Good + Cheap stew recipe

[Lake Dogs]

^^^ because if 10 people cook the exact same recipe all 10 will taste different.

Try it. We did in a chili competition, for fun. 18 of us cooked the exact same written recipe. They were VERY different. Slight variations in the amounts, fat content of the meat, a few minutes here or there, etc. and they came out very different.

Someone else's recipe becomes yours when you make it, IMHO.

 

[altongrady]

Here is my beef stew recipe - really good!
5 slices thick bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 medium onions, sliced
2 cups boiling water
2 cup red wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 dried bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
¾ pack baby carrots
6 potatoes, cubed

In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, cook bacon until browned; remove bacon to a dish and set aside.
Add olive or vegetable oil to bacon fat and heat until hot; add beef pieces and saute until brown; remove beef pieces to a plate.
NOTE: Don't rush when you're browning the meat. Cook at least 10 to 15 minutes.
Add garlic and onion; saute until soft. Stir in water, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, salt, pepper, sugar, allspice and paprika and wine; add bacon and browned beef pieces. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
After 1 1/2 hours cooking time, remove bay leaves; add carrots and potatoes. Cover and simmer another hour or until meat and vegetables are tender.
Always cook on a low temperature; the surface of the liquid should barely move.

 

[cpw]

Quick update on this thread. The competition was on the 22nd, and we ended up with a doctored version of the original Brunswick Stew recipe. The two major changes we made were using some BBQ sauce and some rub in the stew to liven the flavor up, and using fake burnt ends (cubed some chuck roast and smoked it with sauce etc) for the beef portion of the recipe, instead of just throwing the beef in the pot. We also added a little more heat in the form of twice the tabasco the original recipe called for.

The end result--we won the people's choice award! (also took first place chicken, first place brisket, 3rd place butts,first place "commodore's choice, and grand champion!!)

Thanks again for the suggestions and comments!! Definitely could not have done it without the brethren's help!

 

[El Ropo]

Wow! Congrats on the win. :-D