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Irene's Beer Stew

4.0

(38)

Cooks' note:

·Stew improves over 2 to 3 days and freezes well. Cool stew completely, uncovered, before keeping chilled or frozen, covered.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    3 hours

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb onions, sliced
About 1/2 cup canola oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3-lb boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons steak sauce
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 1/2 to 2 (12-oz) bottles of beer (not dark)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional)
Garnish: chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Accompaniment: cooked potatoes, rice, or noodles

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook onions in 2 tablespoons oil in a 6- to 8-quart ovenproof heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 5 minutes.

    Step 2

    Preheat oven to 325°F.

    Step 3

    Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Pat beef dry and toss with flour mixture. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet until hot but not smoking, then brown beef in batches, adding as browned to onions and adding more oil to skillet as necessary.

    Step 4

    Add soy, Worcestershire, and steak sauces, bay leaves, thyme, and enough beer to pot to just cover beef and onions, then bring to a simmer. Cover pot and braise stew in middle of oven, stirring in brown sugar after about an hour if desired, until meat is tender, about 2 hours.

    Step 5

    Season stew with salt and pepper.

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