two popular stews?

In the realm of southern-style cuisine, there are numerous savory stews and dishes which can tantalize your taste buds. These include rich and flavorful plates such as etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, beef stew, goulash, pork stew, seafood stew, and Brunswick stew. Each of these dishes has its own unique taste and texture, but all are meant to delight the senses and satisfy the soul. With a few tips and tricks, you too can create a southern-style feast fit for a king!

What gives beef stew a rich flavor?

When cooking, the best flavours come from the browned fat and bits found at the bottom of the pan, commonly known as fond. Don’t let it go to waste! Cooking onions, garlic and other aromatic ingredients in the fond will create a deep and rich flavour that will be enhanced even further when added to a slow cooker.

Bottom Line

So why wait? Get out there and try this delicious Southern Stew Recipe from Brenda Gantt! With its hearty blend of beef, vegetables, and spices, it is sure to satisfy your cravings and warm your soul. Whether you’re looking to impress your friends or simply feed your family a healthy and tasty meal, this stew recipe has got you covered. And with all the tips and recommendations provided in this article, you are guaranteed to make the perfect stew every time! So go ahead and give it a shot, and see for yourself why Brenda Gantt’s Southern Stew Recipe is known as one of the tastiest and most beloved dishes in Southern cuisine. You won’t regret it!

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