Beef Stew

I must say that I am not a huge fan of stew, but my family loves it and could eat it everyday.  This a a lovely rich beef stew that's the ultimate in comfort food.

Ingredients:

60ml Oil
½ cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 kg beef cubed

3 onions finely sliced
2 cloves garlic chopped
4 large carrots chopped
4 celery stalks chopped

4 large potatoes cubed
350ml beef stock
1 cup red wine
10 baby onion (the pickling kind)


Method:

Combine the flour, salt and black pepper and coat the beef cubes.  (I find it best to throw the flour and seasoning into a bag and put the beef cubes into the bag and just give it a good shake.)

Heat the oil and brown the meat. Do this in batches otherwise the heat will reduce and you'll have the beef boiling rather than browning.  Set the beef aside.

Add the onions, garlic, carrots and celery and fry for about 3 minutes. Add the stock and red wine and beef to the pot and bring to the boil.  Cover the pot and reduce to a low heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add the baby onions and simmer for a further 30 minutes. Remove the lid and cook uncovered for another 30 minutes.  This will thicken the stew.