Easy British Beef and Tomato Stew

Stew is a popular main dish in Britain, and beef is one of the most popular meats to use, although pork and lamb are also well-loved. The following recipe is really simple. We are just using beef, canned tomatoes and onion to make it, along with some salt and black pepper. If you want to add other vegetables to bulk the dish up, that is also fine. Consider adding chopped celery, carrots or bell pepper (raw and chopped) to the mixture before you start cooking the stew. You will need a large crockpot to make this dish. Start it at lunchtime and it will be ready by dinner time for the family to enjoy.

If you have too much for one meal, you can prepare a pie using the leftovers; simply put them in a casserole dish, top with mashed potatoes and some grated cheddar cheese, then bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes, or until piping hot in the centre. This stew can also be frozen. This is one of the simplest stew recipes since you need so few ingredients, and most of the flavour comes from the beef itself, since no other flavours in there overpower it.

It is common in British main dishes to keep the seasoning to salt and black pepper only, but do not expect a bland result because this stew is anything but bland! You will need stewing beef or braising beef to make this, which is economical but comes out really tender when braised and slow-cooked. Serve this garnished with fresh basil or thyme sprigs if you like. This British beef stew goes nicely with mashed potatoes and one or two different vegetables. It is something the whole family will find delicious. If you want to try lamb or pork rather than the beef, go ahead, since those would be delicious too. Continue reading →