French-Style Beef Stew

By HeatherS

French-Style Beef Stew is the most delicious way to warm up any time there is a chill in the air. French flavors like Dijion mustard, fresh thyme, and rich mushrooms come together with meaty beef to make a real crowd-pleasing meal that is best served with your favorite crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1.5-pounds beef top round, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
• 2 cups dry white wine
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, broken up and juice reserved
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs tied together with kitchen string, plus 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1-pound oyster, chanterelle, or white mushrooms, halved or quartered if large

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oil in medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium. Add beef, sweet potato, white wine, canned tomatoes and their juice, Dijon mustard, thyme sprig bundle, and salt and pepper to taste, to Dutch oven; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 1 hour.

Add mushrooms to pot and simmer, covered, until meat is fork-tender, about 1 hour longer. Remove and discard thyme sprigs. Serve sprinkled with thyme leaves.