8 Stew Recipes: A Guide to Making Popular Stews

Stew is a combination of solid ingredients, often consisting of meat and vegetables, in a gravy-like liquid. Cooks make stew by slow-cooking the ingredients with a very conservative amount of cooking liquid, such as chicken or beef broth, in a covered dish for a total time of several hours. Home cooks commonly make stew in big batches.

As with soup, there are a number of stew varieties, such as beef bourguignon, goulash, lamb stew, chicken stew, and beef stew. You can serve stew on its own or pour it over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. While you can consume stew right away after cooking it, this type of dish can be even more flavorful the next day after the ingredients marinate overnight. Reheat the leftovers on the stovetop and enjoy a tasty meal.

There are some actions you can take to enhance the flavor of any stew dish.

• Add spices. Paprika, garlic, black pepper, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme are a few common stew spices that complement one another well.
• Avoid rushing the slow-cooking process. Tougher cuts of meat—beef chuck, brisket, and round—require a longer cook time of at least two hours. The flavor from slow-cooked meat is what will take your stew to the next level.
• Deglaze. After searing the meat, deglaze your pan. This is the process of releasing the brown bits from your pan with water, a dry red wine, or apple juice. Use the brown bits to flavor your stew.
• Mix in all-purpose flour. For texture, toss in a tablespoon or two of flour or cornstarch to thicken the stew.
• Saute onions and garlic cloves. Cook diced onions and garlic in a pan on medium-high heat with butter and olive oil until they become tender. For a sweeter flavor, caramelize the onions by cooking them on low heat until they are golden brown in color.
• Sear the meat. Before dropping your beef stew meat in the slow cooker or large Dutch oven, brown your meat over high heat on the stove.
• Use garnish. Once the stew has finished simmering, add herbs like sprigs of fresh parsley or rosemary for extra flavor.

Stews can include animal protein, or you can usually adapt recipes to make them vegetarian or vegan. Here are several common stew recipes to try.

1. 1. Bean and sausage stew: Combine hot Italian sausage, white beans, veggies, and chicken broth to make this hearty stew. Serve the bowls with a big piece of crusty bread. Learn how to make hearty bean and sausage stew.
2. 2. Beef bourguignon: This French dish features two types of stew meat—hearty beef and pork—along with veggies like carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms braised in a red wine sauce until deeply tender. The stew is typically a main course—either as a standalone dish or ladled over mashed potatoes or noodles. Learn how to make this beef bourguignon recipe.
3. 3. Beef stew: The recipe for this hearty dish calls for tougher beef cuts, such as bone-in short rib, oxtail, brisket, or chuck roast. For the best beef stew, pair the meat with hearty vegetables—onions, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and frozen peas—and simmer in beef stock, tomato paste, and red wine. Try this classic beef stew recipe.
4. 4. Brunswick stew: The spirit of this one-pot stew is to use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Chicken, pulled pork, or rabbit are the most common proteins in modern Brunswick stews (traditional recipes featured game meats like squirrel and possum). Test out this Brunswick stew recipe at home.
5. 5. Chicken stew: This stew combines protein, starchy carbohydrates, and veggies to create a full meal in one bowl. Common chicken stew seasonings include bay leaves, sautéed onions, fresh thyme, minced garlic (or garlic powder), and salt and pepper. Here’s a simple chicken stew recipe.
6. 6. Lentil stew: The longer this stew simmers, the more flavorful it becomes. Use a crockpot or pressure cooker to make this vegan stew that is high in carbs and protein. Try this vegan lentil stew recipe.
7. 7. Pork stew: This savory dish consists of pork roast (usually boneless pork shoulder or pork loin) and assorted vegetables in an aromatic sauce, cooked down to a velvety, gravy-like consistency. Whip up this classic pork stew recipe.
8. 8. Turkey stew: This can be a great way to use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey meat. Cook the meat with aromatics—veggies and herbs, such as diced onions, garlic, celery, and carrots—for a flavorful dish. Here’s a recipe for classic turkey stew.

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