This beef stew is thick with a deliciously flavored broth and lots of meat and veggies. If you plan ahead, it can be cooked in the crockpot after the meat and veggies are browned in pan. If you need to avoid gluten, wheat or soy, substitute a flour that is safe for you and make sure to use Better Than Bouillon organic beef base.
Put flour, salt & pepper in large Ziploc bag. Heat oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Place meat in bag with the flour mixture and shake until well coated.
Shake off meat pieces and add them to the oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned.
Add onion to the remaining flour in the bag. Add onion, carrot and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, to slightly cook the vegetables, about 5 minutes. Add parsley, thyme, water and Better than Bouillon organic beef base.
Cover and cook over low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes or so.
Add diced potatoes, carrots and onions. Cook for another 45 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender.
This is our favorite recipe for chili. If I don’t have any chorizo, I just use 2 lb. of ground beef and increase the paprika and cumin to 2 T. each. Some of you might think it odd to add the cocoa powder or chocolate chips. However, this adds a richer taste and color to the finished product.
Rinse black beans. Put in pot and cover well with water. Bring to a boil. When the water boils, turn the pot off and let set for 1 hour. Drain beans, cover with fresh water and continue cooking until tender. Add to chili when the beans are tender.
Chili
While beans are soaking, brown beef and chorizo with onions, sweet pepper, garlic, and oil in a Dutch oven.
Add remaining ingredients (except black beans) and simmer for a couple of hours. Add water as needed for the consistency that you desire. Add black beans when they have finished cooking. This is even better if made the day before and reheated.
Preheat oven to 400. Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil, then parchment paper. (The foil makes it so you don't have to wash the pan and the parchment paper prevents the meatballs from sticking to the foil.)
Combine all ingredients for meatballs. Using a small cookie scoop, form meatballs and bake on baking sheet for 15 minutes.
While that is baking, put oil in skillet and dice onion. Begin cooking the onions while you slice the mushrooms. Add to onions.
When onions and mushrooms are nearly done, add beef base, black pepper and garlic powder. Add 2 cup of water to the pan. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch with remaining 1/2 cup of water. Gradually add cornstarch mix to pan and stir as you are pouring. Cook, stirring often, until thoroughly mixed.
Add cooked meatballs to mushroom sauce, cover with lid and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Note that the meatballs will grow when cooking because of the raw rice in them.
Nutrition info on 5 meatballs with sauce: 258 calories, 11 g fat, 81 mg cholesterol, 581 mg sodium, 193 mg potassium, 20 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 20 g protein
